The starting points for each ride are listed on both the calendar and on the cue sheet for each ride. Many rides start from the same place. The following descriptions assume that the reader may be a newcomer to Asheville:
| UNCA
One University Heights Asheville, NC 28804 |
The meeting point for rides beginning at
UNCA is the "upper parking lot" as you come in from the main entrance to
UNCA. The main entrance is on the right as you come down Weaver Boulevard
from Merrimon Avenue, and on the left if you are coming from Broadway.
The cryptic "upper lot" is the first lot on the right as you come in and is way before you get to any of the buildings on Campus. |
| Ledges Park | The meeting point for rides beginning at Ledges Park is a very small and easy-to-miss county park on Riverside Drive, also known as Highway 251. Coming from Asheville on Riverside Drive, stay on Riverside Drive past Woodfin, past the Sewage Treatment Plant, and past the old landfill. After passing the landfill, there will be a stop sign. Stop. Then go left. You are now on Highway 251, headed north. Stay on the road until you see Ledges Park on the left. You will know you have gone too far when you see the Post Office and sign for the Town of Alexander. Turn around, and head back about a mile. |
| Liberty Bicycles
1987 Hendersonville Highway Asheville, NC 28803 |
Liberty Bicycles is located at 1987 Hendersonville Road, which is pretty darn close to Skyland. If you prefer surface streets, take Hendersonville Road south from the Biltmore Village area for a number of miles and a lot of stop lights. The quicker way is to take I-26 to the Skyland Exit, Exit 6, also known as Long Shoals Road. Head east on Long Shoals Road until it intersects with Hendersonville Road, and turn left. Liberty Bicycles is about a block and a half down on the left. |
| South
Forest Shopping Center
700 Hendersonville Highway Asheville, NC 28803 |
From I-40 and US-25 (Hendersonville Road), go south on US-25 approximately one mile. The shopping center is on the left at a traffic light, across from Busbee Road. |
| Arboretum
Greenhouse
North Carolina Arboretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Asheville, NC |
Take the Brevard Road Exit off of I-26. On Brevard Road, Go past the mall and turn right on Bent Creek Road. You will see all sorts of signs leading you to the Arboretum. Once in the gate follow the signs to the Greenhouse. We typically try to park as far away from the Greenhouse as possible so that other visitors can have the good spaces. If you come in from the Parkway and use the "new entrance," don’t stop at the first big parking lot at the visitors center. Just veer to the right toward the Bent Creek Road entrance and turn left on the drive to the Greenhouse. |
| Folk Art Center
382 Blue Ridge Parkway Asheville, NC 28805 |
The Folk Art Center is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Oteen. Take Tunnel Road/ U.S. 70 to where the Parkway crosses over and follow the signs to the Folk Art Center. Again, we try to park towards the back of the lot so other visitors can have the good spaces. You will get fewer "dings" and not as many stares when you’re trying to put on bike clothes. |
| Asheville
Pizza Company
961 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28804 |
This was formerly called "Two Moons", and is best known as the old movie theater on Merrimon. Heading North on Merrimon from downtown Asheville, go past Boston Pizza and continue on Merrimon up the Hill. Start looking for Bruegger’s Bagels on the right, and turn in. Two Moons is the old theater in the back of the shared lot. |
| WNC Nature
Center
75 Gashes Creek Road Asheville, NC 28805 |
The WNC Nature Center is located just off Swannanoa River Road. Taking Fairview Road go past Home Depot and River Ridge Outlet mall to where it intersects with Swannanoa River Road. At the stop light, turn right. In less than a mile you will take a right on Gashes Creek Road and follow that road up the hill to the Nature Center. We try not to use the Center’s limited paved spaces, but park on the shoulder of the road above the center. |
| Highway 280 & Turkey Pen Road | Taking I-26 south from Asheville, take Exit 9, the Airport Exit, and follow Highway 280 for 9 miles. Turkey Pen Road is located on the right of Highway 280 just before you get to the Transylvania county line. Be careful turning off the highway because cars are traveling fast behind you. Park in the grassy areas of the school bus turn-around. |
| Stuckey’s Dq Inc.
I 40 and Parker Padgett Road Old Fort, NC 28762 |
Take I-40 east from Asheville and come down the grade from Old Fort Mountain. Take the Parker-Padgett Road exit. Stuckey’s is very visible from the highway. Park in the truck parking area. |
| Cold Mountain | (to be added later) |
| Jack’s Creek
Burnsville, NC |
Jack’s Creek is outside of Burnsville. Unless
you absolutely know where it is, meet at the YMCA parking lot on Woodfin
Street in downtown Asheville one hour before the scheduled ride. We will
caravan/car pool from there.
Just in case you are running behind, the Jack’s Creek ride begins at the little, rural shops at the intersection of Highway 19 and Jacks Creek, which is on the left just this side of Burnsville. |
| Homestead
Farm Store
Naples Road Fletcher, NC 28732 (828) 684-1155 |
The Homestead Farm Store is located across from Parkridge Hospital. Take I-26 south from Asheville and take Exit 13. Remain on Highway 25 south until you come to Diamond Brand. Turn left on Naples Road and follow it until you see Homestead Farm Store on the left. Park as far out of the way as possible. The owners are "bike friendly," so patronize these good folks. |
| Etowah Lions Park | This one is hard to find. Take I-26 south from Asheville and turn off on Exit 9, the Airport Exit. Continue on Highway 280 for about 9 miles. About 1 mile past the Shell Station, turn left onto Brickyard Road. Follow Brickyard until it ends at Highway 64. Turn left on Highway 64, and within a few hundred feet, turn right just before the railroad tracks onto Old Highway 64. Turn Left onto Etowah School Road and go about a mile until you see Etowah Lions Park on the right. The park consists of a complex of baseball fields. Restrooms are usually open and very clean. |
© Blue Ridge Bicycle Club 1996-1999