Fire Mountain Trails

06/09/2026

Friends of Panthertown invites beginner, intermediate and advanced bikers to join us for a free mountain biking program in Panthertown! The Panthertown Northern Loop Bike Program is set for 10 AM - 3 PM this Saturday, June 13 at the Flat Creek Trailhead.

The program will be co-led with other awesome organizations, including Seven Moons, Motion Makers, Trail Partners, Pisgah Area SORBA, Nantahala Area SORBA, WCU Cycling Club and Mainspring Conservation Trust. The program is meant to educate users on the redesignation of the Turkey K**b Trail, sustainable biking practices and the history of Panthertown.

The program will inform of cycling route options, Leave No Trace, ambassadorship, stewardship and partnerships. Afterwards, participants are invited to ride along the newly redesignated loop. An alternative e-bike ride will be provided for e-bike users along a gravel road (U.S. Forest Service rules prohibit e-bikes on any Nantahala National Forest Backcountry Area).

After the program, participants are invited to stick around for trailhead community. Find out more and RSVP at panthertown.org/events.

05/15/2026

05/07/2026

New youth ride program through 7 Moons MTB this summer! Get your kiddos and their bikes and join up for a great intro to mountain biking!

Our Get Outside and Play Series starts in June! This year we will have our program at the Oconaluftee River Trail so parents can walk or ride while we teach our youth participants the fundamentals of mountain biking.

This series will be held on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-7:00. Open for ages 8-15 and broken up in to age groups. We have limited supplies of bikes and safety equipment, first come first serve.

Sign up Today: https://tinyurl.com/GOSPseries

05/01/2026

BOOM! Fire Mountain Disc Golf Sanctuary rated top 10 of over 450 courses in North Carolina! This is something to be proud of! Big big shout out to Justin Minickelli and Ryan Pickens of Disc Golf Design Group for the idea, the ex*****on and the amazing upkeep of this fine course.

Discover the 10 best disc golf courses in North Carolina for 2026, ranked by UDisc course ratings and player reviews.

04/20/2026

Come help celebrate the life of our great friend, Ed Sutton! We miss him so much.

02/21/2026

02/15/2026

Wow!!!! Congratulations to Haywood County and the Town of Waynesville for thier dilligence and foward thinking! A Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championship qualifier coming to town! How fantastic is that? We can’t wait!

GET PUMPED, HAYWOOD COUNTY! World-Class Racing. Big Air Energy. One Epic Weekend.

Haywood County is cranking up the speed in 2026 as we proudly host the Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifier—bringing elite competitors and nonstop adrenaline to Western North Carolina.

The action goes down at Raccoon Creek Bike Park, sponsored by Mountain Credit Union, this September, transforming the park into a global stage for one unforgettable weekend.

*HAYWOOD COUNTY EVENT SCHEDULE*

Friday, September 11, 2026

-Registration & official practice session (ELITE only)

Saturday, September 12, 2026

-Elite Qualifier Races & Youth races
BMX and MTB bike riders from across the region will battle it out for a chance to qualify for the Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships this October.

*Dependent on sign-ups, we may add on a freestyle event for community members who use the track via other means of transport such as scooters, skateboards, wheelchairs & or skates. Stay tuned for updates!

*ABOUT THE EVENT*

The Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships is a global event series that welcomes riders from various bike sports to compete on an equal platform, enabling local heroes to compete against top talents. This groundbreaking series truly promotes the spirit of competition and inclusivity, which has thrived globally.

The top four riders in the elite categories at every qualifier earn a coveted spot at the World Championships—and event winners receive paid flights and accommodations to compete on the world stage.

Haywood County is excited to partner with the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority to host this high-energy event and showcase Haywood County as a premier outdoor recreation destination.

Riders interested in participating can contact [email protected]. Haywood County Recreation and Parks is also looking to collect non-cash donations for prizes for the top winners in each category. You can also reach out to [email protected] if you are interested in donating items.

The full 2026 international series schedule is as follows:
Australia — Kirkham Park in Camden, Sydney
New Zealand — Waihi
Austria — Area 47
Nicaragua — Youth Center Popoyo, La Virgen
Spain — Ainsa
China — Shenyang
USA — Erie (CO)
USA — Rocklin (CA)
Great Britain — Hillsborough (Sheffield)
Germany — Köngen
South Africa — Pretoria, Eduplex Sport Pump Track
Belgium — Middelkerke
France — Valence
Sweden — Marma
USA — Joplin (Missouri)
China — Yantai City
Argentina — Neuquen
Slovakia — Košice
Malaysia — Miri
USA — Waynesville, Haywood County (North Carolina)
Italy — Gambettola
Switzerland — Ilanz
Chile — Kotaix (Puerto Varas)

For full details about the organization and international series, visit www.PumpTrackWorldChampionships.com

Get ready, Haywood County—this isn’t just a race. It’s a rollercoaster of speed, skill, and community spirit. See you at the track!

02/12/2026

Spring Session of 7 Moons MTB now open for business! Great opportunity for the beginning rider. Check it out! You won’t be disappointed.

Spring session loading…🌗🚵🏽‍♀️🚵🏾‍♂️

Join 7 Moons MTB for the adult progression program starting in March. Open to all! Skill building, good rides, and a supportive crew of GSMBC certified instructors ready to help you no matter what your ride level. 😁

No equipment, no problem! 7 Moons can provide bikes and helmets to folks who are curious about mountain biking. All free. You in? Skoden!

Registration is now open! Link: https://form.jotform.com/team/240396101599056/7-moons-mtb-2026-registration-form

02/03/2026

We lost a dear friend today.

Ed Sutton was more than a master trail builder, he was a builder of community, of friendships, and of joy. Ed did so much for mountain biking in Cherokee and across Western North Carolina, and his impact will be felt forever.

Among many other trails, Ed was the builder of Fire Mountain Trails in Cherokee, the first bike-optimized singletrack on Tribal land in the nation. When we first talked about what Fire Mountain could be, Ed said he wanted to create “trails that dance.” From that moment on, he became our dancing partner, and he’s been dancing with us ever since.

But as great as his trails were, Ed was an even better person. His positive attitude, his exuberance for life, and that ever-present smile were simply unmatched. He made everyone around him happier just by being there.

Our hearts are with Sophia and Rudy and they will remain in our thoughts and prayers. I loved that man deeply, and he will never be forgotten.

Ride on, my friend. The trails and our hearts are still dancing because of you. 💔🚵‍♀️

10/15/2025

Tomorrow night! Ride, dogs and the Ref Bull Rampage! At FMT!

Join us Thursday (tomorrow 10/16) for Ride & Scary Haunts! Janette will be hosting Fire Mountain Thursday with a ride at 5pm ‼️Update: Rampage has been delayed‼️

Hotdogs will be served, bring a snack to pitch in! If you’re into spooky season 🎃 there will be TWO haunted attractions opening just below the trails starting at 7:30 pm until ???..depends on traffic.