MtbREVIEW.com supports IMBA and responsible riding. Please submit only legal
trails to our list. If you discover a trail posted on this site that is not
open for public mountain biking, please email our IMBA friends at
info@imba.com with detailed info.
They'll help us remove the unauthorized trail from the site.
Click here for info about keeping our trails open.
If this is the correct location, click "Save Point" below or type the nearest location (country, city, Zip, or land mark) and the map will pan over to the location if the location is found.
Save Point
Go to Nearest Location:
Lat:
Lng:
Morrisville Trails
38 reviews
4.21 of 5
This trail is very old news to many Cary/Raleigh mtn. biking enthusiasts, and like 1st Class, much of the original trail has been destroyed by recent develpment (the Preston Business park in this case). And Lord knows we NEED more business parks in Cary by crimininy!! Anyway, I just wanted people to know that a significant portion of the trail still exists, in fact, a new section has been recently added. In the "old days", there were basically 2 loops (an outer and inner loop) which provided some great mtn. biking (i.e. lots of steep climbs, tricky descents, log crossings, fast rolling sections, etc...) in the Cary/Morrisville area. Now, about 1/2 of each loop remains plus the new section. So what you've got is basically 3 different trails. But it is possible to make a "loop" of sorts by jumping on to the sewer easements and connecting to other trail sections. The new section can be accessed by either jumping onto the old outer loop (from the creek entrance) and riding clockwise until you see a trail breaking off to the left (just past the short in & out loop w/ the big tree crossing) or if you come in the other way, the new trail breaks off to the right just past the second sewer easement intersection with the outer loop. Confusing enough for you?? Just go out there and ride, you'll find it sooner or later. As expected the new section is a bit rough, but has potential once it gets some traffic. All of the trails have some fairly technical aspects to them (steep/rooty climbs, a few relatively big log crossings, a tight bridge crossing) so beginners may struggle out here. Another little tid bit, you can ride these trails then pedal on over to nearby Bond Park (off of High House Road) for a quick cool down around the lake trail - just watch out for walkers/runners. And for the record, I'm not sure why these are considered the "Morrisville Trails" as I am quite sure this area is located in the city limits of Cary. I can only assume this trail was located in Morrisville and then Cary annexed it in.
In summary (finally), I know this trail isn't much, but seeing as Cary trys to develope every square inch of land it can, this trail represents an oasis of sorts (albeit a much smaller one now). Hopefully, they won't build this area out anytime soon and perhaps a few more trail sections can be added. Just thought some of you Cary mtn. bike veterans should know it's still out there.
Take Cary Parkway (from US1/Hwy 64 intersection) all the way to the Preston Corners intersection. Cross over High House Road and keep going straight until you see a day care facility on your right. Park in this lot near the dumpsters. The trail head starts just past the bushes near the dumpsters. There is another trail head, but I can't recall the name of the road (intersects Cary Parkway right before the new bridge) which provides access to the creek crossing entrance
Summary: Thanks to the trail builders for the recent work to substantially expand and improve the trails. I have been riding this complex since 1994 and have seen the complex expand and contract many times. The expansion work on the Park Place/old Bristol Myers plant side, following closure of the section across the railroad tracks due to development, has been a savings grace for bikers living in Cary area. I have been done similar activities on a prime trail in Southwest Raleigh since 1996 and know how back-breaking it is. I come out to Morrisville once a month for variety but have skipped recent months due to gas prices and additional (wet conditions) trails at Centennial. I used to have to ride Morrisville complex twice to get good work-out. Now one loop is fine. I'll go with 4-star rating because of distance.
Recommended Route: Park at Park Place shopping center and ride down hill behind Ivy Cottage tea house to go under Cary Parkway underpass to start trail. Can start loop in either direction.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Hog Run, Lake Crabtree, Centennial Campus (don't park at school-park on Crump Road or near Alumni Center under construction on bluff above Lake Raleigh)
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Summary: sad to say the good times are almost over. I've been keeping this trail my own little secret for the past few months, except of course for those who rode it in its prime. Today as i was riding into the woods from the red gate entrance, and i saw a sign. the land is now for sale for commercial use. within the next few months i have a sickening feeling the land will be dozed so someone can build yet another home depot, grocery store, bank, or gas station (havent you noticed the shortage in cary? haha yea right). so to you i say get out there and ride it while you can. In fact i really want you to ride it because once you get down in those woods by youself with the snakes (you'll see them i promise) it gets quite sketchy. Once this place is gone, nothing in cary will be left except for crabtree and umstead. RIDE.
Recommended Route: Two ways- 1- park in the shopping center where bear rock cafe and park place 16 is. You will see a store called ivy cottage where hangers used to be. At the end of their lot there is a dirt trail down to the bridge.cross the tracks and then head into the woods. From there you can go left or right, but it is one loop. at the end of the loop (red loop i believe, it is marked with occasional flags and spray paint), you can either go back to the parking lot or proceed to the green loop. the green loop brings you through a lowland and then to a bunch of hills on mosly open land. CAUTION!: although i have never seen anyone use it, once you get to the open land if you look hard enough there is a rickety old deer stand up in the trees. my advice: keep up your speed,make noise, just make yourself look as least like an animal as possible. If you stop, it is possible to be mistaken for a deer. continue on and you will find a service road. Follow it to the end and you will end up at a red gate, dumping you out on the street that connects morrrisvile parkway to cary parkway. Essentially think of the trail as a figure eight design.
route 2: start at the red gate, then do as you please...
Other recommended trails in the same area: rr, crabtree, blah...
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Summary: Remnants of this trail remain are are accessible from the rear of the Cheer Gym off Towerview Court near the Town of Cary OPS center...or by riding under down the embankment of the Caryparkway/Railroad bridge near the Parkway and NC54 Chapel Hill Rd....nice trail for a short night ride after work or in linking with Crabtree/Umstead for a long one...tends to be very wet after rain...
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date June 24, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: Tom
, from Cary
Summary: Well folks, the death nell is rattling in the throat of what was once an awesome trail. They are grinding up and spitting out large chunks of forest and preparing for manicured lawns and backyard gazebos. So far they have confined their work to the area from Cary Parkway to around Weatherstone Elementary. That means there are still trails from Weatherstone to James Jackson Rd, the section with the most terrain change; however, the trails haven't been maintained and there are more than a few trees down. If you want to make one more visit and wish a 'old friend' farewell you still can, but I think I'll just remember it as it once was in it's heyday, arguably the best trail in Cary. My first encounter with my wife was on these trails, so the memory of this place will always be near and dear to me. Sometimes progress sucks...
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Review Date May 3, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: Joe Fertile
, from Cary, NC
Summary: Rode on Wednesday, 4/30 and one of my frequented trails was shaved off by 2 or 3 minutes. Rode yesterday and the trail was basically toast (had to carry the bike many times to again find the trail. There's still a few short runs here and there but it's hardly worth it and they haven't finished clearing yet :( I knew it was coming but this ride was sooooo much fun....bummed out in Cary...
Would you like to Comment? Join MTBR.com for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
4.21 of 5
4 of 5
3 of 5
4 of 5
3 of 5
5 of 5
