Road Routes

River Arts to Haywood Road Brewery Hop: 

Connect two distinct parts of Asheville (with multiple options to grab a beer!) with this route. Park at the Craven Street Public Parking area off Emma Rd and Hazel Mill, and jump onto the French Broad Greenway for about half a mile, passing New Belgium on your right and the French Broad River on your left. As soon as you pass under the bridge, hop onto Haywood Road heading south. You’ll hit Archetype Brewing next (after a little bit of a climb), and turn right at the light to continue down Haywood Road and into historic West Asheville. Pass by The Whale, One World Brewing, and Westville Pub amongst many other cafes, restaurants, and shops. Flip around at UpCountry where you’ll clock in at just about 3 miles, and head back the way you came (feel free to stop by for a beer if you haven’t already…)

 Length: Out and back 6 miles 

 Parking: Craven Street Public Parking Lot

photo by Donnie Jones

North Asheville Kimberly / Country Club Loop

Contributed by staff member Thomas Brown

Short, simple and sweet! A classic 4 mile loop in North Asheville.

Park at Jus’ Running or nearby. Head south on Merrimon Ave and take a left on Clearview Terrace. Follow Clearview Terrace and take an immediate right on Murdock Ave. Follow Murdock Ave past Weaver Park and take a left on Evelyn Pl. Follow Evelyn Pl until the stoplight and take a left on Kimberly Ave. Follow Kimberly Ave for approximately 1 mile until you reach Ira B Jones Elementary. Continue right onto Kimberly Ave for another 400 meters and take a right on Country Club Road. Follow Country Club Road which will immediatley curve to the right and continue on for over a mile until you circle back to Kimberly Ave. (Watch the stop signs). Take a left on Kimberly ave until you reach Evelyn Place. Take a right on Evelyn Place and shortly after another right on to Murdock Ave. Continue on Murdock Ave until you reach Clearview Terrace and take a right on Merrimon Ave and you’ll be right back where you started.

Length: 4.0 miles

Terrain: Pavement

Parking: Limited Jus’ Running Parking

Map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5187890188

Sunset Loop: 

Contributed by staff member Thomas Brown 

A classic 6.2 mile loop in North Asheville. Park at Jus’ Running or nearby. Head south on Merrimon Ave and take a left on Clearview Terrace. Follow Clearview Terrace and take an immediate right on Murdock Ave. Follow Murdock Ave for approximately 1 mile until you reach Hillside St. Follow Hillside St until you reach Charlotte St and take a right. Follow Charlotte St until you reach Clyde St and take a left. Follow Clyde St until you reach Sunset Dr and take a left and continue as the road winds up the hill. Follow Sunset Dr for approximately 2 1/2 miles until you reach N Griffing Blvd. Continue on N Griffing Blvd as the road begins to wind down through the neighborhood until you reach Country Club Rd. Take a left at Country Club Rd and continue until you reach Kimberly Ave. Once at Kimberly Ave, take a left and continue until you reach Evelyn Place. Take a right on Evelyn Place and shortly after another right on to Murdock Ave. Continue on Murdock Ave until you reach Clearview Terrace and take a right on Merrimon Ave and you’ll be right back where you started.

Length: 6.2 miles

Terrain: Pavement

Parking: Limited Jus’ Running Parking

Map: https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4549277056 

Photo by Rachel Veale 

West Asheville Lasso

Contributed by JR Staff Adam Lion, photo from romanticasheville.com

Route Description:

This loop explores the neighborhoods and greenways of West Asheville. Enjoy running alongside the French Broad River, the single-track greenspaces of Caine and Hominy Creeks, and the bustling “Main Street” of West Asheville- Haywood Road. Run the loop in western attire, take a selfie and tag us on Instagram, and receive 10% off your next purchase at JR! 

Instructions: 

Park at the French Broad River Park. Take a right on the paved pathway, and follow until the path turns into gravel. Run on the gravel alongside the French Broad River, passing underneath the Amboy Road Bridge. Here, the path will turn back into a paved greenway. Follow this greenway for approximately 2.5 miles, until arriving at Hominy Creek River Park. Take a right onto Hominy Creek Road. There is no sidewalk on this road, so be very cautious of cars! After .5 miles take a left onto Shelbourne Road, and then quickly take a left onto the Hominy Creek greenway. Follow the single-track along this creek for .75 miles until arriving at Sand Hill road. Take a left onto this road and follow for .33 miles until arriving at the stoplight intersection at Bear Creek road. Take a left onto Bear Creek road, and then immediately take a right onto the single-track of Canie Creek Greenway. The entrance to this greenway is unmarked, so keep your eyes open! Follow Canie Creek greenway until its terminus, where you will take a right onto School Road. Follow this road (which is slightly uphill) for approximately .75 miles, until it turns into Mimosa Road. Run on Mimosa Road until it turns into Sulphur Springs road at Malvern Hills Park. Follow Sulphur Springs road for 1 mile, until its terminus at Haywood Road. Take a right onto bustling Haywood Road, passing a cornucopia of local shops, breweries, cafes and restaurants. After 1.5 miles, continue straight onto Beverly Road. After .25 miles, take a right onto Riverview Drive, which is a quick uphill downhill jaunt back to French Broad River Park. 

Length:

9.33 Miles 

Terrain:

50% road, 40% greenway, 10% single track

Parking:

French Broad River Park

Map:

https://www.strava.com/routes/2984518016868703892

South Slope Stroll: 

Contributed by staff member Miranda Satterfield

Park at Jus’ Running or at W.T. Weaver Park and begin heading down Murdock Ave until it dead ends onto Hillside St. Take a Left on Hillside, followed by an immediate Right onto Charlotte St. Stay on Charlotte St for about ¼ mile and take a Right onto E Chesnut St. Go a block or so and take a Left onto Central Ave which will bring you underneath I-240 and onto Woodfin St. Take a Left on Woodfin St and then another Left at the traffic circle to get on College St. You will then take your first Right onto S Charlotte St and head downhill towards Church St. Take a Right on Church St, followed by an immediate Left onto Buxton Ave. Resist the temptations of mouth-watering aromas from Buxton Hall BBQ, and instead keep going straight onto you reach Coxe Ave. Take a Right on Coxe Ave which you will follow into downtown until it dead ends at Patton Ave. A Left onto Patton Ave, a quick Right onto Otis St, followed by a Right onto N French Broad Ave, a Left on Haywood St., and then an immediate Right onto Montford Ave. Enjoy the net downhill through Montford as you take a Left onto Courtland Ave and then a Right onto Pearson Dr. Remain on Pearson Dr (this road veers to the left at one point – make sure to keep staying on Pearson). After .6 miles on Pearson Dr., take a Right onto Watuga St and then your third Left onto Montford Ave, followed by a quick Right onto Panola St. Stay on Panola until you take a Right onto Cumberland Ave, and then a Left onto Catawba St. Hop onto the paved Reedy Creek Greenway to your Left just before intersecting with Broadway St. Keep going on this greenway (you will cross Broadway St at one point – there is a traffic light and crosswalk) until it ends at the intersection of W.T. Weaver Blvd. Take a Left on Merrimon Ave. and you will be finished when you see Jus’ Running! Congratulations. 

Length: 6.3 miles

Terrain: Pavement

Parking: Limited Jus’ Running Parking

Map: https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7609972

Photo by Rachel Veale

Urban Explorer

Contributed by JR staff Savanna Moeller

Route Description: Enjoy this flatter route that bisects North Asheville, Downtown Asheville, and Montford before returning back to the starting location at Jus’ Running (Merrimon Ave). The only hills runners will face are when crossing through Downtown Asheville and parts of Montford and are all fairly minor. Sidewalks are available for the vast majority of the route. The final ~1.5 mile of running is on the paved Reed Creek Greenway. 

Route Instructions: Begin at Jus’ Running (523 Merrimon Ave). Take a Left out of the Jus’ Running lot and then an immediate Left and immediate Right to get onto Murdock Ave. Take a Left shortly after the Beth Israel Synagogue to get onto Evelyn Pl and then an immediate Right at the stop light onto Kimberly Ave. Run about ¼ mile and then take a Left onto Gertrude Pl. Take a Right once Gertrude dead ends at Evelyn Pl and then another immediate Right to get on Charlotte St. Begin running south on Charlotte St towards Downtown Asheville. You will cross over I-240 and then enter Downtown. Take a Right at College St. Go for about ⅓ mile then take a Left onto Market St and then an immediate Right onto Patton Ave. Go a few hundred yards and then take a Right onto Haywood St. Follow Haywood St until you see Montford Ave. Take a Right on Montford Ave which will take you out of Downtown Asheville and into Montford. Go about 1 mile down Montford Ave and then take a Right onto Panola St. Curve around Panola St and then take a Right onto Cumberland Ave. Curve around Cumberland Ave and then take a Left onto Catawba St. Take a left onto the Reed Creek Greenway which you will see immediately before Broadway St. Follow the Reed Creek Greenway (it eventually crosses Broadway St) all the way back to the finish of the route at Jus’ Running. 

Length: 5.3 miles (8.7 km)

Terrain: Paved. Mostly flat with a few rolling hills

Map: https://www.strava.com/routes/2924368286740937510

Biltmore Estate:

This beautiful chateau, with gardens and grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, has over 22 miles of pavement and singletrack trail lining the French Broad River and surrounding forests. Access to the Biltmore grounds requires a general admission ticket, which also includes admission into the Biltmore House and Gardens and the Antler Hill Village and Winery. See more about Admission here: https://www.biltmore.com/landing/ticket-options/

 Length: Varying, up to 22 miles of pavement / trail

 Map: https://www.biltmore.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/biltmore-trail-map-hiking-biking-web.pdf

photo by Joanne O’Sullivan

Trail / Mixed Terrain Routes

Asheville Botanical Garden Trail:

An urban oasis with a shady half-mile loop trail that highlights 600 species of plants native to the Southern Appalachians. Hop onto the nearby Reid Creek Greenway that connects at W T Weaver Blvd and Broadway if you want to extend your run with some pavement. Swing by Hi-Five coffee for a cup of coffee or a pastry while you’re in the area!

Length: Half-mile loop 

Map: https://ashevillebotanicalgardens.org/our-gardens/trail-map/

Sam’s Gap to Big Bald:

Contributed by Luke Paulson

This is an out-and-back route on the single track of the Appalachian Trail and is one of Luke Paulson’s (Jus’ Running store manager) top three running routes in the Asheville area. 6 miles “out” and 6 miles “back” for a total of just over 12 miles. Expect well-maintained and well-marked singletrack for the entirety of this route that climbs from 3,800’ above sea level to 5,500’ above sea level. While the trail is maintained throughout the route’s entirety, it does get much more technical as you get closer to Big Bald (turn around point) featuring lots of scattered rocks in the final mile. Expect lots of uphill on the way “out” and lots of downhill on the way “back”, though most of the elevation change is gradual to moderate (only a few steeper inclines). Expect stunning 360 degree mountain views at the turn around point (Big Bald summit). 

Route Instructions: Plan to park in the roadside parking lot located at Sam’s Gap (located 30m south of I-26 overpass). Enter the singletrack trail through the wooden fence on the other side of the street directly across from the parking lot (Old Asheville Highway). Stay on the singletrack for the entirety of this route. You will emerge onto Big Bald shortly after 6 miles. This is your turnaround point. You will go back the same way that you came from. Look for white spray painted dashes on the trees – these are your trailblazes and indicate you are on the right trail. 

Luke’s Tips: This route is at 3k-5.5k feet above sea level which means temperatures will be about 10 degrees F less than in Asheville. Don’t be surprised to find significant snowpack in the winter months. While there is often flowing water along the route (especially in the 2 miles before the turnaround), plan to be self-sufficient and pack all the water and nutrition that you may need. Be careful – this route is for runners familiar with technical terrain and will take 2-5 hours to complete. Enjoy.

Length: ~12.3 miles (roundtrip total)

Terrain: 100% singletrack trail

Difficulty: Very Strenuous (recommended for runners capable of handling technical terrain for 4+ hours)

Parking: Sam’s Gap Trailhead off I-26

Map: https://www.strava.com/routes/2923684698326004912

Photo by Rachel Veale

Greens Lick Grind:

Contributed by JR Staff Adam Lion, photo by Rachel Veale

Route Description:

This loop is in the popular Bent Creek Experimental forest, just 15 minutes southwest of Asheville. Enjoy scenic views and extremely steep single track trail during this 8.2 mile loop, which climbs 1,400 ft into the mountains. This is a difficult run with a mixture of technical single-track, gravel forest-service roads, and a small amount of paved road running. 

Instructions: 

Park at the Hard Times parking lot in Bent Creek. Begin your run at Hard Times road, which is gated off to vehicles. Take a right at the T-Intersection onto Hard Times Spur. Continue onto Hard Times Road (FS481F). Pass the Wesley Branch Road intersection, and continue onto Campground Connector. At the intersection of Bent Creek Gap road, continue straight onto Boyd Branch Road. Immediately after you pass the gate, take a left onto Lower Sidehill Trail, which is single-track. After about 1 mile, take a right at the T-Intersection onto Laurel Branch Road. Stay on Laurel Branch Road for .5 miles, and then take a left onto the single-track of Greens Lick. Climb this steep trail for 2 miles, gaining 800 feet of vertical gain. At the top of Greens Lick, take a right onto the single track of N. Boundary Road. Descend on this trail for 1 mile, until arriving at the 5-points intersection. Here, take a soft right onto Ingles Field Gap trail. After descending for .5 miles, take a sharp right onto Ingles Field Gap Connector. At the T-Intersection, take a left onto Boyd Branch Road. After .75 miles, take a right onto Ledford Branch Road. Continue left onto the paved Wesley Branch road, which takes you back to the Hard Times Parking Lot. 

Length:

8.2 Miles 

Terrain:

50% Single Track, 45% gravel road, 5% paved road. 

Difficulty:

Advanced

Parking:

Hard Times Parking lot in the Bent Creek Experimental forest. 

Curtis Creek Climbs:

Contributed by JR Staff Rachel Veale, photo from visitnc.com 

Route Description:

Starting and ending at the Curtis Creek Campground, this climbing-heavy loop takes you up 3 miles of moderate gravel climbing, then connects to the rolling, technical Lead Mine Gap Trail before wrapping up on Hickory Branch Trail.

Instructions:

Park just past Curtis Creek Campground (You’ll pass a campground area / pit toilets on your right. Keep driving, and there will be a public parking area on your left hand side next to a trail sign). Head north on Curtis Creek Rd for ~3.5 miles, climbing over 2,000 ft until you hit the trail intersection for Lead Mine Gap trail. This turn can be hard to miss – keep your eyes peeled for a sharp turn up the mountain on your right side. Stay on Lead Mine Gap Trail for about 2.2 miles, climbing up and down some technical terrain (and most likely brushy vegetation if it’s summertime) until you hit the turn off for Hickory Branch trail on your right side. Take Hickory Branch for the final ~1.5 miles of this route, losing 1,100 ft of gain as you descend back into Curtis Creek Campground where you started! Author / JR Staff Rachel Veale highly recommends taking a celebratory dip in Curtis Creek.

Length:

7.15 miles 

Elevation:

2,177 ft

Terrain: 

50% gravel, 50% singletrack 

Parking:

Curtis Creek Campground, 3799 State Rd 1227 Old Fort, NC 28762

Map: 

https://www.strava.com/routes/2976590540053668872

DuPont State Forest 

This state forest is tucked away in the Little River Valley near Brevard, NC. About 30 min southwest of Asheville, DuPont is a local favorite weekend go-to. With 10,000 acres of hiking and biking trails, waterfalls, lakes, rocky ridges, and mountain summits, this State Forest is a must-see (there is a reason why we have hosted an annual 12K here for 20 years and counting!) 

One route we recommend: 7.6 mile High Falls / Three Lakes Loop. It is mostly gravel with a few easy singletrack segments. Park at the Visitor Center (water and restrooms available here) and head South towards several of the lakes on the DuPont property. You’ll pass Lake Dense, Lake Julia, and Lake Alford before heading back north to where you started. This route includes Buck Forest Road, Pitch Pine Trail, and the Three Lakes Trail. 

Length: Varying distances 

Map: https://www.dupontforest.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Kiosk-Map-2018_withWaterFallCorridor_Draft7_optimized.pdf

Beaver Lake Loop

This jogging trail forms a part-asphalt, part-dirt loop around the man-made Beaver Lake and the surrounding neighborhood. Beautiful water and mountain views. And you can stop for a cup of coffee and a donut at Geraldine’s Bakery right down Merrimon road after! 

Length: 1.9 mile loop 

Parking: Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary 

Mountains to Sea Trail: 

North Carolina’s state trail and longest marked footpath, the Mountains to Sea Trail (or the “MST” as we say around here) stretches almost 1,200 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. In the Asheville area, the MST roughly parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway, and can be accessed at various points for a good out and back run – we recommend parking at the Folk Art Center, Rattlesnake Lodge Trail at the intersection of the Parkway and Ox Creek Road, or Craggy Gardens for exceptional mountain views. The entirety of the MST is marked by white blazes. 

Fun Fact: One of the area’s most historic trail races, the Shut-In Ridge Trail Race hosted every November by Jus’ Running, is a 17.8-mile section of the MST that runs from the mouth of Bent Creek all the way to the Mount Pisgah parking area. With over 5,300 feet of elevation gain, this run is a significant challenge. 

Length: Out and back varying distance

Map: https://mountainstoseatrail.org/the-trail/map/

photo by Justin Costner