Uwharrie OHV Trail Complex

The Brown Mountain OHV Area occupies roughly 5,700 acres of Pisgah National Forest in Caldwell County, North Carolina, accessed via NC-181 north of Morganton near the hamlet of Collettsville at the foot of the Blue Ridge. This is the only designated OHV riding area within Pisgah National Forest — 34 miles of trail on forest roads and purpose-built single-track winding through mixed-hardwood Appalachian mountain terrain between 1,200 and 3,500 feet elevation. Trails are rated beginner to intermediate, with wide gravel forest road segments connecting narrower wooded loops with occasional stream crossings. Motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs are permitted; no full-size 4x4 trucks. The location shares its name with Brown Mountain, famous regionally for the Brown Mountain Lights phenomenon — a scenic draw in its own right. No day-use fee or OHV registration is required for North Carolina National Forest riding. The Mortimer Campground, approximately 4 miles from the trailhead, provides primitive and developed sites for multi-day visitors. Managed by the Grandfather Ranger District.

Brushy Mountain Motorsports Park is the largest commercial off-road riding destination in the North Carolina Piedmont — 100+ miles of trails across 3,000+ acres in the Brushy Mountain range of Alexander County, approximately 70 miles northwest of Charlotte and 50 miles northeast of Hickory. The terrain is rolling Piedmont transitioning to genuine mountain foothills, with trail character ranging from beginner-friendly gravel paths to steep, rock-embedded hill climbs rated for experienced riders. The park caters to ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, and 4x4 vehicles across separate trail networks designed to keep fast and slow traffic from conflicting. Multiple creek crossings and elevated ridgeline routes offer scenic payoff alongside the technical challenge. On-site amenities include primitive and RV camping, cabin rentals, a general store, and a pavilion used for group events. Daily riding fees apply; group rates and annual passes are available. The park operates private property trails not subject to national forest rules — machine width and speed limits are park-defined. Brushy Mountain fills a critical gap in the NC OHV landscape between the coastal plain mud parks to the east and the national forest systems of the western mountains.

The Wayehutta OHV Area sprawls across approximately 6,000 acres of Nantahala National Forest in Jackson County, deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains of far-western North Carolina, accessed from US-23/74 south of Sylva. The system follows a network of old logging roads built to extract timber from these steep slopes in the early 20th century — grades are aggressive, switchbacks are tight, and the mountain character is authentic rather than engineered. Approximately 28 miles of marked trails traverse mixed-conifer and hardwood forest through multiple watershed drainages, crossing numerous Forest Service bridges over clear mountain streams. The trail network passes near a scenic waterfall accessible by trail on the main loop. ATVs, side-by-sides, and motorcycles are permitted; width restrictions apply on certain connector loops. No day-use fee or OHV registration required. Dispersed camping is available throughout the surrounding Nantahala National Forest with a 14-night limit. The Wayehutta area sits within striking distance of the Cherohala Skyway, making it a natural complement to a dual-sport motorcycle trip through the southern Appalachians. Managed by the Nantahala Ranger District.