Smith Lake bike trails offer
enjoyable outdoor activities

by Stephenie Tatum
Paraglide

	photo by Metro Creative Graphics Mountain biking has become a popular outdoor activity within the past decade. Fort Bragg has three trails, with more than 18 miles of riding space for bikers with different levels of experience.

Looking to get outside on your bicycle and enjoy the great outdoors? Look no further than just behind Simmons Army Airfield to the Smith Lake bike trails.

Whether you are cycling for fun or fitness, the trails provide nice scenery, varying challenges and are open to the public.
The Smith Lake bike trails opened in 1995 with about 7.5 miles of track and now include more than 18 miles combined.
“All of the trails are pretty similar in terrain. The black (advanced) trail is the longest and includes some short moderate climbs, whereas the beginner and intermediate trails are more flat and shorter in distance. The green (beginner) trail is about three miles long, the blue (intermediate) trail is about six miles and the black advanced trail is about nine miles long,” said David J. Sawicki, chief, Outdoor Recreation Branch.

The rules of the bike trails are:

• Helmets are required.

• Bikers must stay on the marker bike trails, they are not allowed on the horseback riding trails.

• Bikers must yield to horses at all times. It is recommended that they dismount their bikes until the horse and rider pass.

• No littering.

• For bikers who are up for a great day outdoors, Sawicki has a few suggestions:

• Make sure your bike is mechanically sound.

• Enjoy the beautiful scenery that this area has to offer.

• Always bring water and let someone know that you are on the trails.

• Bikers who want more of a challenge can stop by the equipment checkout center. They can provide information on additional places to ride within an hour of Fort Bragg. Equipment checkout also has a full service bike repair shop that performs all levels of servicing on mountain and road bikes. They can also order most name brand bike parts and components and have them in the next day at very competitive prices.

Because Smith Lake is responsible for the maintenance of the trails, the cost for use of the trail is $5 for a day pass or $20 for a year pass. It is important for riders to check in at the Smith Lake Recreation Center and pay the modest fee, unless they hold a season’s pass. The money collected is used to maintain the trails including grooming the trails to remove pine needles, cutting back vegetation, helping to control erosion and repairing bridges periodically, said Sawicki.

The trails are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., May 1 through Sept. 30 and from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Oct. 1 to April 30. Riding is not allowed after hours and the trail is open on holidays during the summer months. For more information, call the Smith Lake Recreation Office at
396-5979.

How to get there: Take 210 south from Spring Lake past Simmons Army Airfield. Turn left at the Smith lake sign and follow the signs to the Smith Lake recreation area from there. Additional signs will take you to the bike trail.