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4.5 miles
Distance
719 ft
Climb
-1,802 ft
Descent
00:51:37
Avg time
-1,083 ft
Altitude change
1,622 ft
Altitude min
3,188 ft
Altitude max
2,705 ft
Altitude start
1,621 ft
Altitude end
-4.5%
Grade
-57.2%
Grade max
36.1%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
3 miles
Distance down
915 ft
Distance flat
00:51:37
Avg time
Kitsuma Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaKitsuma-Bernard Mountain Area
Old Fort, North Carolina -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlue (4 votes)
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Local Popularity95 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 80 in Trail Running
- 60 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionDownhill PrimaryPopular Direction Shown
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingHard
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SeasonYear Round
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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TTFs on TrailBerm, Jump, Rock Garden
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Land Owner
Kitsuma is a point to point singletrack trail that has what was originally machine groomed tread, but over time this has evolved into a rougher experience. A steep, punchy switchback filled climb from Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC, followed by downhill ridgeline trail to the parking lot of Old Fort Picnic Area. It can be accessed from the base at Old Fort Picnic Grounds or the base of the upper climb.
Access Info
Two parking areas - Kitsuma parking lot via Royal Gorge Rd or Old Fort Picnic Area. The climb from Old Fort picnic area can be either up Old Hwy 70/ Point Lookout Trail (USFS gated paved greenway next to Piney Grove Church) or Mill Creek Road (paved then turns to gravel) for a longer climb.
Trail Supporters
USFSLand Manager
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 6 rides
- 18 miles average
6 Months
- 194 rides
- 14 miles avg distance
All
- 836 rides
- Last: Jun 20, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Kitsuma Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
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- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
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Trail Last Ridden
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- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
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Trail Popularity ?
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Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
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Directions to kitsuma trailhead
(35.621150, -82.268390)
Photos
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Videos
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Routes with this trail
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Nearby Trails
- Mill Creek Road 1,801 ft
- Parris Creek Trail 2 miles
- Bernard Mountain Road 2 miles
- East Ridge Trail 3 miles
- Old Mitchell Toll Road 3 miles
Kitsuma-Bernard Mountain Area
- By blowmyfuse
& contributors - #39628 - 30,933 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kitsuma
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Where is Kitsuma located?
Kitsuma is located in Kitsuma-Bernard Mountain Area, Old Fort, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Kitsuma-Bernard Mountain Area trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 35.62115, -82.26839.
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How hard is Kitsuma?
Kitsuma is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 4.5%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
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What is the elevation gain for Kitsuma?
Kitsuma has 719 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,802 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,622 ft to 3,188 ft.
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Is Kitsuma a point to point trail?
Kitsuma is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
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