Your source for Mountain Biking in the Triangle Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill	Our sponsors support this site, the mountain bike community at large, and you. Please support them.
Home General Trails Events Forums Passion Other Cycling

New Light Trails

Current Trail Status

	Status	When Updated	Who Updated	More Info		Help keep this info accurate by clicking the red bicycle
	open	07/01 3:28 pm	edoiron

Average ratings submitted by users                     Write a review   User submitted reviews

Category	Average Rating
Overall :	4.3 / 5.0   based on 14 votes
Technical :	4.4 / 5.0   based on 14 votes
Climbing :	4.3 / 5.0   based on 14 votes
Freeride :	3.1 / 5.0   based on 14 votes
Scenery/Wildlife :	4.0 / 5.0   based on 14 votes
Flow :	2.8 / 5.0   based on 8 votes

This trail is a beautiful mix of tech and flow. The hilly terraine is littered with roots, rocks, logs, and dips. There are several rock gardens to hone your skills on. It follows the shore of Falls Lake and the other side of the loop flanks a couple of double tracks. They are bidirectional and ride nice either direction.

A big thank you to NRMBA for working with the State Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) to allow mountain bikers on this land. It's a shame these trails aren't open every day of the year, because they are miles and miles of the sweetest singletrack around--especially for intermediate and advanced riders. This trail was voted number one by TriangleMTB.com users in the fall of 2002. It's a real gem!

Even when there's lots of folks there, you can ride all day in these woods and hardly see another rider. But don't worry about getting lost, because NRMBA volunteers have done a great job of putting "parking lot this way" signs up at the end of every trail. Steep and rocky hill climbs, decent downhills, small and large gullies, tight turns, big log rolls and beautiful views of the forest and lake await you.

IMPORTANT RULES: According to the agreement with WRC, they will only be open on Sundays beginning September 1 each year through May 14. From May 15 through August 31, they are open everyday. Please respect these rules--the area will be closed to riders if anyone is seen riding on closed trails.

The WRC has one mission, which is to protect hunters and hunting rights. And they are immune from political pressure so if they decide to close down New Light, there is no recourse. Thanks for your cooperation.

Please leave your dog at home!! Dogs are not allowed.

Also, NRMBA does not condone night riding here.

Directions
Start at Crabtree Valley Mall. Get on NC 50 (Creedmoor Rd) and go North.
When you get to NC 98 turn right to go East on NC 98.
You will go about 1.6 miles to the first traffic light. Turn left at the light -- this is New Light Rd.
You will cross Falls Lake -- keep going and at about 3.35 mi (from the traffic light) you will see Old Weaver Trail on your left.
Turn left on Old Weaver Trail. Go 0.5 mile, and you will see a dirt road on your left with evidence of parking on the side of the road.
You can drive down this road for a few hundred feet and park or you can park on the side of road.

Rules of the Trail

• This is Wildlife Commission Land -- it can be closed to biking if we do not follow the rules.
• Ride ONLY ON SUNDAY during hunting season (1 Sept - May 14).
• Do not ride at night.
• Do not make unauthorized trails -- NRMBA is coordinating trails which are approved by Wildlife Commission.
• Do not bring your dog. Dogs are not allowed.
• Horses are not allowed on this land, if they are seen they should be reported.

Night rides are not allowed at this trail. You jeopardize the relationship with land managers and cyclists by riding at night here.

UPDATE: June 27, 2006
Left Loop and Right Loop closed
The Eastern Territory consisting of both Left Loop and Right Loop are permanently closed by order of the land management. Please respect the closure so as not to jeopardize access to New Light.

UPDATE: April 20, 2004
Burned Out trail closed

We have met with the Wildlife Resources Commission and whereas they are still allowing us to ride at New Light, they are concerned with the number of trails we have in the area and that we might be disrupting the wildlife. Therefore, they have asked us to shut down the Burned Out trail to provide an area for wildlife where we are not riding. So in about three weeks, we will be shutting down Burned Out…so enjoy it while you can. Also, please do not build any more trails at New Light. Wildlife is currently fine with the number of trails we will have but they do not want any more.

Finally, we will be organizing a trails day for New Light in the very near future. In general, the trails are in good shape but we do need a bit of maintenance work. Since TriangleMTB.com is the official web site for the North Raleigh Mountain Biking Association, please check here for details of the next trails day for New Light.

Thanks for your continued support

Sig Hutchinson
President
North Raleigh Mountain Biking Association

Rules, guidelines, and definitions for our TriangleMTB.com trail reviews

• The trail reviews should be reviews based on first hand knowledge. If you have never ridden the trail, then ride it before reviewing it.
• Obviously, the ratings and reviews should be just that, not big discussions, stuff for sale, or chit chat.
• Ratings should be made relative to the other trails in the greater triangle area of North Carolina (listed on our review page). For example, the "Technical" difficulty rating should be relative to the most technical trail listed on our review page.
• There should be no references to other reviews in your review (eg. you should not argue or state disagreement with other reviews).
• No profanity or vulgar words or context.
• Keep in mind, these reviews are opinions only. One mans pleasure is another mans pain. Take the reviews with a grain of salt.
• Please report inappropriate reviews using the link that appears beneath the rating summary of each review.

You must be logged into our forum to submit a trail review.

New Light trail has been reviewed 14 times by our trianglemtb.com guests.

Reviewed by: lostYankee Reviewed on: 06/01/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: edoiron Reviewed on: 05/30/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: jbravo Reviewed on: 05/27/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: Like2ride Reviewed on: 05/25/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	OMO, New Light is the best riding in the Raleigh area. I have not found any better. Throughout the entire trail there are rock gardens, log crossings, snake backs, roots, good up and down climbs…fantastic. If New Light is not open, then Beaver Dam is a 10 minute drive. This is good news since BD is the second best that I have ridden in this area.
Reviewed by: jkeatts21 Reviewed on: 05/22/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	I've only been riding for a few weeks ( years of BMX and other riding ) but these trails were intense. i had a blast between the rock gardens and random down hills but the switchbacks and hill climbs...all im gonna say is it'll help if your half billy goat. Ive been to legends and crabtree and falls...this one by far is the most technical. I wouldn't suggest doing it alone if your a beginner. actually i wouldn't suggest a beginner to do it at all..it was the first time i clipped in with my pedals and thank God i did. over all tough but great ride..you really feel like you've accomplished allot when you finish it.
Reviewed by: terrible1one3 Reviewed on: 05/21/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	This is my honest opinion, not meant to piss anyone off. I am thoroughly disappointed with these trails. I did an 8 mile loop there today and enjoyed 1.5-2 miles of it and the rest was pretty bad. I have been riding mountain bikes for over a year and on bicycles for about 15 years and I have NEVER been pissed off or upset about riding through 2 broken wrists, a missing tooth, 30+ stitches in my face... but today about 6 miles in I literally lost it. I was so upset with these trails and the fact that most of the time they were dangerous and not rideable. Jagged spaced out rocky sections that professional trials riders would have tons of trouble with, stumps from small trees that are right on the trail and hidden by the overgrown weeds and vine. General bad upkeep, minus the lack of ANY type of ability to get speed. I walked the bike the last 1.5 miles after going over the bars on one slightly downhill rocky section and catching my forearm on a sharp rock. I fell about 3 times and tipped over twice, just from twigs and rocks scattered throughout the middle of the trail. A lot of the "rock bridges" are completely loose and dangerous. I just really regretted going to these trails today... first time in 50-100 trips to the trails I actually regretted going and wished I were somewhere else even if it was somewhere not on my bike. I will never go back to this trail system again... I guess I should have listened more to trianglemtb's review.
Reviewed by: da newb Reviewed on: 05/19/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: vulcangreen Reviewed on: 04/27/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Report inappropriate review	The worst thing about this trail system is that it is only open on Sundays from September 1st to May 14th. Between May 15th and August 31st, you can ride it every day of the week! What can one really say about New Light? There are lots of adjectives to describe it but easy is not one that I have ever heard. There are some really hard sections in New Light. Long rooty, rocky climbs, log crossings, log rides, rock gardens, tight twists and turns are all in abundance. The great thing is that unlike Beaver Dam located a few miles away, there are ride outs. You can take one just a little at a time or bite into the whole thing. This is a place for mountain bikers. You won’t see guys out there on there cyclocross bikes and hybrids. This is the place that I make sure I have my bike pump, tubes, chain breaker, multi-tool, and cell phone. New Light is also a beautiful place to ride. It is miles from any interstate or major highway. There are rarely more than a handful of cars in the parking area. In fact, there have been many summer evening when I have gone out by myself and been the only person out there with hundreds of acres all to myself. New Light sits right on Falls Lake and there is often a cool breeze coming off of the water. During the peak of summer, it is as green as it gets. There are moist fern filled gullies where the temperature drops almost seem like air conditioning.
Reviewed by: Filapoosis Reviewed on: 04/07/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Not Rated Report inappropriate review	No detailed review given.
Reviewed by: Triebert Reviewed on: 03/21/2009 Overall: Technical: Climbing: Freeride: Scenery/Wildlife: Flow: Not Rated Report inappropriate review	I love this trail.

Show all reviews

"You know right away in mountain biking if you're on or not."
-Alison Sydor