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Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill

Trail Reviews for Briar Chapel as submitted by trianglemtb.com guests

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CategoryAverage Rating
Overall :   3.5 / 5.0   based on 42 votes
Technical :   3.3 / 5.0   based on 42 votes
Climbing :   2.0 / 5.0   based on 42 votes
Freeride :   1.6 / 5.0   based on 42 votes
Scenery/Wildlife :   2.6 / 5.0   based on 42 votes
Flow :   2.9 / 5.0   based on 42 votes



Briar Chapel trail has been reviewed 42 times by our trianglemtb.com guests.

Reviewed by:Meow
Reviewed on:03/21/2021
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Went around the entire briar chapel trails. To be honest I wasn’t a huge fan. There wasn’t any speed besides one short section at the Bennett mountain area. The Trails rated black at bennets mountain are extremely rocky, I suppose if you like a trials-like mtb trail then that would be good for you but I didn’t find it fun. The skills course was ok, the jumps are awkward and you need to go slow or you’ll overjump them.

Overall, I think this is ok for someone close by, but wasn’t my style of riding.
Reviewed by:anythingshiny
Reviewed on:11/23/2020
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Been a while since I've played in such rocky terrain. It's not as fast or flowy as other trails but it's a fun ride. Plenty of rocks and roots to keep you on your toes.
Reviewed by:Leopoldcole
Reviewed on:10/26/2020
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Briar Chapel has become one of my favorite trails in the triangle. The Woods Run section down near the Woods Chapel school has some great rock runs that require the correct line & momentum or you're going to have trouble. The Herndon loop is a great design that has some good flow & jumps, if you know the sections. The rest of the Copperhead trail can be done with some pace to get a good workout with a few root sections that require a little technical ability and/or proper speed. If you start at one end, go all the way around the "loop", back around in the opposite direction & a run down & back on Herndon loop, you can get almost 13 miles in without stopping. Has some of everything and several rock sections/runs that will test you. Takes a little longer to dry out in sections, so give it several days after a rain.
Reviewed by:richardslay
Reviewed on:10/24/2020
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If you like rocks this is the place for you. The rocky areas are very challenging and technical which I like. Always room for improvement on my skill level. The loop around the neighborhood has good flow and some decent but small elevation changes. Signage is poor but the area is fairly small that you ride in so as long as you have Strava or AllTrails or something similar you will be ok. The skills area is the best I've seen yet (but I haven't seen them all in the area). It's challenging and well designed. You could easily spend a few hours just playing around there. It's the most challenging trail I've ridden yet and probably the best overall workout as well. Wear kneepads and stay home if you're worried about scratching your bike.
Reviewed by:grace11
Reviewed on:10/21/2020
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A combination of flowy parts and really rocky sections. As a more beginner rider, I found the rocky sections challenging but manageable and something to work on. The trail reminded me of a more technical Brumley. It was a lot of fun, but really poorly marked. I got lost many times at the parts that crossed the street, and there were several forks that weren't labeled. Definitely a good idea to download the map and track your location on google or strava.
Reviewed by:storeram
Reviewed on:10/21/2020
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Despite the moderately vague signage, Briar Chapel is my new favorite after riding every other trail in the triangle. It really feels like a mountain bike trail designed by mountain bikers, as opposed to a nature preserve that allows mountain bikes (I still love you, TLC) . Roots, rocks and climbs keep you on your toes 100% of the time. Herndon Loop is a must. Skills area is an epic treat. Riding the trail clockwise seems to have the best flow. Bennett Mountain will crush you like bug, as will the Pumpkin Patch which, oddly, nobody seems to be talking about (off-shoot of copperhead). Love it!! Thanks TORC!
Reviewed by:jhast
Reviewed on:10/15/2020
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This is easily the most underrated trail in the area. If line choice and tech are your preference, this is your spot. If not, BC offers tons of opportunity to hone your skills. Plenty of flow, but this trail MUST be ridden with speed.
Reviewed by:Tanager
Reviewed on:04/16/2020
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I rode this yesterday, two days after some pretty strong thunderstorms. I hit everything but the Herndon Loop and skills area. Pluses: not a huge amount of other riders, easily accessible, well-maintained (mostly). Minuses: large number of walkers, you're riding practically in backyards at times (at least parts of the main trail feel that way), signage is okay but not stellar (e.g. finding Bennet Mtn/Herndon from the main loop can take some searching). The main loop is nice and has some reasonable fast/flowy parts, but because this winds through the middle of a (rapidly expanding) subdivision), you have to keep your eyes peeled at all times for walkers sharing the trail. There is almost no elevation on the main loop, there are some gentle dips and rises but no actual climbing. There are some pretty seriously rocky parts, including one rock garden that I had to walk a couple of times just to make sure I could actually see where the trail exited.

Bennet Mtn. was not fun at all for me. I was trying to get to the Herndon loop but gave up - it's just rocky obstacle after rocky obstacle as you wind up a fairly steep hillside - if that's your thing, you might dig it, but I definitely did not. It was also pretty hard to follow in parts, figuring out what was trail and what wasn't proved difficult.

Having said all that, if I lived in Briar Chapel I'd be out on this thing every freaking day. It's plenty nice, it just isn't my favorite. The flowy parts are sweet, but worrying about crashing into pedestrians kept me on edge a bit, and the rocky parts are too slow and rocky for my tastes. The trail was plenty dry, btw, although other reviewers imply that the Herndon Loop does not drain as quickly (again, I never got there).
Reviewed by:Awalters
Reviewed on:03/24/2020
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Tight technical single track. It took me multiple trips to find the flow in some sections but once I figured it out even the technical parts had a good flow to them.

Herndon loop takes a few days to dry out completely after the rain but it a great loop with berms and lots of jumps to session for hours.
Reviewed by:edp81
Reviewed on:11/17/2019
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Fun w/ lots of rocks. A little weird riding in a subdivision but would love to have a trail that close to my house!
Reviewed by:SnowTrailsSurf
Reviewed on:09/29/2019
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Skills area jumps are fun. Herndon Loop was fun and flowy.
Reviewed by:PlayWithGravity
Reviewed on:12/24/2018
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Rode it this summer and don’t remember the rocks and signage both being so horrible. Omg.
Reviewed by:canyoneagle
Reviewed on:12/02/2018
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Great trails overall, in the midst of a residential development.
Skills area is very nice for those so inclined.
Nice mix of tight singletrack and rocky/rooty sections for technical skills. Mellow topography offers some hills, but nothing sustained.
Night riding is a real bonus.
More technical than Brumley Forest - much tighter singletrack with more technical sections.
Trails tend to stay fairly wet after rain.
Overall, this is a really nice trail system.
Reviewed by:snarfmasterX
Reviewed on:09/09/2018
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I’d say about 25% of this trail is Rick gardens and roots. Zero flow to be found here. Are you a trials guy? This place is for you. Looking for a swoopy flow trail? Go back to lake Harris. Nice skills area, but the rocks. Good lord. Maybe I’m just not good enough to enjoy this kind of trail.
Reviewed by:Todd
Reviewed on:05/07/2018
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I rode the Skills Area (then the pump-worthy Herndon Loop) for the first time yesterday. What a blast!
Very professional design and solidly built. Everything is new and in great shape. Kudos to TORC!
Definitely worth the drive to session for hours if you like jumps, drops, skinnies and elevated bridges.
Basically a 30 second pump run followed by a 90 second easy pedal back to the start
(not steep, but soft mulch path back up).
The only suggestion for improvement would be a pair of big wall rides at the
end of the last berms to avoid braking and carry momentum back upward.
I'm ready to help build them.
Note: I've not ridden the rest of the trail system.
Look carefully on the right as you drive in to spot the Skills Area (small berms are visible from the road).
Reviewed by:CameronH
Reviewed on:04/15/2018
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First time riding it today. General markers where few and far between, but when they were there I was very thankful.
This single loop is part of an upper-class neighborhood and thus scenery is all but lost with overflow ponds, a middle school, and housing construction. I did enjoy the trails when they were more secluded.
The trails were very much single track and in parts you will brush up on thorns if you go in warmer seasons and thus don't leave much room to make your own path.
Flow was all but lost and the trails were primarily dominated but rather difficult rock gardens that would be better suited for a high BB and a full suspension.
As this was a neighborhood trail, there were no major climbs or descents and was primarily a mix of ups and downs with no true flow but lots of technical sections.

Personally, the trail itself (I wasn't able to find the jump area) was by far not worth the 40 min drive and even felt awkward with it being part of a neighborhood.
Reviewed by:Zilla
Reviewed on:03/23/2018
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First off, thanks for the folks who build biking trails in the area.

I like mountain biking because of the serenity of being out in the woods. It gives me the feeling of being away from it all. Since these trails were built around a neighborhood, I felt like I was in someone else's backyard almost all the whole time. As a matter of fact, I ended up in someone's backyard at one point. I never felt I was out in the woods. Also there was no flow to speak of, and the only technical parts were the rock gardens, which were cool. I also got lost because the trails are poorly marked, especially when the trail ends on a paved road, there was no indication on where it picks up.

I rode these trails for the first time today, and probably will be the last. It wasn't worth the 20min drive from Cary.
Reviewed by:strobl
Reviewed on:09/14/2017
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**Fixing this- the climbing rating wasn't supposed to be a 5**

Having ridden Harris, Crabtree, Brumley, and Briar Chapel numerous times BC is my current favorite for a couple of reasons. First, if you do the entire trail system you can finish with 10 miles without repeating much. Second, there's a lot of variety and variability in the trails.

If you're an adrenaline junkie or an expert rider, you're probably better off elsewhere, like San Lee. But for intermediates or those who just enjoy a diverse ride, it's hard to beat this system.

The Herndon Loop has been recently upgraded to include some great jumps and berms. Ride it from the top to get the most out of it; take the double track opposite the Catullo Run parking area toward the main entrance to the neighborhood, and watch for the singletrack on your left. There are two entrances to Herndon up that way- take the second one (the one closer to the main entrance of BC), then enjoy the downhill. The lower part of Herndon is also enjoyable but with less action.

Going deeper into the neighborhood will bring you to Bennett Mountain, which means either a punchy climb on mulched doubletrack or a winding, rock-strewn singletrack with a few tight turns. The latter can be tricky in parts. The top of the "mountain" has a rock garden with some bridges and ramps if you want that. Going down the back side you can take the rocky singletrack or the mulched path again. The doubletrack has a nice little steeper downhill section that's fun to bomb in the right conditions. Bennett Mountain is what brings the overall tech score up, in my opinion.

Crossing a bridge takes you into the bulk of the singletrack, which features woods, grassy areas, a few tight turns and technical spots, and decent climbs. In all, I typically get just under 10 miles and just over 800 feet of elevation gain here, according to Strava, and that's much better cardio than I get from comparable distances at Harris, Crabtree, or Brumley. One last warning- if you park at Catullo and ride the neighborhood counterclockwise (i.e. starting north of Briar Chapel Pkwy) there is a big punchy climb at the end, regardless of which trail branch you take.

A nice side reward at the end of the ride is at Town Hall Burger and Beer, which sits at the edge of the neighborhood and can be reached via the nature trail system.
Reviewed by:woodchip
Reviewed on:05/02/2017
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I've ridden BC many times, and it's one of my fav trails because there's a nice variety - you can rip flow sections and also some technical rocky sections. There's not much in the way of climbing, descending or jumping, but there's a few fun stunts at the top of Bennett Mtn.

About Bennett Mtn - if rocks are your thing, you'll have fun. I could easily spend an afternoon choosing different lines through the rock features, and if you're feeling really good, billygoat your way UP Bennett. In addition to the rocks, there's some bermed switchbacks, nothing to fancy, but still fun.

Regarding the outer loop, and the rocky sections, it's just a small part of the entire outer loop so if you're a novice or don't like this style of riding, it won't last long as most of the outer loop is flow oriented.

I find it pretty easy to find your way around the trail, and coming from Raleigh, this trail simply warrants the drive because BC is that much fun!
Reviewed by:Doughnutz
Reviewed on:01/31/2017
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Visited Briar Chapel for the first time lately. Left unimpressed. Probably will not go back. We were not sure exactly what to expect. Had seen photos and watched videos. The outer loop trails is ok with decent flow. But could have been much better designed to take better advantage of the terrain. Lots of erosion. Bennett Mountain was interesting, but a complete waste of time. I'm sure someone enjoys billygoating through piles of huge rocks, but it's not my cup o tea. Again, another complete waste of opportunity to turn interesting terrain into something rideable and fun. From Raleigh, Briar Chapel simply doesn't warrant the drive.
Reviewed by:fedrlbiker
Reviewed on:08/04/2016
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Great trail. My wife and I just moved to Chapel Hill from Texas and live riding distance from the Briar Chapel. So far it is the best we have experienced in the Triangle area. The diversity of terrain ranging between flow track, twisty tree sections, fast flats, and, best of all, the rocks on Bennett Mountain are excellent. I have ridden this trail on my 100mm XC bike and 160mm trail bike and had fun on both. There is something for every style of riding. At some point there were beginner / intermediate jumps on several sections of trail, but they are very eroded as of this review.

A note to first time riders: While easy to navigate after one or two rides, we got lost several times on our first outing (counter clockwise from 1574 gravel road) despite looking at the map beforehand. First, there is a main loop and numerous trail splits with no markings such as "Bypass" to indicate it is a shortcut. Second, there is an out and back section to the school that dead ends into a field. We rode around for 5-10 minutes expecting to find somewhere for the trail to pickup again. After fighting with our sweaty gloves and iPhones for several minutes we realized we had to turn around. Third, when we got to Bennett Mountain, it seemed we were going backwards up a rocky downhill trail. I say this because of the bermed switchbacks and rock features. We know now that this section is not looped, but rather two directional our to a "lollipop" loop with flow trail. When you come back down Bennett Mountain there is no indication that you should turn across the wooden bridge to finish the main loop and instead, we rode into some bandit trails that although fun, was frustrating when we thought it was part of the main trail system. I would just say, make a copy of the Map handy and know that the TrailForks and ProjectMTB apps may not be entirely up to date.

With all of that said, this is my new home trail so I look forward to donating trail work time to improve areas that I noted as needing work above!
Reviewed by:TANK
Reviewed on:11/01/2015
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More rock sections, you need to make good line decisions up on Bennet Mt.
Fun to ride overall
Reviewed by:fathippo
Reviewed on:04/26/2015
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One of the best trails in the Triangle area for a quick 1-2 hour ride IMO. It has good flow which makes it a fun. There is really just one technically challenging section (mainly rock gardens) that has an optional bypass marked with signage. There is a gravel lot for bikers on Briar Chapel Parkway. If you enter Briar Chapel Parkway from 15-501, continue straight when you get to the roundabout and the lot is about 0.5 mi on the right. Please keep in mind that walkers also use the trail, so be polite and respectful.
Reviewed by:buddh0
Reviewed on:04/02/2015
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I'm maybe biased since it's the closest trail to me, but this is my second favorite in the area after San Lee. I think it's current rank in the ratings on this site terribly underrates the trail (IMHO, it blows crabtree out of the water). With the addition of Bennett Mt and ETD trail sections there's now more technical rock gardens, more climbing, and more flowy sections. You can skip the Bennett Mt. turn off for a quick 6-7 mile loop that's generally very flowy, with a few rock gardens between the bridges and near the school out-and-back. I get somewhere around 10 miles for the full loop with the out-and-back. Personally, I think it's a great trail for an advanced beginner - lots of flow to keep it fun, but some challenging sections to improve your skills. My only complaint is that the neighborhood has continued to grow and in some places where you used to be riding in deep woods, you're now right behind people's houses (there are still some pretty scenic sections).
Reviewed by:time2ride
Reviewed on:10/06/2013
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Rode this trail twice in the past few weeks. Great trail in my opinion. Good flow and some rocky sections. While there is a lack of trail markers, I had no problem completing the entire loop without any issues. There is only 1 section of trail that goes up by the school that doesn't loop and you just turn around. When you come to road crossings, you can easily find the trail connections on the opposite side. Its a good 30-40 minute drive from the triangle but worth checking out. I know I will go back again.
Reviewed by:Rocket
Reviewed on:09/29/2013
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Rode today and was disappointed by the lack of trail markers. As I arrived there was another rider that had just returned to the pool parking lot and said that after not being able to follow the trail, decided to just pedal back to the car and call it a day. I brushed this off and went about my ride. I wish I could say that they were blind and not able to see the trail markings. This is the poorest marked trail in the area. Now, there is a lot of construction around the trail and this may be the reason for the poor markings. Trail signs point you in a direction and then you find yourself crossing pavement with no further direction posts. At one point I followed a sign that pointed me up a mulch covered trail and ended on a street with what looked like a storage shed and could not find the trail.

Again, there is a lot of construction around the trail and this could be part of the problem. On the positive the trail did have some good rock garden areas and found them fun. A single track trial in a community setting is awesome. I did see people enjoying the hiking trails as well.

I agree with others that this trail is poorly marked. I rode it two years ago with a group, and had no problems as they knew the trail. Even if it's a 2x4 with a laminated sign pointing you in the direction of the trail, that would be very helpful.
Reviewed by:David H
Reviewed on:07/10/2013
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Concerning the previous user's review and their personal opinion aside, I wanted to make sure correct information is being publicized:

We only lost the double track and that was never permanent and we all knew it. All trail has been connected and is running. More trail is continually getting built. The trails no longer connect to the old double track as this time. The trail up hill to the school will eventually have a paved connector through development to complete the downhill loop. Right now we are workingplanning for the next mile of trail to be contracted. 7 miles now and soon to be 8.
Reviewed by:Dresden
Reviewed on:06/17/2013
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there is no trail anymore..over 1/2 the trail is gone..there is a little bit of the trail there but you are basically riding behind peoples homes..alot of the homes now back up next to the trail..do not waste your time driving over there...the trail that was there is now been bulldozed for cookie cutter homes...its a shame too..that was a fun place to ride.
Reviewed by:TonyOhh
Reviewed on:11/23/2012
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Great trail. Not sure if it was just me but at the point on the trail when you get to the school it seems like the single track blended in with the jeep trails, slightly confusing for the amateur but very enjoyable trail overall
Reviewed by:ottter1833
Reviewed on:11/06/2012
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First the directions: getting to the neighborhood was no problem but I spent 30 min. driving around looking for "Norwood". There is NO such road. Actually, it's called "Great Ridge" but has no road sign until you get 25 yds. down to the first cross street. Great Ridge is basically the first road on the right after you get into the traffic circle. I parked at the swimming pool/clubhouse parking lot which is at 1600 Briar Chapel Parkway. Rode down Great Ridge for 0.2 mile and found the trail intersecting the road where the pavement turns to gravel.
The rock gardens were as challenging as described.
This whole loop is POORLY MARKED!!!! Several times I had to STOP and decide which way to go at a fork or T intersection. I ended up getting spit out of the loop near the dog park and just gave up. I peddled my mountain bike though the neighborhood streets up to the traffic circle and to my truck so I could get the heck out of there.
SUGGESTION: Have some kind of fund-raising ride there so that signs or paint can be purchased! I used to do lots of charity rides as a Roadie and know this can be done.
I'll stick with LCCP or Harris until then.
Reviewed by:Stellavator
Reviewed on:08/05/2012
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A very nice trail with great flow in the CW direction. The distance is closer to 4.8 miles by my GPS.
Reviewed by:philbert919
Reviewed on:06/03/2012
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Really enjoyed the trail, rode BC clock wise. There is enough flat trail to lull you to relax then turn a corner and there is an interesting challenge from rocks to rooty rocky climbs. Choose the right line and no problem, choose the wrong one and your stopped in your tracks :)

Very fun trail!
Reviewed by:klingeborn
Reviewed on:05/15/2012
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First time out here. Pretty entertaining trail. I would suggest that the directions to find the trail are tweaked a bit as I had problems finding it. I could not find a 'Norwood Drive', so I think it would be better to describe it as: 'Ride north approx. 1,000 ft on Great Ridge Parkway and the trail will cross where the pavement turns into a gravel road.'

Thanks for running the site! Keep up the good work.
Reviewed by:mkeeney
Reviewed on:04/29/2012
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I had ridden this trail a year ago but was with a bunch of kids and we did not ride the whole thing. Got out there with a buddy today and had a blast. Good flow with plenty of opportunities for the experienced rider to challenge themselves while newbies can hone the necessary skills of riding roots, rocks, and hardpack in a diverse neighborhood setting. Kudos to the builders for tying in the outdoors with their "urban sprawl". Kids growing up in Briar Chapel (as well as adults) have a great resource in their backyards!
Reviewed by:advcyclist
Reviewed on:01/31/2012
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No detailed review given.
Reviewed by:dman1123
Reviewed on:01/01/2012
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Fun in either the CCW or CW direction. There are a few good technical rock gardens that will probably challenge you even if you are an advanced rider. Some areas are slow and don't flow too well but there are also some places where you can really put the hammer down and get some good speed. Nothing much in the way of jumps but there are a few places you can get your wheels off the ground if you want to.
Reviewed by:rokbottom47
Reviewed on:11/27/2011
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Rode it Friday and got lost so studied the map and went out again Sunday. Started at Catullo parking lot, rode CCW then CW. Six mile loop. About 80% of it is beginner-grade trail, probably perfect for the neighborhood it was designed for. 20% is more technical, with the mile or so closest to Catullo being rock gardens with painful penalities for screwing up. I think once you become familiar with the rocky areas and choose the right track, they should be good for intermediate riders also. Most of it flowed well in both directions. Not much in elevation changes, so need to ride in both directions to get a good workout. Scenery pretty good, given the development and construction going on. Could use some better trail markers, but once you figure it out, it's not complicated. Overall a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon if you are not an adrenalin-junkie.
Reviewed by:ChrisW
Reviewed on:10/21/2011
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Lots of potential. At this review, 6 miles of trail. Obviously trail corridor is tight as not all lots in the neighborhood have been developed. That said, trail intersections with roads may be confusing to some riders. Signs have been erected to note trail entrances within the last year. Very flowy in some sections, very rocky in others. Occasionally trail obstacles or the route have been placed to intentionally slow riders. Trail feels very sidehill-y as far as construction. No steep climbs or descents. No switchbacks. Climbs are very gradual. Rocky sections are technical and are difficult when trying to maintain speed.

Currently not worth a 30+ minute drive to get there, but at the 8 mile loop mark they will be worth the drive. A typical intermediate rider can knock the 6 mile loop out in 45 minutes going CCW and hitting all technical features.
Reviewed by:lumbee1
Reviewed on:09/13/2011
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This was my first time at Briar Chapel. I rode the trail counter clockwise and then clockwise. With the elevation changes in the Pittsboro area, I expected so much more from the trail. There were never any difficult climbs and the downhills were quite mellow. With the amount of land available, the length of the trail was also a bit of a disappointment. The numerous rocks inhibited the flow in some sections. The disconnects crossing double track or roads were confusing. A local rider advised me to go right then left on the roads. Otherwise I would have been searching for a bit to find the trail again. I would certainly recommend it to others but won't make a extra effort to travel to Briar Chapel myself.
Reviewed by:vulcangreen
Reviewed on:08/04/2011
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I had a little difficulty finding the trail head but ran into some mountain bikers that got me pointed in the right direction. Yesterday I rode this trail for the first time. I rode the 4 mile loop in both directions. It is little confusing as it crosses neighborhood roads and intersects walking trails. There were a few times that I had to backtrack a few hundred feet to find the single track again.

Don't get me wrong, I have no complaints about this trail. It has challenging rock gardens and sweeping fast sections of trail. It is middle of the road as far as being technical and there is little climbing which I did not mind at all. Overall just a great little trail system that I would recommend to anyone close to Chapel Hill. I don't know if I would recommend driving more than about 30 minutes to get there just yet as it is a pretty short trail system.
Reviewed by:bagel
Reviewed on:07/25/2011
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This trail is obviously still under construction. The technical areas are spread out, so I can't give it a higher technical rating. The trail flows through construction areas and there are a few places where it is not initially clear which way the the trail goes.

That being said, it flows surprisingly well and the few technical areas are well thought out. It is definitely worth checking out. I prefer to park at Catullo Run.

This trail will only get better the more it is developed.
Reviewed by:RickyE
Reviewed on:06/06/2011
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