Your source for Mountain Biking in the Triangle
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill
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Your source for Mountain Biking in the Triangle Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill |
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| Category | Average Rating |
| Overall : |  4.4 / 5.0 based on 40 votes |
| Technical : |  1.8 / 5.0 based on 40 votes |
| Climbing : | 1.9 / 5.0 based on 40 votes |
| Freeride : | 1.9 / 5.0 based on 40 votes |
| Scenery/Wildlife : |  4.2 / 5.0 based on 40 votes |
| Flow : | 4.5 / 5.0 based on 40 votes |
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Still loving these trails after all these years. Completely non-technical family fun trails - perfect for shredding on a cyclocross bike. | ||||||||||||||||||
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I always enjoy these trails. Have lived nearby and been riding them for years since they opened. Thank you to those who maintain them. I was rather dismayed while riding today to find many sections where someone had raked the leaves and brush from sides of the trail, sometimes 3-4' on either side. At first I thought it was an attempt to keep the family fun nature of the trails, by removing "slippery" leaves from the trail. But then noticed it was just the shoulders of the trail, the trails themselves maintained their leaves (which really aren't an issue). In many places, this has widened the singletrack by 3-4 feet or more when it's on both sides. I then thought perhaps it was an attempt to help with water drainage. But upon further riding and observing, there was no consistency to the pattern to indicate that was the case - high points, rises, completely water-neutral spots had this same raking activity. It's already having the effect of riders riding through these spots, sprawling what's been lovely singletrack that we've enjoyed for years into 5-8' wide sections of trail. I really appreciate those who take their time and energy to maintain these trails. But this raking - whatever the reason for it was, please consider the impact this has on the nature of the singletrack. |
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This trail reminds me of home—Long Island. Fast, flowy, well maintained. | ||||||||||||||||||
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First time riding Brumley. I did a counter clockwise outer loop from parking lot. This was a really fun ride overall. It was not too hard navigating the trail as I knew I would be taking all the rights I could that allowed for bikes. Some really good flowy sections and a lot of the undulating up and down stuff. Humps to jib and all that. I encountered a black rat snake (harmless) sitting right smack in the middle of the trail. I gave it time to move, but it didn't bother so I slowly rode around it. Also I took a moment to stop at a helmet flower spot for "tyson" I believe. Must have been a memorial. Anyway, going CCW from the quartz loop back to the parking lot was a lot more technical with longer rock gardens, climbing and ascending rock gardens and some really great flow. I preferred the "north" sections of Brumley over the South but I would ride it all again. Very glad I checked this area out. Wish they officially accepted e-bikes (pedal assist Class I) as I don't see how these trails any different than ones that do. | ||||||||||||||||||
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I really love this trail. It is beautifully located in a forest without any highways around and even on the busiest weekend days feels empty once you are in the thick of it. One loop around the perimeter gives me about an hour of riding. I think this trail is the perfect combination of flow that doesn't break too much of a sweat and then some more challenging patches towards the end that require some rock maneuvering. The hills aren't anything crazy but enough to make it feel like a workout. | ||||||||||||||||||
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I have been riding this trail for many years now and still find new things to jump or challenges to give myself or my kids. This is a great trail for newer riders, as there are a few rock sections that can easily be walked over if your not up for it and manageable hills. Still fun and interesting enough for me to keep going back again and again. If you go in the off peak hours there is little traffic but can get busy on nice weekend days, but it's a great trail on a nice day of course it's busy. There can be a good amount of walkers so be mindful of that. The long periods of trail closure are a bummer as it seems to have gotten more sensitive of late. I did want to say thanks to all that have put some time in to make this trail great, THANK YOU! | ||||||||||||||||||
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Fun flowy trails. Very enjoyable place to ride to just put in some fast laps. Non-technical - great beginner trails, but fun for all levels. Managers are superly over-fussy about trail closing - the slightest overnight rainfall and it's shut down, even when every other trail in the entire area is open. Heard it had something to do with the beaver population/dam at the low point for entry to the main loop, but seems like the must be a better way to manage this than being trigger happy about shutdown. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Super fun when it’s not crowded. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Brumley Forest is a great trail system. There are very flowy sections that allow for fun and enjoyment of riders of all skill levels. I would highly recommend this as a great place to learn if you are new to mountain biking and looking to build confidence. I particularly enjoy Brumley as a great trail for practicing cornering and putting in laps to build endurance. There are a few small technical sections on Springhouse loop but I have gone on this trail with friends who were on full rigid bikes who have had no issues. |
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Nice trail that can be ridden as fast as possible. The only problem is that it’s very popular and there are a half dozen fast, blind corners from both directions. The users of this trail would benefit from being directional by day. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Brumley is a beautiful park filled with a variety of attractions to enjoy. The trails are multi use with good signage on all trails. Trails are made up of nice flow sections and some fun rock gardens but the beginner shouldn't be intimidated by any of the trails as most trails can be ridden by riders or all skill levels, technical sections can be worked around with some care. Brumley offers fun and challenges for rides of all skill levels. Trails are very well maintained and designed for maximum enjoyment. During the week days trails are not busy with the weekends being considerably much busier with both riders and hikers. In my opinion Brumley is one of the best parks to ride in the triangle. |
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No detailed review given. | ||||||||||||||||||
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First time riding this trail. Really liked it. No crazy hill climbs but a few rocks to play with. Easy to follow and well marked. I'll be back. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Great set of trails. Plenty of fun and flow. Some up, some down. some rocks, some bumps and all fun! | ||||||||||||||||||
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Fabulous XC trail. Fast and flowy, with fun whoop-de-doos and a few technical sections to keep things interesting. Fantastic for XC-oriented folks, or for newer riders wanting to get a good sense of mountain biking and develop base skills. Great trail! |
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Lovely spot. My 14 y.o.'s first ride on a real MTB (my old 29er HT), and I couldn't have picked a better spot. Absolutely the place to go for first-timers (or skills-lacking pure roadies like me). We did the blue, white, and yellow loops, and we had a grand time. Long stretches where you barely need to pedal, the terrain just pushes you forward. Lovely spot in the forest, too, with some nice views down to the creek. Keep your eyes open, though, b/c it is a spot where families bring little kids (I saw one bunch with several who couldn't have been more than 10). | ||||||||||||||||||
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This is a wonderful ride. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Very nice little local trail. Good for beginners, nothing very technical. Very flowy and fast. Gotta be respectful to all of the hikers/walkers and probably not a great idea to go on a nice weekend day unless you are really early as it is very popular with non-cyclists as well. |
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Brumley Forest Trails are like your groomed green ski slopes - smooth and not very technical, which enable you to just move and flow with the terrain. You can just go fast on these trails, and learn your cornering skills without having to worry about hitting a tree or falling off an embankment. If you want to hone in on leaning your bike at higher speeds then this is the trail for you. If you're a cyclocross racer then this is a good practice trail system. If you're just getting into riding dirt then these trails are perfect for you to learn on since you don't have to worry about roots, rocks, sharp climbs or deep descents. If you're an intermediate/advance rider that just blows away San Lee or New Light then these trails may not be for you. I rode here for the first time today, and I'm going back. It's worth the 20min drive from Cary for me. |
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Yawn fest if you like spending time in the air | ||||||||||||||||||
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Very well thought out and developed trails. Fast and flowy with some nice whopdedos Thanks to those who made it happen | ||||||||||||||||||
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Love these trails! Rode them for the first time today (warm and slightly muddy) and had a great time. The trails are wide enough for this 66-year-old to feel comfortable in most situations. Climbs were many but not too daunting. Not too many errant rocks (although there are many rock gardens) and roots (unlike Crabtree and Harris, my former favorites). I hope to ride this weekly once the weather begins to cooperate. Great ride in the woods for older trailers like myself who have "retired" from overly technical rides. |
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How can we donate a bench and have it installed on the trail, I for one sure would like to be able to sit down and relax the old back while riding. Thought about having one installed where Buckeye and Springhouse meets on the upper section where the gate is off the main street. | ||||||||||||||||||
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The other reviews have plenty of details I agree with completely. My review will try to capture the essence of the trail concisely. The Triangle's Longest BMX Track The Triangle's Bumpiest Cyclocross Course Me: Alex, I'll take Questions I Ask Myself on the Trail Today for $500. Alex: The clue is "Yes. You are." Me: What is "Am I going to fast into this downhill corner?" All in all, a fun trail for going fast and whoop de doos but not a trail if you want a technical ride. |
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Brumley is probably my second favorite Triangle system, behind Briar Chapel. Because it's a bit of a trip from Raleigh, it offers a nice change of pace and (sometimes) fewer riders than Crabtree or Harris, though it can get crowded in good conditions. There are three main loops here- a warm-up trail that goes left or right out of the parking lot and leads to an intermediate section that then connects to the Buckeye Loop at the back. The climbing here isn't steep or punchy, but there is a fair amount of it. Compared to Crabtree or Harris, which will get you in the low-to-mid 400s in elevation gain, a similar distance ride at Brumley gets you into the mid 500s; I've had 7 miles and 579 feet here on Strava versus 7 miles and 422 at Harris, for example. The tilt of the track requires attention and a bit of skill, but the toughest things at Brumley are the rocky sections on the Springhouse Loop and the jumps and mounds on the Buckeye Loop. The rocky sections can be tricky, especially when wet. There's a lot of loose material and the sight lines are difficult enough to force you to focus. The Buckeye Loop has some deep dips and you'll want to get out of the saddle to avoid the ejector seat treatment. Overall, the system is fast and flowy, and really pretty to ride. |
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Brumley is the Autobahn of local singletrack. Everything connects well... (once you understand their signage), and you can easily stay out to do multiple loops without having to circle back to the parking lot. There's not a lot of elevation, but where there are some short climbs, there is usually a section leading into it that will allow you to carry momentum through... if you have the technical chops. Many of these are in off-camber sections that will push you to improve your handling skills; IOW, the trail leading into the climb might hug the profile of a curved hill, but the trail surface tends to be directed downhill, rather than up. This downward angle, when hit at speed, will upset the bike's stability and cause you to move the bike around to keep it on the ride line to maintain your speed/pace. The rock gardens here are chunky and full of scree... hit them wrong and your ront tire can be re-directed to a point not on the trail. Be mindful of loose rocks, and hitting them fast. The fun sections on the orange outer loop are a blast. They reward good line choice, carrying momentum, and pumping the bars to ride it like a BMX track. There are some errant roots and rocks out there, so watch your speed and line, as the bike can get loose really quickly if you aren't paying close attention. There is a little something for everyone in Brumley. It's a perfect destination for skills-improvement or honing a little speed to a razor's edge. The trails reward good line choice, but will punish you for taking your eye off the trail when you slide out of the single track in a loose turn. Air pressure is key on that hard-packed clay out in the forest... that stuff is like chunky concrete when dry and hardened. It will bounce a HT bike all over the place if you're pressures are too high. |
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This is a gem of a trail. Not very technical (though enough to keep your interest), not many jumps, etc. The trail flows forever, with long fun and fast downhill sections followed by short, punchy climbs before getting right back into the action. I can't wait to go back. | ||||||||||||||||||
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A fast, easy trail with amazing flow. | ||||||||||||||||||
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The faster you go the more fun it gets. Try to ride it in the blistering heat or between 5pm and 7pm to avoid the hikers. Greasy rocks and roots from the morning dew will try to buck you into the woods if you're not careful, but that's part of the fun, right? Thank you for this great resource, TLC! |
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Fast, float, and fun! | ||||||||||||||||||
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I was lucky enough to ride this trail on July 4th, so it was not crowded at all. Great trail overall, well planned and executed, with good sightlines through the turns. Excellent flow, nice technical sections connected with wide groomed trails for the most part. I generally like narrower trails, but I understand it gets very busy after work and weekends, so a wide trail is a good thing for heavier traffic. Not a lot of climbing, but the trailbuilders made the most of the terrain and created a real gem for MTBers in the Hillsborough area. I live only 7 miles away, so I hope to be hitting this trail often. Basically a fun-to-ride trail that is not intimidating to newer riders, yet is still fun to ride fast for experienced MTBers. Bravo TLC! | ||||||||||||||||||
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Very flat and fast with some flowy roller coaster stuff in the middle of the Brumley Loop. Super wide and for the most part hard pack. There are a couple rocky areas, but not technical in the least. Great use of the terrain by the trail builders to make it interesting. It should be noted that there are not bathroom facilities or water on site so make sure you are prepared. The big loop can be ridden in under 45 minutes which is perfect for a water bottle refill if you brought extras. It does get crowded with other trail users and a heavy population of mountain bikers from mid morning to later afternoon on weekends and most evenings on week days. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Best trail in the triangle. A little confusing at first, trying to find the other trails. Seems like the only way to get to the other trails is to start on the blue loop, about halfway through you can exit onto either the yellow or orange, and that's where the fun begins. Fast and flowy mixed with enough technical sections to keep it interesting. This is my favorite new place to ride. We need more like it! | ||||||||||||||||||
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Fast, easy trail. Glad we have another option in the Triangle. If you want fast hard packed flowy fun, this is for you. If you are looking for a technical advanced option, find a different Trail. Thanks again though for continuing to make the Triangle a great place to ride MTB. | ||||||||||||||||||
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The Brumley trails are very nice. Expect lots of people, especially walkers, joggers, etc. Everything is very mild with very little in respect to typical Triangle technical features, in regards to logs, rock piles, climbs covered in roots, etc. A couple of the ravine dips are very square in the bottom, and caught me off guard with how harsh and abrupt they were with little to no transition from bottom to exit. They probably feel very different running the opposite direction. Hopefully these smooth out with age. Just enough high speed off cambers to keep you awake and alert. Well worth the drive from other parts of the Triangle. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Best flow in RTP. Love the planning and design of the trail. Well worth the ride out from Morrisville. Some mild climbs, small jumps and a lot of fun. Will be going back. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Not too technical. One end of Springhouse Loop has some rocky sections that might be hard for a beginner. Same area has some off camber turns that if you come in too hot, you will blow out the turn. In general the trails are not very technical. There are gradual climbs but nothing very steep. One end of Springhouse Loop has some moderate climbs. No freeriding. Some very cross country friendly jumps. Scenery is beautiful. A very nice nature preserve that you definitely feel 'away' from the world. Have seen wild turkey a number of times while being out there. Lots and lots of flow. This trail offers West Triangle a very nice addition of flow in comparison to other local trails. Briar Chapel has some pieces of flow but Brumley was a much needed and thankful flow trail to have. |
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A nice, smooth trail that can let you keep up a good cadence without needing to navigate anything too technical. Springhouse has a few rocky areas to keep you on your toes when you are carrying speed. Buckeye is like a smooth roller coaster; another good section to carry nice speed on, except when the clay is a bit wet and gets tacky. Given the speed some folks can carry through these trails and the fact that the trails are bidirectional, keep your eyes open for oncoming riders and hikers! |
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Rode only Springhouse on Sunday which was pretty nice as long you avoided the hikers and bikers that think they're on a race track. Great workout especially dealing with the climbs which are not long but steep enough to make you use your tall gears which I haven't use in a long time. It basically reminded me on some trails that I ride up in Canada when I go on vacation. One suggestion would be to put more markers for the parking direction, had a few people asking for direction and I was lucky enough to print out the map. The only one that I saw was near the bridge where it connects to the Wood Duck way. Good workout. |
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Rode on grand opening day (in the intermediate group ride). While I did not find it technically challenging, there's lots of flow, and that equals lots of fun! There's some rocky sections to navigate, but it's fairly tame... and so are the climbs (because there's virtually zero to speak of) so I think beginners should have no problems. I went again one week later, and it was a bit damp. The red clay portions made for some slow going as my tires were sinking into the clay. As such, I prefer riding this trail when it's dry (and fast). All in all, there's a few little jumps, some whoops, and some nice scenery, but it's really all about the flow! Oh, watch out for 2way traffic that also includes hikers! |
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