News & Updates
Stay up to date with trail news, club announcements, race reports, and community stories.
Social NIGHT ride Airline Nov 7
Join us for a fun and social NIGHT ride round Airline. Riding a trail you know by day is a whole different and fun experience in the dark!
Annual Meeting and Elections Nov 4
Come and join us for our Annual Meeting! This is your chance to hear about plans for the coming year, and to get your voice heard! We will also be holding elections for the 2027 Board at this meeting.
Built by members!
Our fall membership drive is now on! We are an all-volunteer organization and we rely on membership and donations to allow us to keep developing, maintaining and improving the trails we are so lucky…
October newsletter!
October newsletter is out! Tons of trail work, including our new bobcat in action! If you didn’t see the email you can read it here
September Newsletter!
September newsletter is out! Tons of trail work and awesome volunteer recognition. If you didn’t see the email you can read it here
Success! Bobcat Fundraiser Finished!
This is a very special moment worth celebrating! In just 37 days, this amazing community stepped up in a big way and closed out the Bobcat fundraiser!
2027 Board and Committee Nominations now open
Our trails don’t build themselves—and neither does our community. That’s where you come in. Take the next step from riding the trails to helping create those trails.
Social Ride Sep 6 – Airline!
We had a great turnout for our July ride at Airline, in conjunction with the event that Crescent Communities was hosting.
August Newsletter available!
This month we bring you news of trail work completed and upcoming, fun day and night time events, our August field trip report, and a way to help the gnomes out.
Trail Work Day Sherman Branch Aug 23rd
Come out to help out at Sherman Branch, one of our most heavily used trail systems. It’s time for some work on drains and vegetation, to keep this fast trail flowing. Everyone is welcome.
$15,485 away from a new machine
We have 175+ miles of trails in our area, built by volunteers. They need a new machine. They didn’t build those trails with hand tools alone.
Social Ride – Dupont Forest – Aug 8
The Tarheel Trailblazer Ladies are heading out of town for their next social ride, and this time we are inviting the gentlemen along too!
July Newsletter now available!
Happy July, Trailblazers! We are now over *750* members strong! Thanks to everyone who joined recently, or encouraged someone else to.
Member benefit: HAWKS Summer camps
Our friends at Hiking Adventures With Kids Lake Norman (HAWKS) are offering some great benefits for their summer day camps to Trailblazer members this July.
Show up *AGAIN* for Purser Hulsey
The Town of Matthews has been refining plans to invest in Purser Hulsey park.
Social Ride – Jul 11 – Airline
Our friends at Crescent Communities invited us to an event July 11th at the new Hangout Spot at the entrance to the River District.
We Shred CLT – Women+ and Girls Event – Jun 27
We Shred CLT is a FREE mountain bike celebration for women+ and girls! Whether you’re looking to progress, try a new trail, or connect with other rad women+ who ride, this event is for you!
May Newsletter available!
Our May newsletter just went out via email! If you didn’t see it, you can read it online here
Think you’re a member? You might not be!
If you’re reading this, you’re already part of the Trailblazers community. But are you actually a Tarheel Trailblazers member right now?
Maintenance Night – May 14
Join us for another one of our popular Maintenance Night events. This time hosted by our friends and supporters The Cycle Path in Cornelius.
Social, Ride & Raffle Draw April 30
Join us for a fun evening hosted by our friends at BikeSource Charlotte. We’ll be starting with a ride at Backyard Trails, then come back for socializing and pizza.
Work Day – Purser Hulsey – April 18th
Come and join us to help keep improving Purser Hulsey. If you been out here recently you’ll have seen all the improvements, and we have plans for plenty more! Meet 9am in the garden parking lot.
April Newsletter available!
Catch up on the latest news about trail work, rides and more! Latest newsletter available online here if you missed our email.
Exciting new news coming here!
This is an enticing headline
Community Meeting April 13
Come and join us to hear all about what’s going on with the Trailblazers, and to share your thoughts and ideas.
No Checkbox No Trails
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is gathering public input right now in two surveys that will guide parks, trails, and funding decisions. Here’s the most important thing to know...
Looking for a social ride?
Every week, Tarheel Trailblazers board members are out riding—and you’re always welcome to join. These aren’t official club rides. Just regular rides with good people who love these trails.
Feature Teacher – Airline BIG drop
We have a new Feature Teacher video for you! Ever wanted to see how to ride that BIG drop at Airline? Here’s your chance. Board member Matt Stahl talks you through how he does it!
Maintenance Night Feb 18
Learn how to keep your bike running smoothly!
March Newsletter now available
March newsletter went out by email to members and subscribers. If you didn’t see it, you can read it here
Social Ride Mar 14 – Renaissance
Spring is here and it’s a great time to come and check out the trails with us at Renaissance! See what the famed Renni crew have been cooking up for you to enjoy out there!
Valentine Work Day Video
On Valentine’s Day over 20 over our amazing volunteers came out to show their love for the trails!
Win a Mountain Bike – Support 175+ miles of Charlotte Trails
One raffle ticket does more than enter you to win a brand new mountain bike.
Speak up for Mountain Biking this week!
Mecklenburg Parks & Rec are holding the last of their planned public input meetings to guide their future development plans this week!
Sherman Branch Tool Fundraiser
The gnomes at Sherman need tools! You can help here. Sherman Branch is one of Charlotte’s most loved trail systems, serving riders, runners, hikers, and even NICA student racers who come out to…
February Newsletter Available
Our February newsletter just went out by email to members and subscribers. Lots of news to share this month. If you didn’t see it, you can read it here
No Checkbox No Trails
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is gathering public input right now in two surveys that will guide parks, trails, and funding decisions.
Ales & Trails Bike Fest
Make a note for March 1st, as our friends from the Ales & Trails Facebook Group have expanded and reimagined their annual Gear Swap, with a new location, new activities and a new name.
NEW DATE: Work Day Mountain Island Feb 14
Trail conditions and the weather forecast mean we have rescheduled this work day to February 14th! Everybody keeps asking, when are you going to have your next workday at Mountain Island Park Trails?
Show up for Purser Hulsey
IMPORTANT: Because of the bad weather forecast, the Matthews Board of Commissioners meeting has been rescheduled to THURSDAY JAN 29. Purser Hulsey Park is at a critical moment and we need your help.
January Newsletter Available
We have a lot happening around our trails! Our January newsletter just went out via email. If you missed it, you can read it here…
Social Ride – Renaissance – Sat Dec 27th
Well the heavy rain meant we had to postpone our night ride, so we’ve rescheduled it as a day ride for SATURDAY DEC 27th.
December Newsletter available
December newsletter went out via email last week to members and subscribers. Lots of great stuff happening, so if you didn’t see it, you can read it here!
POSTPONED Social NIGHT Ride – Renaissance – Dec 18th
Sorry to say that the heavy rain forecast later today means we have to POSTPONE tonight’s social ride! Will reschedule as a day ride for Sat 27th at 10am!
Work Day Beatty Dec 13th
Come and help out at Colonel Francis Beatty Park! Thanks to the big turn out at our last couple of work days, we’ve been making great progress on improving the trails.
You win, we build!
Help us build amazing new trails and features by entering our raffle to win a new Stumpjumper, courtesy of our friends at The Cycle Path, LLC and Specialized Bicycles!
November Newsletter available
November newsletter went out last week. If you didn’t see it, you can read it here…
Work Days – Purser Hulsey – Sat Nov 15/22/29
Join us for a fun work day at Purser Hulsey each of the next three Saturdays. Meet at the parking lot next to the community garden. Tools will be provided and no experience necessary!
Beatty Work Day Sat Nov 8
Beatty Work Day Saturday Nov 8! This will be an overhaul of the big Chuck Norris Downhill. Meet & Greet – (8:30-8:45am) Gather at the Soccer Field Parking Lot near the restrooms.
Tell Trails Tales
Every post, photo, and email you see from us comes from a small volunteer crew who love sharing news and info about our trails, events, and community.
Annual Meeting and Elections – Nov 5
It’s our annual meeting on Wednesday Nov 5th.Come along to make your voice heard, learn about what has been happening, and discuss plans for the upcoming year.This is also the meeting where we hold…
October newsletter now available!
Our October newsletter just went out. If you didn’t see the email, or you aren’t yet on the list, you can read it here!
Feature Teacher #2 – Airline Container Drop!
Our 2025 President Matt Stahl has put together another video to show you how to tackle an interesting feature on our trails. This edition it’s the container drop at Airline.
Work/Ride Rattlesnake Oct 18
Here’s a chance to ride Rattlesnake for FREE in exchange for a few hours of trail work. Lunch will be provided for members that work on the trail.
Join now and win gear!
Hey Tarheel Trailblazers! We have just kicked off our October Membership Drive with SORBA (Southern Off-road Bicycle Association)!
Help fix trail problems faster!
On a ride and spot a trail problem? Help us fix it faster by using Trailbot to let us know about it.
Work Day Beatty – Sat Oct 11
At Beatty we will be rebuilding the “Canyon Drop” on Beatty Black (just after the big rock rollover at the start) as well as hopefully get to fixing the turn at the top of the climb out of the creek.
Workday at Sherman Sat Oct 11
Come and help continue to improve the very popular Sherman Branch! If you’ve ridden there recently you’ll have noticed all the improvements and maintenance that has been going on.
Tarheel Trailblazers Day Oct 4th
It’s official. Saturday October 4th is Tarheel Trailblazers Day! And we mean really official!
September Newsletter Now Available
Check out all the latest news about what has been happening and what we have planned!
Back-to-School Family Ride Renaissance
Join us on Sunday Sep 14 for a family friendly ‘back-to-school’ ride on the mellow parts of Renni. We will ride the shortrack, and session the kids “critters loop”.
35 years. One day. Save the date!
Hold this date for a very special celebration of 35 years of the Tarheel Trailblazers…more details to be revealed soon…
Rocky Branch Work Day Sat June 28
Trail Work + Pizza = A Pretty Great Saturday 🛠️ Join us at Rocky Branch Park – Saturday, June 28, 9am–12pm Come lend a hand on one of the area’s most popular trail systems!
Pride Ride – Tuesday July 1
We just rescheduled the Pride Ride from this Tuesday to next week. The heat index forecast looks like a little too crazy!
Trail Work Day Fred Alexander Park Sat Jun 21
We have a workday planned for June 21 at Fred Alexander Park. This park recently had a great all weather pump track built by the Parks & Rec department.
The Future of MTB in Mecklenburg County
The Mecklenburg County MTB Trails & Bike Parks Plan lays out a vision for how mountain biking can grow — and how our voices can help shape that future.
National Trails Day Saturday June 7th – Ballantyne District Park
You know those Trail Gnomes who magically clear drains and trim back the overgrowth? Yeah… they’re tired. And they need your help.
New App Live! Look for email to activate!
Our new membership system is live and you need to activate your membership!
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