Backyard Trails
Distance: 15.3 mi Elevation Gain: 950 ft Est. Time: 30 mins - 3 hours Difficulty: Advanced
Charlotte's original urban trail network: rugged singletrack, jump lines and technical features, linked by the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. Best for riders with some experience.
Backyard Trails, or BYT to locals, is Charlotte's classic urban trail network. Primitive, technical singletrack winds through the remains of an old wastewater treatment site in south Charlotte, using the leftover earthworks and structures as features. BYT is best known for its technicality and unique features including log rides, jump lines, roots/rocks and punchy climbs.
The network has three main areas south of Tyvola Rd: Farmbrook, the least challenging (not easy, just easier); the main Backyard Trails section, which holds most of the mileage including optional loops and two jump areas; and Tech Loop, the most technical. Each area is described under Trail Segments below.
The Little Sugar Creek Greenway links each area and continues north to the nearby Marion Diehl trail, or south to the nearby Park Road Park and Portal trails. That makes it easy to fit the ride to your time: a quick loop go one section takes about 30-60 minutes, while a full tour including Marion Diehl, Park Road Park and Portal can take 2–3 hours.
BYT is built to be rugged, challenging and creative. It suits riders who already have some trail miles and enjoy roots, rocks, tight turns and punchy climbs. Jump lines have some expert-only features. Test your skills on the many unique features like the thirty-foot log ride directly off the greenway entrance, or the infamous ‘Poo Tracks’, a grid of narrow tracks left from the treatment plant of the 1920s. If you're new to mountain biking, start at Farmbrook or build up at another trail first.
Today Tarheel Trailblazers volunteers maintain the trails in partnership with Charlotte Water and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation.
Interactive Trail Map
More riding nearby
Marion Diehl
Park Road Park
Portal
Details & Logistics
Little Sugar Creek Greenway Lot (Tyvola Rd)
2524 Tyvola Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
The main lot for BYT. No restrooms. A short connector trail leads down to the greenway, you can start Tech Loop from the gravel road just off the lot, and the kids' Nintendo trail starts right by it. Other ways in: the Farmbrook Dr trailhead (south of Tyvola Rd) and greenway access points for the Middle Third and Tech Loop. Once you know the trails, there are plenty more.
Get DirectionsMarion Diehl Recreation Center
2219 Tyvola Rd, Charlotte NC 28210
Across Tyvola Rd from the main trails, right by the Marion Diehl trail. Restrooms inside the rec center when it's open. Reach BYT, Park Road Park and Portal on the greenway, which passes under Tyvola Rd. Best to avoid this lot during special events.
Get DirectionsPark Road Park
6220 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Restrooms in the park. Plenty of parking. Best location is next to 'Field 5' - softball fields with restrooms and direct access to tide the Park Road Park trails, or down to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway and then right turn to BYT.
Get DirectionsOther parking options
Many people choose to ride into BYT from other locations with cafes/bars with greenway access to make for a fun end to the ride (e.g. Brawley's pub, Park Road shopping center). Also possible to ride in via trail entrance point on Farmbrook Drive.
The trails have no gates. The Tyvola Rd greenway lot is gated, but the gate opens automatically if you're still parked there after hours, so you won't be locked in
Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on trails. Class 1 means bikes that only provide electric assistance when pedaling, don’t have a throttle and don't provide assistance over 20mph. Any bike with a throttle or that can provide electric assistance over 20mph is not allowed on trails because of the safety risk to other trail users, and the hard to repair trail damage they cause.
Can take a while to dry after heavy rains, so always check status on our website. Heavily wooded so can be quite humid in the summer heat.
Direction finding at BYT can be confusing for your first couple of rides. Recommended to use mapping if you are new. You are never far from an exit, but it can feel that way! Most BYT trails are one-way. Follow the arrows and ride each loop in its signed direction. Loops follow a generally clockwise direction, but with many twists and turns. You'll use the Little Sugar Creek Greenway to link the loops. It's busy with walkers, runners and families, so slow down, keep right, call out before passing on the left and give people on foot the right of way. Expect hikers and runners on the trails too.
Night riding is allowed. Bring a bright bar light and a helmet light: the woods are dark and the trails change direction constantly. BYT direction finding can be confusing even in the daytime, so night riding is recommend in groups and with people who know the trails really well.
A lot of food and drink options available 1.5 miles north on the greenway, along Park Road (accessible via various greenway exits) or 1.5 miles away at Park Road Shopping Center. Bike shops in Park Rd Shopping Center and on Selwyn Avenue/Brandywine. Gas available on Park Road or Tyvola/Fairview.
No restrooms at the Tyvola Rd greenway lot or the Farmbrook trailhead. Restrooms are inside the Marion Diehl Recreation Center when it's open, and at Park Road Park.
Trail Segments
Nintendo
A short, smooth trail built for kids, with very little climbing. Smooth enough for push bikes. It starts by the Tyvola Rd greenway lot.
Farmbrook
BYT's least challenging area: not easy, just easier. Start at the Farmbrook Dr trailhead, south of Tyvola Rd, and go left for a self-contained loop that brings you back to the trailhead. Expect berms, bridges and a few optional jumps. Follow the 'Beginner Loop' signs to use two short connector trails that avoid the longer and more complex sections for those just starting out on mountain bikes.
Mini Loop
A short loop of rollers, berms and jumps built into the old treatment-plant earthworks. Three main jumps. Every feature has a rollable bypass.
Backyard Trails
The heart of BYT, with most of the mileage. Reach it from the Little Sugar Creek Greenway or by going right at the Farmbrook trailhead. Miles of primitive singletrack with constant direction changes, optional loops, technical features, and access to both jump areas.
Tech Loop
BYT's most technical section. Start from the trailhead on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, or from the gravel road by the Tyvola Rd greenway lot. Expect lots of natural rock, rock gardens and concrete slabs, drops, skinnies and punchy climbs.
Play Station
Short playful section with some optional features
Tyvola Chute
What it sounds like! A short fast route down towards the greenway.
OG Jump Line and Pipe Dream
The original jump area: several lines that feed into one return climb. Most of it is rollable, but some lines have mandatory gaps. Tabletops run 12–24 ft and gaps 12–22 ft, and this is home to Creek Gap, Pipe Dream and the biggest features at BYT. Look before you leap.
Dirt Jumps
Two BMX-style rhythm lines. The tabletop line is rollable and suits riders learning to jump. The gap line is all mandatory gaps, for experienced dirt jumpers. Lips and landings are steeper than elsewhere at BYT, so expect to pump and work the bike.
First Timer Tips
- BYT is a big, varied network. That makes it great for repeat visits, but it can be confusing the first time. Pick one area per ride to start with, such as Farmbrook, the main Backyard Trails or Tech Loop.
- New to BYT, or newer to mountain biking? Start with Farmbrook. It's the least challenging area, though still not easy.
- Keep the a gps app like Trailforks or your phone map open. The trails twist and double back, so it's easy to lose your bearings, but don’t worry - you're never far from an exit.
- Expect constant direction changes and short, rocky, rooty climbs and descents. BYT is more technical than most Charlotte trails, so don't be put off if you stop more than usual on your first few rides. The challenge gets addictive!
- Many features have a ride-around, including the Poo Tracks. At the jump areas, some of the features are expert-only. Look before you leap and use the bypasses until you know what's ahead.
- Fit the ride to your time: a loop of one section is a fun 30-60 minutes, while a full tour including the nearby Park Road Park, Marion Diehl and Portal can take 2–3 hours.
- Local tip: many riders come in on the greenway from the Park Road Shopping Center end, so food and drink are waiting at the finish.
- Riding with young kids? The Nintendo trail by the Tyvola Rd greenway lot is short, smooth and built for them.
Suggested Routes
Curated ride ideas for different goals and experience levels
Download GPX files to use with Strava, RideWithGPS, or your GPS device