Big Leaf Slopes Park
Distance: 4 mi Elevation Gain: 330 ft Est. Time: 30-45 mins per lap Difficulty: Intermediate
About 4 miles of winding intermediate singletrack in Statesville, built by local volunteers. Short, punchy climbs, flowy sections and giant bigleaf magnolias in summer.
Big Leaf Slopes Park is an Iredell County park just outside Statesville, with about 4 miles of singletrack built and maintained by Tarheel Trailblazers volunteers.
It's named for the bigleaf magnolia, which has the largest simple leaf of any native plant in North America. In summer, those huge leaves are a big part of the ride.
The trails are laid out as an Access Trail from the parking lot and two main loops. The Blue Loop is the one you’ll hit first and the Orange Loop adds extra distance and challenge. A full lap of both is about 4 miles.
Each loop is rated intermediate. Expect short, punchy climbs, especially early on, mixed with smooth, winding singletrack and a few bermed corners. It's a good next step for newer riders who are comfortable on greenways and want to build fitness and skills.
The park grew out of an agreement between Iredell County and the Tarheel Trailblazers. Volunteers started work on the 104-acre property in 2013, putting in more than 1,500 hours of design and construction, and the first trails opened in 2016.
The trails are shared with hikers, trail runners and leashed dogs. Ride in control, call out before passing, and yield to people on foot.
Interactive Trail Map
Details & Logistics
Trailhead Parking Lot (off Twin Oaks Rd)
341 Twin Oaks Rd, Statesville, NC 28625
Off-street lot at the trailhead. The kiosk with the trail map and park rules, a changing shed, a portable toilet and a bike repair station are all by the lot. Finding it: the park is on Twin Oaks Rd, directly across from the Iredell County Landfill (354 Twin Oaks Rd). From Salisbury Rd, take E Greenbriar Rd for about 1.4 miles, turn right onto Twin Oaks Rd, and continue about 1.1 miles.
Get DirectionsPark is open dawn to dusk
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.
The trails close after heavy rain, so check the status before you head out. Summer brings shade and the giant magnolia leaves, though some sections can get a little overgrown. In late fall, the trails can be covered in those big leaves, so take corners with care.
Ride loops counterclockwise. The trails are shared with hikers, trail runners and leashed dogs. Ride in control, slow down on blind corners, call out before passing, and yield to people on foot.
Park closes at dusk - no night riding
There's a bike repair station at the trailhead. Food, gas in downtown Statesville nearby, plus a bike shop.
There's a wheelchair-accessible portable toilet and a small changing shed at the trailhead parking area.
Trail Segments
Access Trail
The link between the parking lot kiosk and the loops. Gentle, with about 25 ft of climbing. You'll ride it out and back, so save a little energy for the return.
Blue Loop
The first loop you reach. Rolling singletrack with about 250 ft of total climbing and some bermed corners.
Orange Loop
Additional distance and challenge, reached at the outer point of the Blue Loop. About three-quarters of a mile with roughly 45 ft of climbing. Entry and exit are close together so easy to add an additional lap of the loop if you want to.
First Timer Tips
- Start at the kiosk by the parking lot. It has the trail map and park rules. Then take the Access Trail out to the loops.
- Blue Loop is the first one you reach, so it's a natural warm-up. Add the Orange Loop for extra distance and challenge.
- Looking for even more riding? Combine a ride here with a ride at Signal Hill Park, only 1.5 miles away
- You'll share the trails with hikers, runners and leashed dogs. Call out before passing and yield to people on foot.
- Check the trail status before you go. The trails close after heavy rain, so please don't ride them muddy.