Mountain Island Park
Distance: 10 mi Elevation Gain: 400 ft Est. Time: 1-1.5 hours for a full tour Difficulty: Intermediate
Riverside singletrack in Mount Holly: green flow and boardwalk laps, blue and black bermed loops with many wooden features, and advanced lines. Expect a 1-mile gravel ride in from the parking lot.
Mountain Island Park sits on the Gaston County side of the Catawba River in Mount Holly, just below the Mountain Island Lake dam. Tarheel Trailblazers build and maintain the mountain bike trails here, in partnership with the City of Mount Holly, which manages the park.
For now, you reach the trails from the gravel lot across the road from the Riverbend Recycling Center. The park's original lot below the dam is closed while Duke Energy works on the dam, and the City expects it to reopen in 2028.
Two newer flow trails start close to the lot. Hydro is a green flow line with wide berms and small, rollable jumps, and its upper section is built for adaptive riders on handcycles and recumbents. Spillway is blue, with drops, tables and jumps that can all be rolled.
The Duke Energy Access Trail marked on the map starts across the road from a short way uphill from the parking lot and winds for about a mile down to connect to the Carolina Thread Trail and the start of the main trail system.
At Bridge #1 on the Carolina Thread Trail, bear right for the beginner Boardwalk Loop. Or step up to the intermediate Outer and Inner Loops for bermed switchback climbs, a fast descent through the trees and several ladder bridges. River Trail is a relaxed cruise along the water that connects the loops. K2 and K34 branch off it and climb to the park's second and third high points with some sharp climbing, then drop back down on side-slope descents with river views.
Experienced riders can add Skeleton, Underpass and Siren trails. All have very creative advanced to expert features, so walk and inspect them before you ride, especially the first time.
The access route and the Carolina Thread Trail are shared with walkers, runners and leashed dogs. Slow down, say hello and give people room.
Interactive Trail Map
Details & Logistics
Trailhead lot across from the Riverbend Recycling Center
146 Mountain Island Rd, Mount Holly, NC 28120
Gravel lot with 30+ spaces. A trail map at the lot shows the way in. Hydro and Spillway start just off the lot. To reach the main river trails, take the gravel access route starting across from the parking lot; it is about 1 mile to Bridge #1 on the Carolina Thread Trail, where the singletrack starts. The park's old lot below the dam (400 Mountain Island Road) is closed during Duke Energy's dam work, so don't follow older directions there.
Get DirectionsPark 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 rain, so check the status at the top of this page before you go. The low sections near the river can stay wet for a day after a storm. There are a lot of very fun wooden features, but they can be slippery if not totally dried out after a rain, so use caution.
Most of the singletrack is one-way. Follow the arrows at each trail entrance. Hydro and Spillway are downhill only. Underpass is one-way and bike only. River Trail, the Thread Trail and the gravel access route are two-way, so expect oncoming riders, walkers and dogs.
No night riding. The park is open dawn to dusk.
Gas, food available in Mt Holly nearby.
There are no restrooms at the trailhead or on the trails.
Trail Segments
Hydro
Green downhill flow line close to the parking lot. Wide, gradual berms, then small rollable jumps. The last jump is the biggest, but you can roll it with some speed. The upper section is built for adaptive bikes. Downhill only.
Duke Energy Access Trail
Your way in until the original parking lot reopens. Gravel access route across the crosswalk just uphill from the parking lot that leads down to the river, then the Carolina Thread Trail along the water to Bridge #1, where the singletrack starts. Two-way and quite gravelly. Remember you ride back out the same way at the end!
Carolina Thread Trail
Wide dirt road that tracks along the river. You can use this or the singletrack River Trail to connect all the loops.
Boardwalk Loop
Short, flat loop through the marshy ground by the river, with a couple of long boardwalks. Ideal for warm-up laps and newer riders. One-way
River Trail
Easy cross-country ride along the Catawba with river views. Optional features include a ladder bridge and a skinny. Two-way, so watch for oncoming riders.
Spillway
Blue downhill flow line for riders who want to progress. Drops, tables and jumps, all of them rollable if you prefer to keep your wheels on the ground.
Outer Loop
Bermed switchback climb, then a fast descent through the trees with berms, rollers and several ladder bridges. One-way. Connect up with Inner Loop towards the end for more riding.
Inner Loop
Reached from Outer Loop. Berms, bridges and jumps. One-way.
K2
Switchbacks climb to the park's second high point, then a side-slope descent with jumps and a gap jump, and views of the river. Comes out where the loops start. One-way.
K34
Climbs up, then a side-slope descent packed with features: drops, jumps, a gap jump, a ladder bridge and a log ride. Comes out where the loops start. One-way.
Underpass
Short, feature-filled bypass of CTT Bridge #3, reached from River Trail heading south. Wooden features looping back under the bridge including large drops. One-way and bike only. Walk before you ride the drops.
Skeleton Loop
More climbing before a payoff with extensive wooden berms corkscrewing downhill.
Siren
About a mile of tough climbs and side-slope descents, with several advanced to expert features and some optional lines of varying difficulty - inspect before riding. Starts at the south end of River Trail and finishes at CTT Bridge #5.
First Timer Tips
- There is very signage on direction and things to watch out for - pay attention especially if you are new to the trail system.
- Plan for a 1-mile gravel ride from the lot down to the singletrack, and the same ride back up at the end.
- New to mountain biking? Start with Hydro, the Boardwalk Loop, and the River Trail.
- Outer Loop, Inner Loop, K2 and K34 are intermediate, with berms, jumps and ladder bridges. Ride them once slowly to see what's coming.
- Underpass, Skeleton and Siren have advanced to expert features. Walk them before you ride them.
- Even though this trail follows along the river, there is a surprising amount of climbing!
- Follow the one-way arrows. River Trail and the access route are two-way.
- You'll share the gravel access and the Carolina Thread Trail with walkers, runners and leashed dogs. Slow down and let people know you're coming.
- There are no restrooms or water at the trailhead, so bring what you need.
- Check the trail status before you drive over. The trails close after rain.
- Wooden features can be slippery if not totally dried out after a rain, so use caution.