George Poston Park
Distance: 10 mi Elevation Gain: 1250 ft Est. Time: 1-1.5 hours for a full lap of all loops Difficulty: Intermediate
Ten miles of hand-built singletrack on the slopes of Spencer Mountain. Five stacked loops build from a mellow lakeside to rocky climbs, fast descents and expert jumps. Usually stays open after rain.
George Poston Park is a Gaston County park near Lowell, about 30 minutes west of uptown Charlotte. Its mountain bike trails climb the slopes of Spencer Mountain. Volunteers built them by hand starting in 2005, and the Tarheel Trailblazers now look after them in partnership with Gaston County Parks and Recreation.
The trail system is a stack of five loops: Lake, Laurel Hill, Big Leaf, Soccer and Spencer Mountain. You ride out on one half of each loop, all the way to Spencer Mountain, then come home on the other half. Each loop is a little harder than the one before. Because the loops are stacked, you can head home from any loop by riding its return half.
There are very few flat sections. You are almost always climbing or descending on benched hillside trail, with tight trees, roots and long rock gardens on Laurel Hill. The woods are the real treat: creek crossings, bridges, lake views, thick stands of mountain laurel and rare bigleaf magnolias.
Spencer Mountain is where the expert features are, including drops and some of big gap jumps. They are optional, but some gaps can't be rolled, so scout before you commit.
Off the trail, the trailhead lot has restrooms, drinking water, an all weather paved pump track and a short Kids Loop, which makes Poston a good day out for families.
Because of the terrain the trails generally drain well, and so Poston rarely closes for weather, remaining rideable after rain when most other area trails close.
Interactive Trail Map
Details & Logistics
Lake Trailhead Lot
1101 Lowell Spencer Mountain Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056
The trailhead is at the lake parking lot. From the park entrance, take the first left. The map kiosk and restrooms are ahead on the left, and the Lake Loop trail starts behind the gate between them. The pump track and Kids Loop are at the same lot.
Get DirectionsBall Field Parking
1101 Lowell Spencer Mountain Rd, Gastonia, NC 28056
Use if the lake lot is full. Ride back along the park road to the trailhead.
Get DirectionsPark open 7am - 11pm. Gates locked outside those hours.
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.
Poston drains well and so usually stays open after rain. A few low spots can still get muddy so ride through puddles, not around them. Remember even though the trail is open, a wet trail can be slippery so ride accordingly!
Poston is a stack of five loops: Lake, Laurel Hill, Big Leaf, Soccer and Spencer Mountain. Follow the arrows and colored blazes. Heading out, start on Lake Loop and keep left at each junction until you reach Spencer Mountain. Ride Spencer Mountain, then come home on the return half of each loop. Several sections are one-way, so never ride against the arrows. Blazes: Lake orange, Laurel Hill pink, Big Leaf red, Soccer blue, Spencer Mountain yellow. All trails are shared with hikers and runners. Slow down and give them room.
You can ride only while the park is open - until 11pm. Bring good lights. Make sure you are back in your vehicle in plenty of time as the gate is locked after hours.
Restrooms, drinking water, picnic shelters and a playground at the trailhead. Gas and food available around I-85 exits nearby. Nearest bike shop in Gastonia.
Restrooms with running water are at the lake trailhead, next to the map kiosk.
Trail Segments
Kids Loop
A short, flat loop through pine woods with no obstacles. It's right by the trailhead lot, so it's perfect for young kids and very first rides.
Lake Loop
The easiest of the five loops and the start of every ride. It winds around Carl Baber Lake with some of the best views in the park.
Foundation
Beginner trail rideable as an option off Laurel Hill Loop
Big Leaf Loop
Mostly climbing on the way out and mostly downhill on the way back. Watch for the optional creek gap jump where Big Leaf meets Laurel Hill on the return.
Soccer Loop
Keeps climbing toward Spencer Mountain on the way out, then turns fast and flowy on the way back. Watch the arrows after you pass the dog park, where it's easy to get turned around. There's an optional road gap jump where Soccer meets Big Leaf.
Laurel Hill Loop
The longest loop and a real step up from Lake Loop. Expect short climbs, quick descents, roots and long rocky sections that feel a lot like Uwharrie. Halfway round, you can move on to Big Leaf Loop or ride the return half back to the lake.
Spencer Mountain
The top of the system and the most technical loop. A mellow downhill leads to the Deja-vu Climb, then two descents with an optional ledge drop, jumps and a ravine gap of 10+ feet that you can bypass on the left. Some gaps can't be rolled, so scout before you commit. The trail can be confusing on the northeast side.
First Timer Tips
- New to mountain biking? Start with the Kids Loop or Lake Loop. Lake Loop is the easiest of the five loops and has the best views.
- The loops get harder as you go. Laurel Hill, the second loop, is rocky and rooty. If it feels like too much, ride its return half back to the lake.
- Follow the arrows and the colored blazes. On the way out, keep left at each junction.
- On Soccer Loop, watch for arrows after the dog park. It's easy to get turned around there.
- The big jumps on Spencer Mountain are for experts only. Look before you leap, because some gaps can't be rolled.
- Hikers and runners use these trails too. Slow down, say hi and give them room.