Purser-Hulsey Park
Distance: 4 mi Elevation Gain: 300 ft Est. Time: 30 mins per total loop Difficulty: Beginner
Perfect for beginner to intermediate riders, with 4+ miles of fast, flowy singletrack through shaded forest in the heart of Matthews. And a progressive jumpline area as a bonus!
Purser-Hulsey packs a lot of charm into a small park.
The Main Loop is the best place to start. The Backside Loop adds distance, a little more climbing and passes a field with a progressive jumpline area. The Enchanted Forest is a unique short, fast weave through young pine trees, with painted rocks and art to spot along the way.
Elevation change is modest, so this is a great place to build confidence, get used to roots and dips through small drainage ravines, or squeeze in a quick lap after work.
Tarheel Trailblazers volunteers opened the first loop in 2017 and added two more in 2019. We continue to expand and enhance the trail system, including many fun berms and optional trail features for more advanced riders to hit.
The trails are shared with walkers, runners and dogs, so please ride with care and attention and follow the direction signs.
Interactive Trail Map
Details & Logistics
Main Parking Lot (off Phillips Rd by the Community Garden)
13201 Phillips Rd, Matthews, NC 28105
The trailhead kiosk is at the back of the parking lot, next to the community garden. The main loops starts there. There is another parking lot for the dog park, off Matthews-Mint Hill Road, but that is not usually where bikers choose to start.
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 rain to protect them, so check the trail status at the top of this page before you head over. Most of the trail is under tree cover, which makes it a good choice on hot summer days. The park is popular with walkers, dog walkers and families with small children, especially at weekends. Slow down, say hello and pass with care.
The loops are one-way for bikes. Ride the Main Loop counter-clockwise and follow the arrows at each junction.
No night riding as park closes at dusk.
Plenty of options for gas, snacks, etc nearby at the intersection of Hwy 74 and Hwy 51. Closest bike shop is on Monroe Rd about 10 mins drive away.
No bathrooms in the park. Closest ones are in the many restaurants/shops nearby at the intersection of Hwy 74 and Hwy 51.
Trail Segments
Main Loop
Start here and you can take optional additions off for the Enchanted Forest and Backside Loop. Beginner friendly section, but does include some ravines and optional jumps.
Enchanted Forest
Fun weaving through young pine trees like your own slalom course. Lots of painted stones and butterflies attached to the trees make this a unique and charming section.
Backside Loop / Jumpline area
A fun section, more challenging in distance and elevation than the main loop, but still very approachable. This route is also the access for the jumpline area , which has progressive tabletops, drops and advanced dirt jumps.
First Timer Tips
- Start with the Main Loop. It is the easiest trail here and gives you a feel for the park. Add the Enchanted Forest and Backside Loop when you want more.
- Expect roots and short dips through small drainage ravines rather than big climbs.
- This is a great trail to do multiple laps on. For a typical rider, a complete tour of the main loop, enchanted forest and backside loop will be 30-40 minutes, so you can adjust your ride to the time you have available!
- The jump line area is also a fun place to spend time improving your skills - just remember to be careful, build your ability step by step and be thoughtful about the risks you are choosing to take.
Suggested Routes
Curated ride ideas for different goals and experience levels
Download GPX files to use with Strava, RideWithGPS, or your GPS device