Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28214
About
The Whitewater Center should be near the top of your list if you're visiting Charlotte. You can spend an entire (albeit, somewhat pricey) day here filled with outdoor activities including zip lines,whitewater rafting, kayaks, rock climbing, and of course mountain biking. The 1,300-acre property features over 40-miles of multi-use trails and several additional commodities such as an expansive off-leash dog park, a huge playground in the woods, summer concerts, race series, and much more.
Race Day for the Half Enchilada Race!
The trail system consists primarily of natural-surface, singletrack trails arranged in a network of interconnecting loops so it's possible to make endless variations of length and difficulty. Actually, there is a race for that... Modeled after the famous race in Utah, the Whitewater Center hosts a Whole Enchilada MTB race each year that includes every bit of trail across the property (there's a half variation called the Half Enchilada that is the most popular variation at around ~24 miles).
While the trails are shared by mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers, they are heavily optimized for cross-country style riding. The system offers a wide variety of terrain, ranging from flat, fast-flowing beginner trails (like Panda or the Dog Leg trail) to highly technical, root-filled, and rocky intermediate and advanced loops (such as East Main, Bandit, Figure 8, Slalom Course).
Mountain biking or hiking within the trail network is free but there is a parking fee to park within the facility. There is a school adjacent to the facility that a lot of hikers/bikers use to park for free and ride/hike (kinda far, ~1.5 miles) into the facility. Trail status is updated daily depending on weather conditions on the website and you can pay for a day pass (all inclusive activities) or pay per individual activities you want to try out.
Parking at Whitewater Center
Main Loops
There are three main loops: North Main, South Main, and East Main. The entrance to the facility is a long, meandering road called the parkway, and aptly, there is a one-direction, singletrack trail on either side of the road called the Parkway loop. There is also a trail network across the road from the entrance to the facility that hosts several other trails. Off of each of these main veins of the trail network, there are several branching trails that often interconnect or bring you to another, often unexpected place.
South Main
One of the favorites here, this has several optional, climbing-intensive offshoot trails such as Goat Hill (VERY climby), Carpet, Wedge, and Toilet Bowl, and some feature-focused offshoot trails such as Slalom (mild dirt jumps) and Tower 93 (fast but short downhill section). The overall vibe is of punchy climbing followed by fast downhills mixed with overall speed and flow on a mostly machined trail.
North Main
This trail is mostly adjacent to the Catawba River and features a lot of roots, rocks, and climbing. The trail really begins with Figure-8 which has punchy and techy downhill sections followed by similarly punchy, rooty climbs.
East Main
This is Pisgah junior. If you have your eyes down the road a bit at riding in Pisgah National Forest, test yourself on this trail. Tons of very difficult climbing followed by the longest and fastest (and techiest) downhills at Whitewater. The is usually the punctuation mark on the already difficult Whole Enchilada race (mentioned above). Tons of rocks, roots, climbs, and descents peppered with occasional features that'll keep you on your toes and get your legs and arms burning. Optionally, you can tie in Tributary and/or Prairie Dog that are mini-versions of East Main to make the ride longer (and funner, if thats a word).
Parkway and Across the Road Trails
Parkway is an all-weather trail that remains open due to the amount of gravel mixed in. Don't let the semi-flat nature fool you... while it's a great trail for beginners, there are some brief climbs, fast downhill runs, and overall great speed and flow that'll surprise you. Take this trail to many others like East Main, Tributary, Corn Dog, and more. Across the road and under the wooden arch, you'll find a few more trails such as Panda, Bandit, Rail, and Smokey, that are true XC trails that get progressively more difficult as you head further in. However, none require much technical skill and this is a great place to bring beginners to get their legs under them.
Trails
Before You Ride
The below are a selection of our favorite trails. More trails are likely available and can be found on the trail map.
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East Main
A staple of the Whitewater Center, this intermediate trail delivers a longer, slightly more technical cross-country experience than its northern counterpart. Expect punchy, root-laden climbs, short descents, and tight, twisting singletrack through the woods. It requires consistent pedaling and line choice to maintain flow.
Tower 93
After a shaded climb to the top, riders drop into a sequence of smooth, progressive tabletop jumps. They are highly forgiving, making this an excellent spot to safely dial in your airtime without severe consequences if you come up short. Tower 93 was recently resurfaced with the introduction of a few more nice rollers and berms. Tower 93 is a trail off the South Main trail, and can be found just after the exit of the Carpet trail, and before the Wedge trail.
Wedge
A classic intermediate trail that combines a short, easy climb with a smooth, flowy descent back down. It lacks the heavy root sections found on other trails, making it a fast, predictable line that’s easy to lap when you want to maximize downhill speed. Wedge is a trail off the South Main trail, and can be found just after the exit of the Tower 93 trail.
Toilet Bowl
Named after the popular white porcelain thrones we all love and adore! Spot these porcelain beauties off to the side of the trail, unused hopefully, while descending and climbing on Whitewater's technical black diamond singletrack. It features tight, awkward switchbacks, steep root drops, and challenging climbs that force you to work for every inch. It is an old-school, raw trail that tests your balance and slow-speed technical handling. The Toilet Bowl trail can be found towards the end of the South Main trail, just before Slalom.
Slalom
Whitewater just recently resurfaced this small jump line. Forgiving tabletops that are fully rollable jumps. Whitewater has these rated Black in relation to the friendlier trails in the system.
Flat Top
Flat Top is one of Whitewater Center's newest cut trails. Flat Top can be found directly across the river from the River Ropes Course and the lower zipline finishing platform. The trail can be accessed either directly through the main wooden archway (previously where the kid's rope climb hung) or you can enter the woods like you are going towards Jackrabbit and you will come across the other entrance on your right. For those familiar with Whitewater's trail system, Flat Top has taken over the section of the North Main trail after the climb up alongside the river (with North Main being rerouted entirely).
Jackrabbit
Short quarter mile green trail found by either a) entering the woods off of the main gravel path around the whitewater channel next to the Flat Top trail/directly across the river from the River Ropes Course and the lower zipline finishing platform, OR b) Jackrabbit will sneak up on your left as you begin gaining speed on one of the faster descents of the North Main trail
South Main
A solid, intermediate loop that is a good introduction to their blue rated trails but still features the park's signature rooty terrain. It rolls through the woods with moderate elevation changes, offering a great balance of quick pedaling sections and short, punchy climbs.
Carpet
A tight loop off the main trail system that delivers a little bit of everything. You will find punchy climbs, quick downhill flow sections, and a few small rock gardens mixed in with the park's signature roots. It keeps you working, but the fast descents make the pedaling worthwhile. Keep an eye out for this trails namesake as you make the final climb before the rewarding downhill section to finish.
Goat Hill
Another demanding, advanced loop known for steep, punchy climbs and technical descents. It has a distinctly raw, hand-cut feel with plenty of roots and off-camber sections. It’s designed to test your endurance and technical climbing ability, rewarding you with quick downhill hits.