Cycle North Carolina annually hosts three bicycle rides, the Coastal Ride, the Mountain Ride and the Mountains to Coast Ride
Coastal Ride Rest Stop Highlight
Merchants Millpond State Park
Located just 10 miles from the North Carolina/Virginia border, Merchants Millpond State Park centers on a 760-acre millpond that is more than 190 years old! Visitors can kayak through the ‘”Enchanted Forest” at Lassiter Swamp, hike the scenic trails, and explore one of the oldest gristmills in North Carolina. You may even spot an alligator – Merchants Millpond is at the northernmost point of their range! You won’t want to miss this stop on Saturday’s routes!
Click here to register for Coastal Ride today!
Mountains to Coast Ride Host Town Highlight
4th Overnight Town – Asheboro
Our fourth overnight town in 2025 is Asheboro! Asheboro hosted Cycle NC on our inaugural Mountains to Coast ride in 1999, as well as in 2002 and 2013. Located in the heart of North Carolina, Asheboro is home to the acclaimed American Classic Motorcycle Museum and North Carolina Zoo. Thrill-seekers can explore Richland Creek ZipLine & Canopy Tour, and history buffs can visit the North Carolina Aviation Museum.
The route for our 2025 Mountains to Coast Ride has been announced and registration is now open! Join us October 5-11, 2025 as we ride from Lake Lure to Fort Fisher!
Click here to register for the Mountains to Coast Ride!
Mountain Ride Fun Fact
Sylva is a Certified Tree City
Our 2025 Mountain Ride host town was named one of the Top 10 Cleanest Cities in the US by Expedia.com due to its eco-friendly initiatives! This includes being recognized as a Certified Tree City USA with a Tree Walk that showcases over 50 different species of trees. Sylva is also home to the annual Greening Up the Mountains Festival, an Earth Day celebration focused on the community’s sustainable and environmental initiatives.
Click here to register for Mountain Ride today!
NC Craft Brewers Guild Member Highlight Ghost Harbor Brewing
Cycle NC is now an official member of the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild! Each month, we will highlight a guild member brewery near one of our host cities!
In 2015, when the area was still quiet and under development, Ghost Harbor Brewing opened as Elizabeth City’s first microbrewery. One of the catchphrases for Elizabeth City is “the harbor of hospitality,” but at the time, “it was a ghost town down here,” according to owner Thomas Reese. And so Ghost Harbor was born!
Ghost Harbor Brewing is located less than a mile from our Coastal Ride campsite – be sure to check it out next month!