Mountain Discovery’s Inaugural

Bike The Big Laurel

April 15, 2006 

The Ride:       Bike The Big Laurel is a 62 mile, or an alternative 9 mile, event and fundraiser for the Mountain Discovery Charter School located in Swain County, North Carolina.  Home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The Course:   The killer 62 mile loop is a favorite for the locals.  The ride begins and ends in the Deep Creek campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  It contains approximately 11 miles of straight up and straight down forest service road in The Big Laurel and 51 miles of paved back roads offering up hill pulls and thrilling down hill curves.  You’ll ride along side the Tuckaseigee and Little Tennessee Rivers and through some of the most picturesque country and farm land our North Carolina Mountains have to offer. 

In a nutshell, the course begins at Deep Creek in Swain County and goes through the park to Ela, to Conley’s Creek, up and down the Big Laurel, to Leatherman Gap Rd. in Macon County, to Bryson City Rd. and back into Swain County to Lauda and finally into Bryson City and back into the Deep Creek National Park.  Maps will be provided on the day of the ride and the course will be clearly marked.

The family friendly 9 mile loop also begins and ends in Deep Creek National Park and follows the course to Ela but takes the opposite direction and turns onto the Old River Road for a dirt road ride along the Tuckaseigee River, back up to Deep Creek Road and back into the Deep Creek park.  This ride could take up to 3 hours but only if you stop at Darnell Farms for an ice cream with the kids.

Because the course involves both hard top and dirt/gravel National Forest roads, knobby tires are not required but cross-trainers are a must.

There will be at least 5 stop points along the way to refresh yourself with water, oranges, bananas, and sports bars.  You’ll want to stop long enough to take in the amazing surroundings and breathtaking views the North Carolina Mountains have to offer.

Registration:  You can register on line for the 62 mile at: http://www.cmiregistration.com/user/org/program.jxp?org+9002&id=46714 or on the morning of the event.  Registration is a $50 donation for the 62 mile.   Please, cash only on the morning of the ride.

Registrations for the 9 mile ride is a $25 donation and must be made on the day of the event at the Deep Creek Campground.  Please, cash only on the morning of the ride.

There is no late fee for late registrations. 

The big push off will be at 8:00 a.m. at the Deep Creek Picnic Pavilion, so register by at least 7:45 am unless you want to take it easy on the 9 mile loop.  Upon your return enjoy a bar-b-que lunch.  Your donation of $50 or $25 is tax deductible. 

Sponsorship:   Information on how you can partner with the Mountain Discovery Charter School to raise money to help fund art, music, and expeditionary styled learning can be found on the Sponsorship Request Form on this website.  Any questions or comments about sponsorship can be made to Hannah Smith at 828-497-1009 or 828-497-7173.  All donations are tax deductible.

Directions and Lodging:  For information on how to get to Bryson City and Deep Creek as well as where to stay, go to www.greatsmokies.com.  Or you can call the Swain County Chamber of Commerce at 800-867-9246 or 828-488-3681.