Kernersville Cycling Club

The History and Future of the Kernersville Mountain Bike Park

A Town of Kernersville bicycle/pedestrian advisory committee was established in 2005 to advise the Parks & Recreation Department and town officials. A member of that advisory committee, Barbara Fulp, ultimately spearheaded formation of our local Kernersville Cycling Club as a 501(c)7 nonprofit organization to promote all forms of cycling, promote health, and to be a conduit between the Town and local cyclists. The club formed in the spring of 2012. Meanwhile, a citizen survey conducted by the Parks & Rec Dept uncovered the fact that local residents had ranked mountain bike trails (and trails in general) high among recreational improvements they wanted to see in town. Almost immediately after the club’s formation, town planners approached the club about the idea of partnering to create a mountain bike park using approx 27 acres of available land. Trails in Kernersville had been pursued by the MTB community for some years but had not come to fruition until these things came together.

Per the Town of Kernersville, this would be a volunteer-led project with the KCC taking the lead on development and maintenance. Wally Wallace and J.G. Wolfe were designated by the KCC as co-chairs of the project, which met with approval from the Town. With help from others, the KCC made presentations to Town committees and the Board of Aldermen. We drew up a legal contract with the Town. We acquired all the approvals needed to begin the project. We generated publicity. We wrote a grant request and received funding from the Lawrence E. Pope Foundation, an organization that supports projects benefiting Kernersville residents. We reached out to local MTBers for support. We had much early help from leaders in the Piedmont Fat Tire Society, especially related to Phase 1 planning and development. Completing Phase 1 allowed us to open the park to the public in spring of 2013 as part of an event attended by the media, local officials, the mayor, etc.

Over the next several years, subsequent phases of the trail were developed by the KCC’s trailbuilding team, ultimately wrapping up in 2018 with a 3.9 mile loop. The build team has a few minor adjustments planned but the available land has largely been maximized and total trail length will not increase noticeably. The park includes a tool shed and many trail features and amenities that were hand-built by the KCC build team as well as local scouts fulfilling Eagle Scout projects.

The trail can be ridden in either direction.  Please yield to uphill riders and be mindful of two-way traffic at all times.

The goals of this project from the start have been to:

1. Create a mountain bike park with the families and citizens of Kernersville in mind, serving a cross section of riders in the best way possible. (Visits from the surrounding at-large MTB community are absolutely a hopeful byproduct)

2. Provide a fun but challenging intermediate-based biking experience that can be enjoyed by riders of various skill levels and ages.

3. Maximize the length of trail given the fairly small tract of available land.

Volunteer hours on this project total in the thousands. The core build team is a dedicated group who have put countless hours into trailbuilding and maintenance. We build based on IMBA standards. We have now moved into primarily a maintenance phase at the trail. Maintenance includes any necessary repairs to wooden features, addressing any areas with water retaining issues (including armoring portions of the trail where necessary), and blowing leaves during specific conditions.

We welcome experienced and inexperienced builders alike who want to support our trail. Come join us in continuing to make Kernersville Mountain Bike Park an awesome destination for many years to come! Email kvillemtbpark@gmail.com to get updates on trail maintenance days. You can also show your financial support by clicking at the top of the page to make a PayPal donation and specifying it is for the Kernersville Mountain Bike Park.

Trail closures occur when the trail is wet. Please respect closures as they are intended to maintain the quality and longevity of our trail!  Check the right side of this page to see the current trail status or follow us on Twitter at @KvilleCycleClub for status updates as they occur. 

The park is located at 567 Smith Edwards Rd in Kernersville.

Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1ANHeeBEPkKZo5FM7

From North Main Street in Kernersville, turn onto Macy Grove Road. Proceed about one mile and make a u-turn. Then take a right onto Smith Edwards Road. Look for the park entrance sign on your left between two houses. The park is located just before the road dead ends.