Mazeppa Park

Just when I thought we'd covered most of the mountain-biking trails around town, someone mentions one I've never even heard of. Mazeppa Park in Mooresville, N.C., about 40 minutes up I-77 from uptown, offers a relatively new (opened late 2018) 5-mile loop maintained by Tarheel Trailblazers. This trail was built explicitly for trail riding, but also makes for a pleasant hike, which is also permitted (both riders and hikers should follow directional signs at all times to avoid collisions).

This single-track, natural surface trail, good for beginners, is mostly smooth and relatively flat with some switchbacks, bridges, berms, bumps and swoops. There are also some technical features for advanced riders, but there's an alternate route around each of these. The trail is mostly shady, winding through a young-growth forest setting. (See trail map.)

The trailhead is in the parking lot of Mazeppa Park across from the soccer fields. During normal times, there are bathroom facilities available here (for now, there are some porta-potties). Take a left at the trailhead to access the mountain biking loop.

A fun discovery for us was a go-cart race track just off the eastern side of the loop, which can be accessed by a service road a short hop off of the trail. While we tend to like to escape into nature during our outings, it was novel for the kids to take a minute to watch a race or two on the Saturday morning that we went.

NOTE: The trail is closed for 24 hours after rain. Also worth noting is that the trail is heavily lined with poison ivy during the summer. Be mindful.

If you're looking for a new place to ride -- or hike -- Mazeppa is definitely worth checking out.

How to get there:
Mazeppa Park is located at 645 Mazeppa Rd, Mooresville, NC 28115.

Don't forget to pack:

• Bikes and helmets: Or comfortable walking shoes
• Water: Refill at the restroom facilities next to the soccer fields
• Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen: The trail is mostly shaded, but not entirely
• Bug spray: Especially during summer months
• Snacks: You might be out there for a couple hours