Brown Mountain

Brown Mountain is the only off-highway vehicle area in Pisgah National Forest, run by the Grandfather Ranger District. It has about 34 miles of designated trails, and the Forest Service says most of them are built for trail bikes and ATVs. Expect narrow forested singletrack, rock gardens, ledges, and seasonal mud. Riders on dirt bikes can use the trail network, but four-wheel-drive vehicles are limited to Trail 8 and part of Trail 1, so those two trails are the ones most likely to be shared with Jeeps. Signs are posted at the head of each trail section, and the Forest Service sells a detailed map of the area.

Getting there

The trailhead is off NC 181 in the mountains between Morganton and Collettsville, in Burke County. Restrooms and picnic facilities are at the trailhead, and the main entrance road is reported to be passable for RVs. OHVs may only ride the designated trails, not forest roads, and unlicensed vehicles are not allowed on Forest Service roads. The coordinates on this page are the ones the Forest Service publishes for the site.

Fees, permits, and rules

A trail pass is required and must be displayed on your vehicle at all times. The Forest Service lists $5 per vehicle per day or $30 per vehicle per season. Passes are not sold at the trailhead; buy one ahead of time from a local vendor (the Forest Service lists several in Morganton, Lenoir, Valdese, and along NC 181) or from the Grandfather Ranger Station in Nebo, at (828) 652-2144.

• Helmets and eye protection are mandatory.
• Children under 8 may not operate ATVs or motorcycles. Operators under 16 must be supervised by an adult over 18.
• Spark arresters, mufflers, and brakes are required, with a noise limit of 99 dBu measured stationary.
• No alcohol on the trail system or in the dispersed camping areas.
• No riding cross-country, no bushwhacking, and no metal studs in tires.

Camping

Primitive dispersed campsites are along FR 299. For developed sites, Mortimer Campground is about nine miles from the trailhead.

When to ride

The trail system is open April 1 to January 1 each year. Hurricane Helene damaged trails across the region in 2024, and this area has had closures and phased reopenings since. The Forest Service page listed the site as open when it was last updated in March 2026, but call the ranger district for current conditions before making the drive. Weekends can be busy.