When Big Branch Bike Park (B3) opened in the summer of 2021, it brought high-quality, sustainable trails to a place that was sorely lacking them. In the few years since then, B3 has become the second most popular public park in Onslow County.
Now, a second phase of development within the park will double the mileage of available trails and add more progression for local riders. To get the details on phase two of B3, Singletracks spoke to those involved with the project and members of the local community who will benefit from it.
The success of phase one convinced county officials to add more trails to B3
Craig Brickser, the Principal of Community Trail Designs, told Singletracks that the idea for a phase two at Big Branch Bike Park started back in 2019 when the county first identified the property for the park. “As a goal, they wanted a trail system with regional draw capable of hosting events and generating tourism dollars. For most trail systems, that translates to mileage and features.”
Capitalizing on the wave of momentum from phase one’s completion in the summer of 2021, the county quickly enlisted Brickser to design phase two so that they could begin the process of funding another phase of construction. “To me, that emphasizes the benefits trail planning has in providing clients with the tools they need to build support and capital for their projects over time. It’s very hard to secure investment dollars without a clear vision of the project or its costs.”
Benjamin Warren, the Assistant County Manager for Onslow County, said that “Phase one opened the eyes of our local officials.” The success of phase one, coupled with the efforts of local riders and the local NICA team, let county commissioners know how much they appreciated the trails and wanted more of them, led the local government to use tourism funds to cover the cost of phase two, which will be over $400,000 by the time it is completed.
Before starting phase two, the county had Trail Dynamics spice up phase one with some additional features
Local riders were ecstatic about the phase one trails, but they quickly craved progression. Fortunately, the county had enough grant money left over from the completion of phase one to bring Trail Dynamics back to Onslow County in 2023 and 2024 to add some technical trail features to the new trails while it raised the money needed to fund phase two.
Ed Sutton, the owner of Trail Dynamics, said that “the team returned to B3 to build an eighty-foot wooden berm turn and a variety of wood drops, jumps, and skinnies.” Additionally, thanks to a connection with Camp LeJeune, Trail Dynamics was able to source recycled concrete, which it used to armor jump ramps, build rock gardens, and harden creek crossings.
Phase two utilizes bluff terrain and a new boardwalk while focusing on sustainability
Brickser, who designed phase two, said that the bluff terrain on the north side of the park held the key to unlocking the scale of a larger regional trail system, but it came with a set of challenges. “Phase two is set around a wide cove that requires a 250-foot boardwalk over a marsh to create a true loop.” Even though the boardwalk was expensive to build, Brickser said it was necessary to make phase two a true loop.
“I designed some slightly more aggressive lines across the terrain where we knew the trail surface could be supplemented with stone and wood features,” Brickser continued. “The added difficulty of mobilizing these materials adds to the cost, but it’s the key to making a standout trail system and maintaining the integrity of the coastal soils.”
Trail Dynamics is currently on site, making phase two a reality
The Trail Dynamics team has just started working on phase two. “We anticipate adding six more miles of singletrack along the bluff of the New River,” said Sutton. “Additionally, we are going to add some crazy advanced wood features to spice things up and keep the trails fun and progressive.”
Sutton told Singletracks that his team’s goal for the project is to raise the bar with the second phase and take B3 to the next level. “What makes B3 stand out in my mind is the uniqueness of the topography and the enthusiasm of the local mountain bike community.”
Riders can expect a trail with more active riding, more shifting, short but fast segments of flow, jumps, and some technical features sprinkled throughout. “The cherry on top will be exposure to nature and big views of the marsh,” said Brickser. He believes phase two will make B3 a worthwhile visit for people looking for a longer, more physical mountain biking experience.
Phase two of B3 is scheduled to open in either May or June of 2025. “The hope is that it will provide another step in progression to attract all levels of riders,” said Warren.
The expanded trail system will be even better for the local community
Brian and Cathy Russell, who are coaches with the Onslow County Composite NICA team, both told Singletracks that phase one of B3 benefited the team, who had to travel over an hour away to access quality trails before the park opened. Phase two will give them even more opportunities.
Brian, who is also the director of the North Carolina Interscholastic Cycling League (NCISCL), told Singletracks it will “increase the potential for the league to hold a NICA race there. It also brings more opportunities for student-athletes to do trail work, as well as more challenges for them to face.”
Dave Droke, who is on the NCICL’s Teen Trail Corp (TTC) Committee and is also a coach with the Onslow County Composite team, echoed the Russells’ sentiment about B3. He said the completion of phase one was timely, given that the trail at Camp LeJeune is no longer maintained and the only other trail in the county, which is very rooty and difficult for beginners, has been reduced to 1.3 miles in length.
B3 has given Droke the opportunity to teach student-athletes how to maintain trails. Due to the sandy composition of the soil there, B3 has many drains that are always in constant need of clearing. “It is the perfect classroom to demonstrate trail care.”
The bike park has been a pivotal venue for developing the team in all aspects of NICA, from Competition and TTC to GRiT and Adventure, and phase two will only enhance the benefits enjoyed by student-athletes. “It will give us additional miles and more tech,” said Droke.
Thomas Bradshaw, the current president of Down East Cyclists, said that phase one has made an incredibly positive impact on the local biking community by giving them the first truly sustainable trails they’ve had. “It has allowed us to spend less time on trail maintenance and more time riding.”
“It’ll bring more excitement and more revenue to the area,” Bradshaw continued. Like the Russells, Bradshaw is optimistic that phase two will lead to the addition of a NICA race at B3, and he hopes to hold an endurance race there, too.
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