At some points, engulfed in the rush of the ride, “your head feels like it’s going to pop off your shoulders,” said 2026 Remember the Removal mentor Freida Saylor. 

Saylor participated in RTR in 2025, a three-week, approximately 950-mile bike ride that traces the northern route of the Trail of Tears — one path of forced removal of the Cherokee people to Oklahoma from their Southern Appalachian homelands — following the 1830 Indian Removal Act signed by President Andrew Jackson.  

The Raccoon Creek Bike Park remains closed to the public as construction continues on the site, which is still an active work zone. Haywood County officials appreciate the community’s patience as work moves forward on the project and is anticipated to open in Summer 2026.

Once complete, the Raccoon Creek Bike Park will be a family-friendly outdoor amenity designed to serve riders of all ages and skill levels. The park will provide a safe and welcoming space for recreation, skill development and community programming. 

North Carolina Amateur Sports announced that the Cycle North Carolina Mountain Ride is headed to Jackson County Aug. 1-3, 2025.  Registration for the 2025 Mountain Ride is now open at ncsports.org. 

Join Jackson County Parks and Recreation for the department’s bike rodeo. 

Ride the trails with an experienced mountain bike instructor at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Chestnut Mountain Nature Park in Canton.