What you need to know before climbing the Watershed
Note: Within the watershed, there are two routes. At the divide, you can go toward Saluda (right) or Hendersonville (stay straight).Distance: Starting from Callahan Mountain road, the first section to the divide is 4.14 miles. Toward Hendersonville, it's another ~2.89 miles until the top of the climb (~6.45 miles total). Toward Saluda, it's another 2.6 miles to the top of the climb (~6.13 miles). The top of either climb takes you into NC.
Elevation gain: Toward Hendersonville, you start at 1208 feet and finish at 2274 feet (1049 feet elevation gain). Toward Saluda, you start at 1208 feet and finish at 2114 feet (897 feet elevation gain)
Grade: According to my Garmin, the average grade heading toward Hendersonville is 3%. The average grade heading toward Saluda is 2.8%. There are some short segments around 4-6% but there's nothing steep. I feel the Hendersonville climb is a little more pitchy compared to the Saluda side, which feels more of a gentle climb.
Road condition: The road condition is poor. There are many cracks, rough spots and holes. For such a beautiful place to ride, the road condition is not so fun. The Hendersonville side is worse compared to the Saluda side.
Scenery: This is a very scenic climb. You can see the bright blue water from the North Saluda Reservoir as you are climbing. There are sections where you can see and hear running water from the forest and you are tucked in a canopy of trees. It's a very beautiful and quiet place to ride.
Recommended bike/gearing: Road bike or tri bike. You'll want climbing gears just to keep a more fluid pedal stroke but this is not a technical or demanding climb.
Descend: Because of the poor road condition on the Hendersonville side, you need to keep your gaurd up as you are descending. There are also a few tighter sections. On the Saluda side, the road condition is a bit better. After you pass the dividing point, the descend becomes a bit easier with long sweeping turns. This is not a technical or fast descend as you do have to continue to pedal and "work" for some speed down the climb.
Climb with a view? While there is a lot to see as you are climbing, there's no specific view point on this climb. Just a lot of beautiful scenery spread over several miles.
Traffic: This is a very busy area for cyclists - more so than cars. I wouldn't say this is a heavily traffic route but you will have a few cars and motorcycles pass you as you are riding on the weekend. During the week, it's pretty quiet.
Difficulty: This is a great climb for beginner and developing cyclists. It's also a great route for specific intervals because there is some climbing but nothing too demanding. The road is wide open and there is nothing steep until the dividing point. Because of this, you can ride as long as you want and still get in a good workout. And simply turn around when you are done.
Honest feedback: We have taken several campers on this climb and it's a very safe place for group riding. While the road condition is poor, it's a very peaceful and scenic climb. It's also a great place to work on descending skills. It's a popular route so you will never feel alone when riding on the weekend. It's also a way to take you toward the Green River Cove Loop or toward Flat Rock (and be sure to visit the Flat Rock Bakery).
