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Tour d'Apple is set for 8 a.m. on Labor Day

Tour d’Apple riders can choose four different routes on Labor Day, from the easier 25-mile ride to the challenging 100-mile Honeycrisp Century ride, which features more than 9,000 feet of climbing.

By Lightning Reports, Published: August 31, 2025

The Tour d’Apple bicycling event on Labor Day offers four scenic routes through Henderson County’s apple orchards, waterfalls, mountains and valleys to benefit the charitable projects of the Hendersonville Four Seasons Rotary Club.

Packet pick-up is 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Tour d’Apple hub in the Patton Building parking lot of Blue Ridge Community College, 42 W. Campus Drive. Register here.

Tour d’Apple riders can choose four different routes on Labor Day, from the easier 25-mile ride to the challenging 100-mile Honeycrisp Century ride, which features more than 9,000 feet of climbing.

After the ride, riders can enjoy bluegrass music, massages and a lunch from Taqueria Gonzalez restaurant.

The 100-, 63- and 45-mile routes include beautiful mountain experiences and orchards full of ripe apples. While the 25-mile route has only a few modest hills and lots of apple orchards, the other routes will challenge your largest climbing gears.

Last Sept. 27 Hurricane Helene devastated the area with high winds and unprecedented rain — up to 30 inches in some parts of the county. Floodwaters washed away or damaged many bridges and caused numerous roadway washouts. Fortunately most of the bridges and roadways on the Tour d’Apple routes have been repaired. Detours will be well marked.

One-hundred-mile riders must start at 8 a.m. in order to complete the challenging Honeycrisp 100 by 4 p.m. The 100-mile route (yellow arrows) again includes the beautiful 270-degree mountain views on Orchard Circle at approximately Mile 87. All routes will be unassisted after 4 p.m.

Rest stops, hours open and locations:

• Rest stop 1: 8:45-11 a.m. – Mountain Machine, 2011 Pilot Mountain Road, Edneyville
• Rest stop 2: 8:45-11 a.m. – Mountain Machine, 2011 Pilot Mountain Road, Edneyville (riders pass rest stop outbound and inbound)
• Rest stop 3: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Mud Creek Missionary Baptist Church, 104 Mine Gap Road
• Rest stop 4: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Near 57 Pinnacle Falls Lane, Zirconia.
• Rest stop 5: noon-3 p.m. Etowah-Horse Shoe Fire Station, 3559 Hebron Road, Etowah

The Tour d’Apple post-ride meal for cyclists and volunteers is served from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Ride bib is your meal ticket.) Lunch for non-riders costs $10. Purchase tickets at the Volunteer Tent. Volunteers receive a complimentary lunch and may pick up a lunch ticket at the Volunteer Tent.