Alternative Sports Mecca
While the Cherokee National Forest is known for having world-class whitewater, exceptional hiking, camping and fishing, the Cherokee National Forest has developed a new identity during the fall and winter as an alternative sports mecca with some of the finest off-road bike trails to be found.
The Tanasi Trail System at the Ocoee Whitewater Center can easily be touted as the premier trail system in the Southeast. It even has a top-of-the-line titanium frame mountain bike named after it. Along with the incredible beauty of the Cherokee National Forest, the Tanasi has the unique feature of originating from the banks of the Olympic whitewater course at the Ocoee River.
Since the Olympics in 1996, several miles of bike trails have been added at the Whitewater Center with over thirty miles of trails completed so far as part of the Tanasi Trail System. There are trails for every skill level and plenty of variety including a paved riverside trail, which winds around the Whitewater facility itself to the "epic rides" that wind up and over beautiful Chestnut Mountain. The International Mountain Biking Association describes the Tanasi as "fast, flowing singletrack that riders of all levels will savor."
The most recent addition to the trail system, the Thunder Rock Express, has received a lot of positive comments from bikers such as "ripping downhill rides" and "awesome jumps." This 1.5 mile section of the Tanasi System along with the original 20-mile course at the Center is included as part of the South Eastern Regional Championship Series, which is held at the Whitewater Center in May.
An easier paced adventure for cyclists can be found along the Historic Old Copper Road Trail, which follows the restored path that was used to transport copper by wagon from Ducktown, TN to Cleveland, TN before the arrival of the railroad from Blue Ridge. Including the Tanasi there are over 250 miles of bike trails within the Cherokee National Forest, making it possible to never ride the same stretch of trail twice. Nearby the Whitewater Center, along the banks of Parksville Lake, is Chilhowee Mountain with a trail system that is said to rival the Tsali course in North Carolina for some of the best single-track mountain biking in the Southeast.
A cyclist’s dream can be found near Tellico Plains, Tennessee along the Cherohala Skyway. The Cherohala was completed in the fall of 1996 after being under construction for some thirty-four years. Winding up and over for 15 miles in North Carolina and descending another 21 miles in the deeply forested backcountry in Tennessee it crosses the Cherokee and Nantahala Forests. This stretch of road with its hard switchbacks is a challenge and is not for beginners as the Skyway has the highest average elevation of any road its length east of the Mississippi.
These are just a small sample of the bike trails in the Cherokee National Forest. For detailed maps of these and all the bike trails contact the ranger stations near you.
Ocoee Whitewater Center
1-877-692-6050
http://www.southernregion.fs.fed.us/ocoee
Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger Station
423-338-5201
Tellico Ranger Station
423-253-2520
To find detailed maps and trail descriptions online visit the Chattanooga Bike Club at
http://www.chattbike.com/maps_cues/mapscues.htm
Click here for descriptions of the trail ratings given below
Special requests for more information:
info@tennesseeoverhill.com
Tanasi Mountain Bike Trail System
(Ocoee Whitewater Center)
Bear Paw Loop
Beginner/1.7 miles
This ride is suitable to those who possess beginner level skills of bike riding and are in good enough shape to sustain a 0.7-mile climb. After that it is all fun-almost all moderate downhill back to the Whitewater Center.
Chestnut Mountain Loop
Advanced/8.6 miles
This ride is suitable for those who possess good riding skills and are in good enough shape to ride for 2 hours with several moderate climbs. Access the trail from Thunder Rock Campground. The majority of the trail follows an old logging road (doubletrack) through a hardwood forest with 1/4 of the trail being singletrack.
Chestnut Mountain Loop with West Fork Loop
Advaned/11.5 miles
There are several moderate climbs, rocky sections as well as water crossings. Ride Entrance Trail to Chestnut Mountain Loop, at the far end of the Chestnut Mountain Loop, ride the West Fork/FS45 loop, then return to the Chestnut Mountain loop and take Bear Paw Loop on the way back.
Tanasi Race Course
Advanced/11 miles
This course has a little of everything. It starts with Bear Paw Loop, does Chestnut Mountain singletrack section, takes the screaming downhill Thunder Rock Express followed by the grueling uphill along FS45 to the 1330 and back to Bear Paw. This is one lap and is repeated multiple times for the advanced rider.
Thunder Rock Express
Advanced/1.5 miles
All downhill with a couple of awesome jumps backed up by loose shale, off camber turns and deep gravity wells. Sharp turns and 2 bridges (slippery when wet).
Chilhowee Mountain Trails
Azalea Trail #141
Beginner/1.5 miles
This ride is fun for beginners and experts alike, with fast narrow singletrack leading mostly downhill (if you start across the lower campground road). You can use this trail to connect up with the rest of the system or just as a short loop back to the campground area.
Benton Falls Trail #131
Moderate/1.5 miles
This wide track leads from the lake to the waterfall. Watch for hikers and be respectful.
Clemmer Trail #302
Advanced/1.5 miles
4.5 miles on Benton Falls Trail to the junction of Trail #302
A classic screaming downhill or a gut wrenching uphill (depending on which direction you ride it). Clemmer has it all: several creek crossings, rhododendron tunnels and surfaces ranging from sandy to rocky. The high end of the trail is at the beautiful Benton Falls (accessible from a short hiking trail.)
Clear Creek Trail
Advanced/3+ miles
One of the most challenging trails in the system; be ready for some killer climbing, 3 extreme switchbacks, one of which is just barely but not impossible to ride. Be very careful especially in the middle of this trail where there is a fairly steep rock cliff area. Near the end, be ready for an extremely fast downhill with some wonderful whoops to fly off of. There are a couple of options at the end of this downhill depending of how wet you want to get.
Rim Extension
Moderate/0.4
A short technical sidetrail.
Slickrock Trail Loop
Advanced 3+ miles
A sweet trail system which is actually a small network of trails hooked together by a couple of old Forest Service Roads. You will find singltrack with climbing twists and turns and some fun downhills with whoopde-doos. One section has been unofficially named Naked Widow Loop. This stems from several sightings of an elderly woman bathing in the small creek at the middle of the branch. Legend has it she lived with her husband on the Benton side of the mountain when her husband died, whereupon she began to endlessly wander the trails.
Cherohala Skyway
Although separate bicycle lanes or paths are not specifically designated along the Cherohala Skyway, the design of the paved road and the grassy shoulders provides room for bicyclists. There are 12 existing trailheads located adjacent to the parking overlooks on the Skyway. The trails range from 3 to 8 miles in length and traverse some of the most beautiful forestland found in the Southern Appalachians.
Cherohala-North River Loop
Advanced/50 miles (3,800’ climb)
This loop combines 23 miles of the Cherohala Skyway up to Stratton Meadows, descends North River Rd 12 miles and then 14 miles down the Tellico River Rd. Also from Stratton Meadows you can take the Santeelah Creek Loop 28 miles to the base of the Cherohala Skyway at Santeelah.
Tellico Ranger District Trail System
Citico Creek and Tellico River
Advanced/11 miles
Citico and the Tellico are clear mountain streams running through hemlocks and rhododendron. The gravel Citico Creek Road (FS 35) climbs gently from Citico Beach as it follows the creek. toward Indian Boundary Camp Ground.
Indian Boundary Loop
Beginner/3.2 miles
This is the ideal beginner ride. It’s all smooth, level, lightly-graveled singletrack, has bridges across the streams and completely encircles Indian Boundary Lake.
Cowcamp Ridge Loop
Advanced/18 miles
For the more vertically inclined Cowcamp is a beautiful uphill ride (2,250’) that starts at Double Camp camping area and climbs up to Farr Gap (2,910’) and nice views. Continue up to 3,155’ were you descend FS 26 back to FS 35 and back to Double Camp.
Miller Ridge
Advanced/10+ miles
From Jake Best camping area you can ride dirt roads along Miller ridge west of the Citico Road about 10 miles to Indian Boundary. There is also a 4.9-mile more technical section that you can add in that climbs to 2,100’.
There are outfitters within the Tennessee Overhill that have bikes to rent. Call for more information.
Coker Creek Village
http://www.cokercreekvillage.com
(865) 261-2310, 1-800-448-9580
High Country Adventures
http://www.highcountryoutfitters.com
(423) 261-2310, 1-800-223-8594
Ocoee Adventure Center
http://www.ocoeeadventurecenter.com/welcome.htm
(423) 496-4430, 1-888-723-8622
The Outdoor Store
(423) 507-9006
Outdoor Adventure Rafting
http://www.raft.com
1-800-627-7636
And... for those of you who may wish to be seen as one who is "in-the-know"... we invite you to a brief
primer on the terminology used by authoritative mountain bikers... Click Here