Panther Creek

Panther Creek

	Panther Creek
Location:	Tennessee
Nearest Town:	Morristown
Directions to Trailhead:	Panther Creek State Park lies between Jefferson City and Morristown on Highway 342 (West off of 11E), Or exit 4 from 181
Trail Description:	Par on teh edge of Cherokee Lake and provides numerous recreational opportunities, incluking Mtn biking, hiking, volleyball, softball, swimming, camping, and picnic areas, boating, and fishing. Trails through woods and fields from moderate to technical.
Trail Length:	10 miles
Trail Type:	Singletrack
Skill Level:	Intermediate
Web Link:	http://www.cs.utk.edu/~dunigan/mtnbike/panther.html
Submitted By:	Craig Bowers

Running Amok from Asheville Date: December 12, 2002 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Clockwise on Trout Lily and Pioneer Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Interesting area to say the least. Good representation of local wildlife. Pioneer was fun nothing too off the wall or interesting. Trout Lily was fun. I went right after a nice day of drizzle and the roots were the most slippery things I have ever ridden on. It also made the rocks (Trout Lily trail) much more challenging than the every could be. I think it was a good use of the land; however, I always felt a little cramped and never felt like I have really ridden anywhere. It was like, how many trails can we fit in this tract of land? I am still happy to see trails in this area and will be back, makes the family visits...escapable now. Thanks,	Overall Rating:

Liz from Knoxville, TN Date: February 18, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Follow signs Other recommended trails in the same area: Concord Park, IC King (don't talk to the guys in the parking lot), Haw Ridge
Review: I try to make it out here once a week. The trails are well maintained. The easier trails (farm loops, wagon, and panther) are more crowded usually. Pioneer is my favorite just fast and fun, nothing hard. Just a whole lot of solitude. Trout Lily is fun too but nothing very demanding...except for the rocks...still trying to figure out how to get up those rocks. Take time to stop and look at the beautiful views of the lake. Overall very fun and fast not too hard, great little system of trails, wish there were more of them.	Overall Rating:

Bud from Morristown Date: January 28, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: follow the signs Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Panther Creek is a blast to ride! Park at the pool and go the the top of the observation point and then ride down to wagon trail. Take this to Deer run and head for the fun stuff. Deer run will take you to the boat ramp road, from there you can hit Trout Lily or Pioneer. You can get trout Lily by going right at the "T" and Pioneer by going left and then left again. Pioneer is a very fun trail if ridden clockwise. You can get to about 30mph on one little section, I call the horseshoe. I see a lot of Deer and Turkey on this trail. Trout lily is my favorite. Ride it clockwise for the most fun. You will go up a while then go down for a roller coaster ride before you get to the rocks watch out for the downed tree. I love riding the rocks, they are rideable. Sombody put some branches at the base of a fallen limb about half way through the rocky section which makes it much easer to ride. Thank you whoever you are. Inner and Outer loops are ok, don't like double track. Morristown is very lucky to have Panther Creek and my hats off to the Friends Of Panther Creek for the hard work they put into these trails.	Overall Rating:

Tony Keys from Morristown, TN Date: July 6, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Take 160 bypass off of 25E and follow the signs to Panther Creek State Park. Park at the bottom of the hill across the creek. The trail starts on the south side of Panther creek. Other recommended trails in the same area: Norris Dam
Review: These trails can be broken down into two halves. The first half is to the east of the boat ramp road. It consists of: Old Wagon Trail, Deer Run, Piney Cove, and Panther Path. These are the flatter of the trails, and also the most crowded. Expect to see hikers, kids on BMX bikes, small children and dogs over here. Of all of these trails, Deer Run is my favorite. It is a bit of twisty singletrack that follows the edge of Cherokee lake. It is great fun to ride in either direction The second half of the trails at Panther Creek are to the west of the boat ramp road. These consist of: Inner and outer farm loops, Pioneer, and Trout Lilly. These have a bit more elevation gain, and are also less crowded. You may still encounter hikers and such, but not nearly as much. The inner farm loop is all doubletrack. The best thing about it is to blast down at a high speed. Outer farm loop has a combination of doubletrack and single track. It takes you up some short climbs and back down somewhat like a roller coaster. Pioneer, aka the expert trail, has the most climbing. There is nothing overly technical on this trail, but for some reason it is where I do most of my crashing. It is fun either way, but I prefer to ride it in the clokwise direction. You climb for a bit, and then you get to the rocky section at the top. It has some nice descents, and some off camber turns along the side of the hill facing the lake. Trout Lilly is the most technical trail at Panthre Creek. It doesn't really have that much climbing, but some of it is pretty steep for short sections. Choose your gearing wisely. This trail is a challenge either way. There si a section of trail about two thirds along the way (if ridden clockwise) that is very technical. Yes they are rocks, and no they are not evil. They can be ridden by XC geeks on hardtails after multiple tries. Please bring a friend along just in case. The bridge is now rideable thanks to the efforts of Friends of Panther Creek. If you see an 80 something year old man walking along the trail with a ski pole, His name is Bill. He helped build the bridge, be sure to thak him. Overall, a fun place to ride. Lots of singletrack and not too crowded. I only wish that there were more trails there.	Overall Rating:

Josh from Sevierville, TN Date: April 15, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: All the ones in Norris are good too, these are the only good areas around knoxville
Review: Wagon and Panther are good to warm-up on. Take Deer run out to the more difficult trails. Do the farm-loops for a light work-out. Pioneer is fun if you like to time yourself, start on the left side(even though its the wrong way, but going right sucks). Trout Lily blows, i've crashed so many times on it. If you want to be a down-hiller, then you just crank yourself right on through it. I wish you well on the big "S" with the evil rocks. Make sure the bridge is intacted(or finished from repairs), so look before you leap. Other wise enjoy, and make sure you play soccer with all the mexicans and dance to their tahano music.	Overall Rating:

Downhill Rcr from Knoxville ,TN Date: March 4, 2000 Trail Ridden: Every few months
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area: TSALI ,NC
Review: The PIONEER TRAIL is good - but very weird.LIKE somebody is watching you or something? It's a big cloverleaf pattern I think.Don't go out there alone It gave me the willy's. Lot's of Mexicans around there...	Overall Rating:

Tony from Kingsport, TN Date: September 13, 1999 Trail Ridden: Please Select
Recommended Route: Route given above is fine. Other recommended trails in the same area: Bays Mountain, Warriors Path, Va. Creeper
Review: Who made the signs for this place? Coming in from Exit 4 you come to an intersection where you can go either left or right. Which way does the arrow on the sign point? Straight......Anyway, I rode a couple of the loops this weekend and really enjoyed the ride. The Pioneer trail and Trout Lilly were particularly enjoyable. The trail is mostly single track through woods. Lots of roots and rocks, but for the most part it is fast single track. There are a few climbs, but nothing killer. Overall I give it a rating of 4. -1/2 point for the signs, -1/2 point for being so far from my house.....	Overall Rating:

Al from Kingsport, TN Date: August 19, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: I like to come in past the boatramp and park in the lot where the horse trailers park. Other recommended trails in the same area: Bays Mountain, Iron Mountian-in Va., Warriors Path if you are really bored.
Review: Several different ways to ride in the park. Almost all singletrack. Some roots and rocks, but only has a few technical spots. Overall this is a really fun ride. I really don't know why, but it is a fast well maintained trail.	Overall Rating:

Jeff Brooks from Talbott, TN Date: August 18, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Park at the pavillion just past the swimming pool. Enterance across the street. Follow this gravel doubletrack to the power substation, make a right on deer run. Gulley at the beginning of the trail will allow you some good air if you go the opposite direction. Follow Deer Run to the boat ramp road. Make a left, then a right just up the road onto the Farm Loops. Follow to the entrance of the Pioneer Trail (Expert Trail). This is a 2.6 mile semi-technical loop that ends up back on the Farm Loops. Follow the Outer Loop (yellow dot) trail back to the boat ramp roadn then enter Piney Cove across the road. This is a short trail back to the gravel doubletrack. Take a right on the gravel up to the gate, then a left onto the Panther Path which circles the park, back to the pavillion. About 11 or 12 miles total. Other recommended trails in the same area: If you are interested, check out the BMX track at Frank Lorino Park. One of the best in the Eastern U.S. Local bike shops have details.
Review: All in all, I really like Panther Creek and the trails here. Alomst all single track, with lots of rocks, roots, hills, and some switchbacks. Almost all the trails are relatively short, but connect together to make for a good ride. Scenery is really nice, with great views of the lake in places. A lot of wildlife can be seen here, especially in the early morning and late evening. Trails for all skill levels (the most technical being Trout Lilly, the easiest being the Panther Path), and great neibors make for a very nice place to ride and hang out.	Overall Rating:

Mike from morristown Date: August 5, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: 11-e to 342 or panther creek rd. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Riders in this area should be thankful for this trail, I am since I live only 2 miles from it so it gives me opportunity to ride without hassle. One can go through the main entrance and ride some easy trails and shorter trails. The west entrance (past main) is on the right, look for horse parking. Several ways to go from here. you can take the outer loop or inner loop to Pioneer Loop, or take a right to go to trout lilly. Trout lilly is rocky and technical about middle ways. Can see wildlife in the day, even saw an owl. I have to walk the rocks and then a nice hill ride to the top, and then the last section is fast with lots of turns. Pioneer has swithcbacks (actually longs ones) to the top of hill. A few good downhills here. Once at the top some techinal riding through the root and over several rocky places. The downhill is fun with a sink hole at the bottom. If you time it right you can round the curve at sinkhole, curve is sharp, then you have to pedal hard up a steep hill. overall my favorite trail.	Overall Rating:

Brian Taylor from Talbott, TN, USA Date: May 24, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Hwy 11E out of Knoxville to Morristown TN, take left onto Panther Creek Rd. The park is on the right. Other recommended trails in the same area: Tsali, about 2 hours from here
Review: The bike trail system has something for every level of rider. Everything from gentle rolling paths to root covered and loose rock climbs. Easy to technical.	Overall Rating:

Craig Bowers from Tennessee Date: May 15, 1999 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: Route selected on trail description. Other recommended trails in the same area: Trails? You dont need no stinkin trails when youve got Panther Creek.
Review: Finally a park that caters to mountain bikers. This park has plenty of recreation including mountain biking and camping. This park has seperate trails for mountain bikers so we dont have to deal with those annoying horses and their riders. Plenty of well maintained trails to ride with beautiful scenery. Truthfully the best place I have ever ridden next to The Big South Fork. I would give this trail a 10 if I could.	Overall Rating: