Raccoon Mountain. Just outside of Chattanooga.
Curious about TN
I'm going to be traveling from Colorado along the I-24 corridor between Nashville and Chattanooga. I'll have my bike on the truck and will be looking to experience TN-single track.
I'd appreciate any suggestions?
I like most everything -- steep, technical, rolling, views, mileage, loops -- whatever the best recommendation is, I'll head THERE!
Thanks in advance for the advice.
I'd appreciate any suggestions?
I like most everything -- steep, technical, rolling, views, mileage, loops -- whatever the best recommendation is, I'll head THERE!
Thanks in advance for the advice.
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
+1 for Raccoon Mountain. A second must ride in the area is the Tanasi trail system about 45 minutes east of Chattanooga.
Haw Ridge is a local favorite, and you can ride any time, it is closed five days out of the year for a draw hunt end of October. So you could make it unless your pushing this car with a bike on the trunk.
Raccoon Mtn (20 miles with 8 more flagged awaiting approval to construct) is your best shot if you don't want to venture off I-24. Some claim it is the best trail in the SE. I help build it so my opinion would be bias. But it was built by mountain bikers for mountain bikers (and hikers).
RM info: https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails/trail_guide.php?state=TN&trail=120
RM map: https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o49/Berg417448/RMSCAN01.jpg
Other trails you should check out if you are willing to venture about 70 to 80 minutes off from I-24 are Tanasi and Chilhowee.
Tanasi (32 miles) info:https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails/trail_guide.php?state=TN&trail=2
Chilihowee (25 miles) info: https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails/trail_guide.php?state=TN&trail=8
If you are considering riding any of these trails and would like some local knowledge or possibly a local guide (better chances on weekends) than be sure to sign up an post a message to this message board: https://sorbachattanooga.org/
I listed the major trail systems with 15 + miles of trail. There are several other 5 to 15 miles trail systems in there if you are interested, let me know and I will provide more information on them.
RM info: https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails/trail_guide.php?state=TN&trail=120
RM map: https://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o49/Berg417448/RMSCAN01.jpg
Other trails you should check out if you are willing to venture about 70 to 80 minutes off from I-24 are Tanasi and Chilhowee.
Tanasi (32 miles) info:https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails/trail_guide.php?state=TN&trail=2
Chilihowee (25 miles) info: https://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails/trail_guide.php?state=TN&trail=8
If you are considering riding any of these trails and would like some local knowledge or possibly a local guide (better chances on weekends) than be sure to sign up an post a message to this message board: https://sorbachattanooga.org/
I listed the major trail systems with 15 + miles of trail. There are several other 5 to 15 miles trail systems in there if you are interested, let me know and I will provide more information on them.
Nashville:
Hamilton Creek 12 miles of rocky rooty goodness.
Exit 59 on I-24 @ Antioch
Manchester (Bonnaroo)
AEDC Trail next to Arnold Air Force Base
13 miles of pure XC goodness
*Dont Forget the Deep Woods Off*
Ticks are bad this year.
http://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails.php
Hamilton Creek 12 miles of rocky rooty goodness.
Exit 59 on I-24 @ Antioch
Manchester (Bonnaroo)
AEDC Trail next to Arnold Air Force Base
13 miles of pure XC goodness
*Dont Forget the Deep Woods Off*
Ticks are bad this year.
http://www.sorbachattanooga.org/trails.php
I wondering about that. Bugs are more intense in your neck of the woods. We only got a few mosquitos in CO.
I was going to camp at Old Stone Fort (hate hotels on the road), so I'm assuming the Bonnaroo trail is near there?
On the route back, Nashville and Hamilton Creek will hopefully work Thurs. morning.
Thanks for the suggestions. My itinerary has been improved greatly.
I was going to camp at Old Stone Fort (hate hotels on the road), so I'm assuming the Bonnaroo trail is near there?
On the route back, Nashville and Hamilton Creek will hopefully work Thurs. morning.
Thanks for the suggestions. My itinerary has been improved greatly.
Matter of opinion, buddy.Hollis said:Nashville:
Hamilton Creek 12 miles of rocky rooty goodness.
Exit 59 on I-24 @ Antioch
I live all of five miles from Hammy and it still remains my last choice of XC trails (when I ride XC that is). Way too technical, rocky and rooty for me. I'd rather go ride in circles in my back yard than to ride at Hammy.
Best trail in middle TN is Montgomery Bell, about 30 miles west of Nashville, then probably Lock 4 in Gallatin (about 30 miles NE of Nashville).
Ticks aren't much of a bother if your legs are shaved... 
Post up here or shoot me a PM if you're looking for folks to ride with on a weekday. Jeffery is right - most of the locals ride on weekends, but I have a small & loosely assembled group of folks that sneak in weekday rides on a fairly regular basis. We do early morning pre-dawn rides just about every day as well.
Post up here or shoot me a PM if you're looking for folks to ride with on a weekday. Jeffery is right - most of the locals ride on weekends, but I have a small & loosely assembled group of folks that sneak in weekday rides on a fairly regular basis. We do early morning pre-dawn rides just about every day as well.
Let us know when youre coming through and have a ride with some locals to get the best taste of Raccoon Mtn. You must go, it is really nice:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I'm There
As best as possible, I'll be heading towards Raccoon Mtn. around 1pm on Wednesday, July 1 after finishing my installation. Probably be at the Visitor Center around 1:30.
You can't miss me as I've got an old Ford pick-up with a 16ft. trailer on the back. I'll be bringing some outdoor sculpture to Chattanooga for the Brainerd Neighborhood area. I ride a Walt Works rigid 29er. My friend who is helping me with the installation and drive has a Seven.
I'll follow-up Monday before I hit the road if there's a change of plans.
YES! That would be awesome to meet for a ride and a guide. Like I mentioned, cold beer will be the cooler post ride!
Thanks again for all the suggestions!
As best as possible, I'll be heading towards Raccoon Mtn. around 1pm on Wednesday, July 1 after finishing my installation. Probably be at the Visitor Center around 1:30.
You can't miss me as I've got an old Ford pick-up with a 16ft. trailer on the back. I'll be bringing some outdoor sculpture to Chattanooga for the Brainerd Neighborhood area. I ride a Walt Works rigid 29er. My friend who is helping me with the installation and drive has a Seven.
I'll follow-up Monday before I hit the road if there's a change of plans.
YES! That would be awesome to meet for a ride and a guide. Like I mentioned, cold beer will be the cooler post ride!
Thanks again for all the suggestions!
Might want to consider parking at East Overlook - you can get a bit of a warm up on an easier stretch of trail first that way. Either way works though.
Be discrete with the cold ones - folks bring them from time to time (so I'm told ), but they are not allowed as it's on TVA property. It is patrolled on a fairly regular basis.
Keep us posted on your schedule, I bet some folks will show up.
Be discrete with the cold ones - folks bring them from time to time (so I'm told
), but they are not allowed as it's on TVA property. It is patrolled on a fairly regular basis.Keep us posted on your schedule, I bet some folks will show up.
Ok...
...gotcha! Thanks for the details.
It's not the law-less attitude of the Wild West. Coffee cup mugs to disguise any cowboy beer swiggin' activities.
...gotcha! Thanks for the details.
It's not the law-less attitude of the Wild West. Coffee cup mugs to disguise any cowboy beer swiggin' activities.
+1 on Hamilton Creek and +1 for Racoon Mtn.
Yeah! I want to thank everyone who offered suggestions. I have been remiss in getting back with report. Since I got back to Denver I've had to hit the ground running!
On the way in, I caught a little more than an hour on the AEDC trails. Fun, fast and good spin after a long drive.
Next day after the work, I rode Raccoon Mountain. Total blast!
Third day, I killed the chance for the morning ride at Hamilton Creek because I met up with a college friend for coffee instead. I promise! I won't miss the ride next trip. But made it to Columbia, MO to finish the day riding the Cosmos area.
Fourth day, believe it or not, but found some really fun single track at Wilson Lake, Kansas. Some technical, steep pitches with rolling areas over 20 miles.
I got home with a big bike smile on my face.
Today leaving for work to Wyoming. Tomorrow will be riding the Bear Lodge trails outside of Sundance. Can't wait!
Thanks again, all the suggestions made the trip really, really cool!
On the way in, I caught a little more than an hour on the AEDC trails. Fun, fast and good spin after a long drive.
Next day after the work, I rode Raccoon Mountain. Total blast!
Third day, I killed the chance for the morning ride at Hamilton Creek because I met up with a college friend for coffee instead. I promise! I won't miss the ride next trip. But made it to Columbia, MO to finish the day riding the Cosmos area.
Fourth day, believe it or not, but found some really fun single track at Wilson Lake, Kansas. Some technical, steep pitches with rolling areas over 20 miles.
I got home with a big bike smile on my face.
Today leaving for work to Wyoming. Tomorrow will be riding the Bear Lodge trails outside of Sundance. Can't wait!
Thanks again, all the suggestions made the trip really, really cool!
Haw Ridge is in Oak Ridge, which is about another 90 minutes east of Chatty. I highly doubt that it would be considered worth three hours drive time to ride there. Not bad at all, but not three hours good.skintup said:Haw Ridge is a local favorite, and you can ride any time, it is closed five days out of the year for a draw hunt end of October. So you could make it unless your pushing this car with a bike on the trunk.
You are into freeriding, and you don't like HC? WTF.rmb_mike said:Matter of opinion, buddy.
I live all of five miles from Hammy and it still remains my last choice of XC trails (when I ride XC that is). Way too technical, rocky and rooty for me. I'd rather go ride in circles in my back yard than to ride at Hammy.
Best trail in middle TN is Montgomery Bell, about 30 miles west of Nashville, then probably Lock 4 in Gallatin (about 30 miles NE of Nashville).
While freeriding is technically 'free' riding and can be anything other than sanctioned racing, the version that you and I speak of involves dirt jumps, drops and North Shore style wooden stunts, none of which are currently part of HC...or ANY public trail here in MT for that matter.StumpyinTN said:You are into freeriding, and you don't like HC? WTF.
Hamilton Creek is SOOOOO not a freeride trail. Not even close. When I see some dirt jumps, and some SMOOTH, FLOWY trails with some wooden stunts, then I'll like it.
Nextly, I ride a Transition Bottlerocket that was designed for smooth, fast, flowy trails. They don't fare well in rock gardens with the name of Hamilton Creek. In fact, I didn't even like riding my Marin or RM Edge XC bikes on that trail.
Long Hunter is a way better example of a smoother, more flowy trail (even though it's an XC trail, I like it really well).
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
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