Gatlinburg, Tennessee

[Adam Hjelle]

Anyone ever done any riding in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area? It is really close to the Great Smokey Mountian Mountain National Park, but I can't seem to find any mtbing in the area... If I can't find any decent singletrack in the area I am just going to bring the road rig...Any help would be greatly appreciated...

[bobbkr]

Some of the finest off-road riding you will ever encounter is just south of Smokey Mountain National Park! West of Bryson City is Tsali (sooo sweet) Recreation area (Fonatana Lake) and near Asheville and Brevard is Pisgah National Forest. All about an hour from Gatlinburg. Road riding is also good along the Blue Ridge Parkway, depending on the tourist traffic. The Nantahala Outdoor Center (near Bryson) can give you directions and rents good bikes.

[Adam Hjelle]

Some of the finest off-road riding you will ever encounter is just south of Smokey Mountain National Park! West of Bryson City is Tsali (sooo sweet) Recreation area (Fonatana Lake) and near Asheville and Brevard is Pisgah National Forest. All about an hour from Gatlinburg. Road riding is also good along the Blue Ridge Parkway, depending on the tourist traffic. The Nantahala Outdoor Center (near Bryson) can give you directions and rents good bikes.

Fonatana lake is in South Carolina...right, just south of GSMNP? I think I read about that area, if it is about an hour away I will definately hit it up. May be best just to bring both rides, eh?

Thanks for the info!

[Tex]

I've heard some great things about Tsali too. I've been trying to get a trip going down there for about four years now. I just keep ending up in CO or UT every time I do a bike trip.
I've done some road riding in Clarksville TN a few years ago, and I wouldn't recommend it -at all. I don't think there are many people that ride down there and the drivers don't know how to deal with bicycles on their roads. So you either get the guy that won't pass you and hangs out right over your left shoulder - plotting your demise. Or you get the guy in his full size pick-up that thinks it's some sort of a game to see how close he can get to you with his side mirror. My sister lived down there for about sixteen years, and I went down there to visit her at least a dozen times, and I only brought my bike once. Now Gatlinberg might be different I don't know.
But now if you were talking about bringing down a motorcycle, that would be a different story. I would highly recommend that.

[bobbkr]

Adam,
The area that I described is in the far western tip of North Carolina.

[Tetreves]

Anyone ever done any riding in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area? It is really close to the Great Smokey Mountian Mountain National Park, but I can't seem to find any mtbing in the area... If I can't find any decent singletrack in the area I am just going to bring the road rig...Any help would be greatly appreciated...

I think I remember hearing they had a tonado roll through town yesterday...I could be wrong, though...

[Buck]

Pisgah has shuttled DH runs, sweeeet, if you want to hook up with a crew that rides there weekly go check mtbr.com they post pics of the area all the time. Other area to check out is Windrock, TN, don't know exactly where it is but I hear the riding is second to none...more info at hcor.net and www.windrock-mtb.com

L8Rz
Buck