Bicycling in the

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS 

Dr. Allen Cherer

Similar to other national parks in the country,bicycles are generally allowed on most

roads in Great Smoky Mountains NationalPark. Although this is the case for most, if notall roads, it is important to bear in mind thatinclement weather and other unfavorable

conditions should dictate when you shouldexplore these trails.

As most of the national park is geared towards hikers,campers and individuals who simply would like to

explore nature, this in no way means that trails meantspecifically for bikers do not exist. Bicycles are allowedon the Gatlinburg, the Oconaluftee River and the lowerDeep Creek Trail. These trails have been set aside forpeople wishing to simply take a stroll through the parkon a bike, rather than participate in other less intensive

physical activity mentioned above.

Cove Loop Road

An incredibly popular trail for cyclists of all levels,Cove Loop Road is an 11 mile loop that offers

interesting vistas of wildlife, 19th century buildingsand reserves that are less popular. In the summerand fall, bicycles can be rented from the CadesCove Campground Store, which is conveniently

located near this loop.

Townsend Bicycle Path

Known as the “Peaceful side of the Smokies,” thispath is perfect for families with children of all ages.This paved trail has relatively hills, beautiful scenery

and is generally geared towards people who may nothave substantial cycling experience. The Townsend

bicycle path also allows access to a wide array oflocal spots to either explore before or after your

scenic route. Also, another important aspect to keepin mind is the fact parking is available on both ends

of the path.

Tremont Road: To successfully navigate TremontRoad from Townsend bicycle path, head to one sideof the path labeled with a “Y.” If you bike around thispath for a few times, it would actually be around 5miles in distance.

Lakeview Drive: Also known as the “Road toNowhere”. This is a lightly traveled paved road thatwinds eight miles into the Great Smoky MountainsNational Park just north of Bryson City, NC. It’s amoderate ride with great views of Fontana Lake andthe Southern Appalachians.

Lakeview Drive: Also known as the “Road toNowhere”. This is a lightly traveled paved road

that winds eight miles into the Great SmokyMountains National Park just north of Bryson City,

NC. It’s a moderate ride with great views ofFontana Lake and the Southern Appalachians.

Foothills Parkway: The Foothills Parkway between US 321and US 129 (about 16.5 miles) offers cyclists outstandingviews of the Smokies and is not as heavily traveled bymotorists as the roads in the park. As “foothills” is in the trail’sname, expect a serious workout when traversing this terrain.

Blue Ridge Parkway: You can ride a short portion of this road,beginning just outside of Oconaluftee, or you could ride theentire 469 miles all the way to Waynesboro, Va. Of courseyou should expect some major climbing right from the start.See some of the links below for more details about riding thisclassic cycling touring route.

Gatlinburg to Newfound Gap: For strong andexperienced cyclists looking for the ultimatechallenge, you could always try the climb up toNewfound Gap. This ride is an average grade of 5.2%over the course of 13 miles, which is probably enoughto make this a category 1 climb in the Tour de France!If you decide you want to tackle this climb, it’s best tostart just after dawn so that you can avoid the heaviertraffic. Also, it might be a good idea to carry a flashingstrobe to give drivers a heads-up while you’repedaling through the tunnels.

Cades Cove Loop Road: This 11-mile one way road is alsoa popular option for people on hybrids and mountain bikes.If you happen to ride this loop on a mountain bike, pleasepay close attention to the weather conditions, while alsomaking sure your bike is in mint condition.

Gatlinburg Trail: The Gatlinburg Trail travels 1.9 miles one-way from the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg. It’sa relatively flat trail that runs through the forest alongsidethe West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. The trail offersbeautiful views of the river, which is ideal for a relaxing dayout or even for some nature photography.

Oconaluftee River Trail: The Oconaluftee River Trailtravels 1.5 miles one-way from the Oconaluftee VisitorCenter to the outskirts of the city of Cherokee, NC. It’srelatively flat, but does have a few small hills. The trailpasses through the forest alongside the OconalufteeRiver and offers beautiful views of the river. TheOconaluftee River Trail is frequently used by joggerswalkers and visitors with dogs.