6 replies to this topic

[Dave F]

Hi everybody -  I will be traveling in a few weeks for vacation to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and was just curious if anyone had experience or recommendations with the riding in that area.  We will be staying in Sevierville specifically.  Thanks for any feedback, and safe riding to you.

[cgilker]

You owe it to yourself to ride up to Newfound Gap (or if you are more ambitious) to Clingman's Dome. You could leave from Sevierville, but I didn't like all the traffic, even really early in the AM, when I did it. I left from Gatlinburg in the early AM. At that hour there is very little traffic. From the visitor's center in the park, it was 13.1 miles to Newfound Gap, took me 90 minutes (I was riding a 45 lb hybrid with saddlebags, etc). It took 15 minutes to come back down. This was in July - I was sweating like a pig on the way up, freezing on the way down. Dress accordingly. Don't forget to sign the guestbook they keep at the Visitor Center counter for cyclists who ride up the Gap. You will find mine on July 18, 2008.

If you have kids that want to ride, Cades Cove is open to bikes and closed to cars one day each week. A bit hilly (for young kids, say under 8) and not for your training ride. More of a family ride. We did it and enjoyed it greatly.

Some folks have said you can ride Laurel Creek and Little River roads (they lead from Gatlinburg to Cades Cove), but I wasn't comfortable with the lack of sight lines. A car would never see you, and most are looking at the scenery anyway.

My 2 cents.

[live2beoutside]

First, the qualification:  The last time I went riding in Smokey Mountain National Park was 1992.  I suppose a lot may have changed since then but, on that trip, we went down over the Thanksgiving Holiday and stayed in Cherokee NC.  I rode US Highway 441 from Cherokee to Clingman's Dome one day, and HWY 441 from Cherokee to the Park Entrance just outside of Gatlinburg on another.  I found traffic to be pleasantly lacking both days, particiularly considering the relatively mild weather (30's/40's and beautiful sunshine) and the fact that it was a Holiday Weekend.

If I were you though, given where you are staying, I  would drive to the park and ride inside the park. What I remember of the roads that circumnavigate the park is that they are narrow, twisty, and VERY popular with people who like to drive motor vehicles hard and fast through the twisties. Not a place for a cyclist in my opinion.

[Chris_N]

I hear that there are two HUGE mountains in the front of Dollywood. ;-)

[Dave F]

Okay, after spending a week in the Smoky Mtns area (specifically Gatlinburg) I would recommend bringing a bike for riding specific areas.  I didn't bring mine and I wish that I had. There are good rides to be found in Cades Cove (any time - not just the Weds/Sat morning car-free periods) and the Roaring Fork motor trail nature loop.  Both are narrow and scenic, with 10 mph speed limit for cars.  They would be good places to ride, though both can see a fair amount of traffic with nature watchers gawking out the windows for bears.

[cat4ever]

Agree, Cades Cove is a GREAT family ride (8 and up due to some hills) on any day and a lot better way to see the cove than driving.  We rode on a day it was open to cars and while there was some slow traffic to deal with, it was nothing major, just stay in touch with the kids.  I'm sure riding when it's closed to cars would be really great.

[dpamac]

My daughter rode Cades Cove with me when she was 6 and kicked ass, but we did a lot of long distance trail rides to get her used to riding. The loop through Cades Cove is about 11 miles and there are ample opportunities to rest for kids. She conked out in the last mile until I told here there was ice cream at the campground.

Regarding routes, if you're willing to take a drive before you hop on the road I cannot recommend starting in Townsend, TN enoug. There's also a nice entrance through Wear's Valley that isn't well-known. It's at the south entrance of the park, maybe 20-25 minutes from Gatlinburg. The town is incredibly friendly to two wheeled transportation (human and motor powered). There are some nice offshoots through town. There's a bike shop in Maryville, TN (blanking on the name) that has recommended routes that will take you along the foothills parkway which is significantly less crowded than the roads to major look outs.

Having ridden both to Clingman's Down/Newfound Gap and up Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park I'd say I prefer the ride in Colorado. The climb was a bitch for a big guy like me, but it felt much safer with traffic. the Smokies are the most visited park in the US so it comes with the added traffic. You will see groups of cyclists throughout the area. Again, Townsend was a godsend. I rode everywhere in that town all week. I even rode from our cabin to Cades Cove, met the wife and kids who drove and rode back.