Adventure Center
We can sell you bikes and gear all day long, but if we haven't helped
introduce some adventure into your life, we haven't done our job. So below you
will find great riding in our area. Whether you are headed to Tennessee, Georgia or
Italy, we are available to help you plan your next great adventure!
Road Riding near Huntsville
North Alabama offers great road riding. Huntsville's 100+ year old
Spring
City Cycling Club has a free ride atlas for members and lists some rides on
their website. Here's a few rides, some local some not, that we really enjoy.
Hurricane Valley
Quiet roads and beautiful scenery wait just minutes from town in northeast
Madison County. While accessible by bike, you may wish to drive a bit if the thought of riding out of
town on narrow two lane roads seems intimidating. Madison County Lake makes an
excellent starting point with a small store, public restrooms and ample parking.
Rides of any length are easily accommodated in this area and we can recommend anything from a
ten mile loop to treks into Tennessee all on roads with relatively light
traffic.
Cherry Tree Loop
This is a natural for anyone who lives in the Hampton Cove
area. South Huntsville residents can incorporate this ride with beginning and
ending climbs of Cecil Ashburn Drive and have a really challenging ride. This ride
typically starts at the Hampton Cove ball fields and heads south on Old Hwy 431. After
crossing several one-lane bridges, turn left onto Cherry Tree Lane and follow
until it ends several miles later. Then turn right on New Hope Cedar Point Road
and continue into the town of New Hope. Here choices include the Simpson Point Road climb or
an easier return on Old Gurley Pike or through Owens Crossroads on Old Hwy 431.
If climbing is your
passion, this scenic highway north east of Chattanooga cannot be beat for light
traffic and epic vistas. The skyway is a three hour drive from Huntsville to
Tellico Plains Tennessee. Begin your ride at the Indian Boundary campground
which h
as
nice facilities and a day use area, elevation aprox. 1800 ft. Riding east, you
will climb steadily for nearly fourteen miles before reaching the Santeetlah
Overlook at 5,390 ft. If a truly epic ride is your goal, you may continue to end
of the skyway near the Joyce Kilmer Forest. Doing
this will cause you to lose nearly 2000 ft in elevation which of course means another
major climb and descent back to your starting point. This road is surrounded by
wilderness area and even a bear sanctuary .And yes, bears may be sighted on
the parkway. Weather conditions can change dramatically here. Always carry rain
gear on this ride. Although this description is for an "out and back" ride, many
cyclists will ride a loop by adding Deal's Gap. But be forewarned US HWY 219 is
known as
"The Tail of the
Dragon".
Beginning near Franklin, Tennessee, this national scenic
parkway offers great day rides as well as multi-day tours. The Parkway follows
the old trace used by settlers walking home to the Ohio valley after selling
their wares and boats at southern Mississippi river ports. The most scenic
riding is between Franklin and Florence, Alabama. This portion makes a great 2-3
day bike tour. There is plenty of free camping some of which is solely for
cyclists. However, be aware that there are virtually no other services available
along the Trace so self-sufficiency is a must.
A popular day trip begins at the
Loveless Café
near the northern terminus. On even a short ride you will have the
opportunity to cross one of the most well recognized features along the Trace,
The Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge. Spanning 1600 feet the double arch structure
offers cyclists incredible views from a height of 155 feet off the valley floor.
Some other areas of interest include the Tobacco Farm at mile 401: Meriwether
Lewis Gravesite at mile 385 and French Camp at mile 180. Portions of the
original Trace are well marked and worth a look.
Click
for MAP
Mountain Biking near Huntsville
Off-road opportunities are fairly plentiful in our area but no
trails are widely publicized or clearly marked so local knowledge is a must .
Below are some sample rides that are popular with local riders. Please feel free
to drop for
directions to more trail rides in Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina.
The riding here is technical. Roots and rocks dominate the trails and that means
beginners may take plenty of soil samples. Here's a trail description to get you
started if you are new to the area. Enter the park at Nolen Ave., pass Picnic area and Lodge on your right. At first intersection veer right.
Proceed approximately 100 yards, turn left, the mtn. bikers parking lot is the
first entrance. Cycle back to main road, look directly across road for the trail
entrance. This trail, known as the family bike trail, leads to the O'Shaunessy
point overlook and the Mountain Mist Trail which accesses the more technical
trails in the park. Maps are available at the Park store.
Click for MAP
More technical riding on the west face of Monte Sano.
Leave the Land Trust parking lot on old Toll Gate Road. This is a gravel road
climb just inside the gate on the left as you enter the parking area. Climb for
aprox.1/2 mile then turn right on High trail. Stay on High trail until it
intersects Bluff Line trail. Turn right on Bluff Line and continue back to
trailhead.
Click for MAP
This trail is 70% very easy and 30% very hard. From the trailhead, ride about
two miles to the crest of Wade Mtn. The trail will offer left, right and forward
options. The right trial opens into the Devil's Race Track, a unique geological
feature not appropriate for mountain biking. The left trail continues on for
quite awhile but is mostly on private property, instead continue forward through
a small field and follow the new trail around the top of the knob. It will spill
you out on the left option so turn left to return to the main intersection and
then right to return to the trailhead.
Click for MAP
This is dirt road riding at its finest.
A really nice place to try if you are just getting acquainted with cycling or if
you need a break from the technical trails of our area. Head west away from
Madison on Hwy. 20.Turn Left on County
Line road, watch carefully
for "Jolly B" road and turn left. Follow this road into the refuge and park in
the gravel lot on the right. Hop on your bike and continue on the same road.
This road will veer right and run along the Tennessee River
for a few miles before turning right again. At this point the road will become
paved, instead turn right onto an unpaved road. Turn right at the next
intersection and continue on this road for aprox. 1 mile then turn right again.
This road will return you to the parking lot. Be aware that steel cables are
used to restrict vehicle access and may cross the
road at varying locations. This is a popular night ride area so if you decide to
ride after dark, remember those cables!
Click for MAP
This
National Forest in northwest Alabama sees relatively few visitors but that is no
indication of the beauty that awaits. Enter
the forest from the north on Hwy. 36 about 15 miles west of Decatur. Turn left on forest service road 249,
following signs to the Pine Torch Trailhead. Park here, pay fee ($3.00). 14, 20
and 30 mile rides are possible. The trails are well marked but a map is recommended. There has been extensive damage to the trail due to pine beetle
mitigation efforts but the trail is beginning to rebound. This is a multi-use trail and equestrians are adamant
that their rights be respected. Our favorite ride creates a figure 8 of Pine
Torch and Brushy Creek .
This is a great weekend get away about 40 miles
east of Chattanooga.
Exit I 85 N for Hwy 64 bypass east, Follow signs to the
Cherokee
National Forest, the Ocoee River
and then the Chilhowee Campground. Trails are accessed from the day use area. Excellent maps can be picked up at the Forest
Service office on hwy 64 just before the road to the campground.
Just 15 minutes from Chilhowee
is another great system of trails. A map is recommended and can be picked up at
the Forest Service office or the Whitewater Center. Stay on Hwy 64 head east beside the Ocoee
River. Turn right at the sign for Thunder Rock
Campground and park in the day use area. Ride up the forest road and turn left onto the
first gated road. The Thunder Rock Express is the first trail on the right.
Note: This trail is an express on the return trip. Climb Thunder Rock to the
Chestnut Loop. Loops of various lengths can include Chestnut, Bear
Paw, River View and Quartz trails.
Hurricane Creek near Cullman, Alabama bills itself as an All-Mountain and Freeriding
Park with some Cross-Country. It is definitely the only park in Alabama that offers a
significant amount of riding on wooden structures. Teeter-Totters, Skinnys,
Ramps and Wooden Berms are available to test your skills, your bike and your
protective gear.
Birmingham's premiere park has something for everyone including one of the best
mountain bike trails found in a urban area. Cabins and camping are available at
the park and entertainment, dining and shopping are only minutes away.
Raccoon Mountain
With more than seventeen miles of singletrack, Raccoon mountain is Chattanooga's premiere mountain bike trail
Conveniently located southeast of the city just minutes from I-75, you should
not miss an opportunity to experience some
great intermediate level trails that were built specifically for bikes..
Click here for a Map
Bike Paths near Huntsville
Our area is not overrun with dedicated bike paths however there are a few
worth mentioning. Hopefully in the future our local governments will become more
proactive in the pursuit of the federal dollars that allow these
projects to become a reality. Huntsville's
Greenway Plan
This
multi-use path begins on Mtn. Gap road near the intersection with Bailey Cove.
Ample parking is provided. The trail is accessed by riding from the parking lot
across the creek and then turning left on the greenway. Riders
will pass Challenger Middle School and McGuckin Park eventually arriving at Ditto's
Landing Marina. Turn right into the Marina continue past the campground and ride
through the picnic area. The bike path will reappear and continue along the
Tennessee river for another mile, ending at the Whitesburg Yacht Club.
Click for Map.
This neighborhood path continues to grow into a valuable
resource for Madison residents and can be picked up on Old Madison Pike near the
bridge over Indian Creek.
Click for Map.
This beautiful trail follows an abandoned rail corridor from Athens Alabama
to the Tennessee state line passing through Elkmont, Alabama.
Tim's Ford is a beautiful Tennessee state park less than an hour from
Huntsville. Amenities include cabins, camping and a swimming pool, and while not particularly long at only five miles, the bike path at Tim's Ford
is in a wonderful wooded setting and well worth the trip.
Click for Map
The old Silver Comet once rode the tracks between Atlanta and
Birmingham. Now this abandoned rail corridor is being transformed into a 99 mile
rail trail from Piedmont, Alabama to Rockmart, Georgia. For ten years,
Alabamians have been hard at work, acquiring the federal funds necessary
to create this riding opportunity.
Click
for Map