Top 4 Places to Go Biking in the Smoky Mountains
If you love to go for a scenic bike ride to enjoy the great outdoors, bring your bike along for your next Smoky Mountain adventure! You’ll find several fantastic biking destinations in the area, ranging from flat paved trails to challenging off-road trails for fans of mountain biking! Here are the top 4 places to go biking in the Smoky Mountains:
1. Gatlinburg Trail
The Gatlinburg Trail is one of the only trails within Great Smoky Mountains National Park that allows bicycles, so be sure to take advantage of this unique opportunity! This pleasant trail travels for about 4 miles roundtrip from River Road in Gatlinburg to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, running along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River. As you ride through the cove hardwood forest, keep your eyes peeled for several old historic stone chimneys! If you want to travel a bit further afield, the other two trails in the national park that permit biking are the Oconaluftee River Trail and the Lower Deep Creek Trail.
2. Cades Cove Loop Road
Another one of the top places to go biking in the Smoky Mountains is along Cades Cove Loop Road! This 11-mile one-way road not only offers some spectacular scenery, but excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and a fascinating collection of historical structures! During the summer and fall months, you can rent a bike at the campground store located at the Cades Cove Campground. Note that the Cades Cove Loop Road is quite popular and you’ll be sharing the road with vehicles, so it is strongly recommended that cyclists wear helmets.
3. WildSide
If you prefer the off-road thrills of mountain biking, you’ll definitely want to put WildSide on your itinerary! This Pigeon Forge attraction is an action park specifically built for bikers and there are trails for all experience levels! WildSide features 12 different trails that add up to 8 miles of adventure, as well as a jump park when you want to catch some serious air! You can purchase a convenient day pass that includes all-day access to the freeride trails and jump park, or upgrade your ticket to include a shuttle pass for rides back to the top of the mountain!
4. Ober Mountain
Mountain bikers will also be in heaven at Ober Mountain, which offers downhill mountain biking during the summer months and early fall! As you zoom down the trails, you’ll be surrounded by breathtaking panoramic views of majestic mountains, lush forests, and pristine wilderness! There is no need to worry about any exhausting uphill climbs as Ober Mountain’s UTVs transport you and your bike back to the top of the mountain after each ride. If you don’t have your own equipment, you can rent bikes, helmets, and pads to ensure that you have a safe and exciting time on the mountain!
Check out all of our cabins in Wears Valley TN today to stay close to these fun places to go biking in the Smoky Mountains! We look forward to welcoming you to the Smokies!
