Tanasi Mountain Bike Trail System
Cherokee National Forest
Chilhowee Mountain Trail Descriptions
(Written for the Mountain Biker)
Azalea Trail - A great sampling of what this trail system has to
offer. This ride is fun for beginners and experts alike, with fast narrow singletrack
leading mostly downhill (if you start across the lower campground road). You can use this
trail to connect up with the rest of the system or just as a short loop back to the
campground area.
Arbutus Trail - A very short trail near the campground. Use it as a warm up or
link it up with the other trails for a longer ride.
Red Leaf Trail - A short connector between the trails near the upper campground
and Clemmer.
Benton Falls Trail - This wide track leads from the lake to the waterfall. Watch
for hikers and be respectful!
Clemmer Trail - A classic screaming downhill or gut wrenching uphill (depending
on which direction you ride it). Clemmer, like the Clear Creek Trail, has it all: several
creek crossings, rhododendron tunnels, and surfaces ranging from sandy to rocky. The high
end of the trail is at the beautiful Benton Falls (accessible from a short hiking trail).
Rimrock Trail - A connector between the middle of Clemmer and Clear Creek. This
trail drops deep into the gorge and crosses the creek so be ready for a hike-a-bike
section.
Rim Extension - A short technical (meaning rocky and rooty) side trail.
Clear Creek Trail - One of the most challenging trails in the system; be ready
for some killer climbing (don't worry, the climbs are not too long), three extreme
switchbacks, one of which is just barely, almost, not impossible to ride. No kidding, the
second switchback on a downhill section will sneak up on you. Be very careful. Be equally
careful on the middle of this trail where there is a fairly steep rock cliff area. WALK
YOU BIKE HERE! Then near the end, be ready for an extremely fast downhill with some
wonderful whoops to fly off of. There are a couple of options at the end of this downhiill
depending on how wet you want to get. If you so choose you will have two refreshing big
creek crossings before dumping out onto Highway 30 to get back to the lower parking lot
and Clemmer trailhead. Or you can choose a dry route alongside the creek. Check the map.
Slickrock Trail Loops - An absolutely sweet new trail system recently developed
by the dedicated workers of the National Forest Service, local bike clubs, and other
volunteers. This is actually a small network of trails hooked together by a couple of old
Forest Service Roads. You will find single track with climbing, twists and turns and some
fun downhills with whoop-ti-doos. One section has been unofficially named the Naked Widow
Loop. This stems from several sightings of an elderly woman bathing in the small creek at
the middle of the branch. Legend has it she lived with her husband on the Benton side of
the mountain when her husband died, whereupon she began to endlessly wander the trails.
Keep an eye out for her and throw her an energy bar as you go by!
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