Drag & Drop Website Builder(Do not use ZIP versions if there are last minute route changes- individual routes will be most up-to-date)
Note: To download ZIP files, right-click or control-click the links. Otherwise you may get a 404 error.
All Road Routes GPX format
MAP GPX
RouteType: TWISTY, TOURING BIKE FRIENDLY, DESTINATION
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 298 miles
Lunch Stop: Whistle Stop Pizzeria & More, Baxter, TN, Rock Island Market, Rock Island, TN, Butter Dish Restaurant, Pikeville, TN
Direction from STAR HQ: W, COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: This ride takes you through Oak Ridge and continues on SR62 across the Cumberland Plateau. There is a side trip at Wartburg to see Potters Falls, a local swimming hole and our first falls. After passing through Monterey, you will turn onto Woodcliff Road and descend down Brotherton Mountain to Algood. From there a series of backroads will deliver you to Cummins Falls State Park. You will have to park and walk approximately a quarter mile to the overlook to see the falls. The descent into the gorge is a 3 mile roundtrip hike and quite strenuous. It’s better to save oneself for the other walks to see more falls later in the day.
After leaving Cummins Falls the route takes you into Baxter for lunch at the Whistle Stop Café. If you aren’t ready to eat stay on SR56 until you cross under I-40. The route will take you to SR135 where you’ll soon reach Burgess Falls State Park. Again, park your bike and walk the trail to the falls. There are several falls to see along the trail culminating in the 130 foot tall Burgess Falls.
After leaving Burgess Falls you will travel south for about 18 miles to Twin Falls in Rock Island State Park. Ride to the end of the road and park. You can see these falls from the parking lot or you can walk down into the river gorge. These falls are unusual in that the water comes from the Collins River adjacent to the escarpment and flows through rock to exit in numerous places and drop into the Caney Fork River’s gorge. These falls didn’t exist until the rivers were dammed by the Great Falls Dam. The Rock Island Market serves food and gasoline if you need either.
Next the route takes you down to SR30 which will take you to Spencer. Here you will turn south and head into Fall Creek Falls State Park. The scenic loop is one-way and includes a short walk to Fall Creek Falls, the highest one east of the Mississippi. There are other sights to see on the loop as well, but it may be getting late or you may be hungry. The park’s restaurant is newly remodeled and ready to serve you.
Complete the route through the park and rejoin SR30 to head home. The road will descend into the Sequatchie Valley, go through Pikeville (gas or food available), and then climb Waldens Ridge before descending into Dayton. Dayton was the site of the Scopes Trial in 1925 and you can visit the courthouse where it happened.
From Dayton the route takes you across Watts Bar Dam and then along River Road to Kingston where you pick up US70 and head back to Knoxville.
MAP GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TOURING BIKE FRIENDLY, EZ NAVIGATION, SHORT
Navigation difficulty: SIMPLE
Distance: 136 miles
Lunch Stop: None
Direction from STAR HQ: SE, COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: Our shortest loop begins with getting out of town fast on I-140 aka Pellissippi Parkway. After crossing the Tennessee River, exit at Topside Road. Follow the route until you are on US129. Fuel is not available on the parkway so gas up at Fast Lap Market if necessary. This is not the section known as the “Dragon”, but it’s really scenic along the lake. Turn onto the Foothills Parkway and enjoy. It climbs up onto Chilhowee Mountain and runs for 18 miles to Walland. The parkway used to end here, but now continues 14 more miles to Wears Valley and the newer section is superb.
Be sure to stop at the overlooks to see a great view of Townsend and also look at the construction of the road. They basically built viaducts to avoid excavating so much out of the mountain. It’s truly an engineering feat.
Gasoline is available in Wears Valley. The drive through Wears Valley can be heavily trafficked by tourists in the summer months but relief is coming. Turn off at Russie Gap Rd and follow the route to US441/411 to avoid Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. The remainder of the ride back to west Knoxville is less rural but avoids the worst of the urban congestion.
MAP GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TOURING BIKE FRIENDLY
Navigation difficulty: SIMPLE
Distance: 368 miles
Lunch Stop: Lots of dining choices at Lynchburg, TN, town square
Direction from STAR HQ: SW, CLOCKWISE
Comments: This ride is more about the destination than the ride. It follows more highways and fewer bucolic backroads. If you plan to tour Jack Daniels use this link for information: https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/visit-distillery
You will leave Knoxville and travel along Ft Loudon Lake to Lenoir City, cross the Tennessee River into Loudon and then traverse the valley until you reconnect with the river along Watts Bar Lake. After crossing the river at Watts Bar Dam you will continue to Dayton and soon start climbing up onto the plateau. Running southwest along Waldens Ridge you will connect with SR111. It descends into the Sequatchie Valley with spectacular views on the way down. The route goes through Dunlap and then climbs out of the valley and onto the southern Cumberland Plateau. You will go through the village of Gruetli-Laager and then descend off the plateau to Pelham. From there it’s primarily farm country the rest of the way to Lynchburg.
In Lynchburg you can tour the distillery and shop or eat on the square. There are outlet stores there including one for Diamond Gusset jeans. Numerous restaurants are available.
Returning will be less interesting. The route runs primarily on state highways. SR30 is somewhat engaging as it leaves Spencer and descends into and out of a gulf prior to reaching an entry to Fall Creek Falls. The next many miles are spent crossing the Cumberland Plateau until US70 dumps you into Rockwood. From there it’s straight shot back to Knoxville.
This is a very long day at nearly 400 miles. Gas stations are plentiful with a few marked along the route.
MAP GPX
RouteType: SOME TWISTIES, SMOOTH PAVEMENT, TOURING BIKE FRIENDLY
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 222 miles
Lunch Stop: Rod's Rockin Rolls, Ducktown, TN
Direction from STAR HQ: S, COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: This route utilizes some of our great backroads from the beginning. You will leave Knoxville and proceed through Loudon and Madisonville on backroads all the way to Englewood. From there SR39 takes you to SR310 which runs to Reliance. Cross the Hiwassee River and be sure to stop at the old general store at the end of the bridge. Continue on SR30 twisting and turning until it gets to US64. Go west and turn onto Oswalt Road which climbs up to several overlooks of Parksville Lake and Georgia off in the distance.
Retrace your steps down Oswalt Road and US64 but continue to Ducktown in the Copper Basin. Although recovery is ongoing, copper mining and smelting destroyed all the vegetation in this area in the first half of the 20th century. There are numerous restaurant choices in the area but Rod’s Rockin’ Rolls comes highly recommended. Plenty of fuel is available here as well.
After refueling head north on SR68 to Tellico Plains. SR360 will take you from there to Vonore where you’ll have to go north on US411 to cross the river. Take the East Tellico Parkway and Unitia Road to take you to Friendsville and then SR333 to Louisville where you will pick up I-140 (Pellissippi Parkway) to return to the Holiday Inn.
MAP GPX
RouteType: TWISTY, TOURING BIKE FRIENDLY (Note- Ride to the top of Viking mountain is sketchy pavement giving way to loose gravel near the top.)
Navigation difficulty: SIMPLE
Distance: 286 miles
Lunch Stop: Engle's Roadside restaurant, Erwin, TN
Direction from STAR HQ: NE, COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments: Get out of town quickly on I-40. Exit 394 is Asheville Highway and takes you to a right on Governor John Sevier Highway. Fortunately, you’ll turn onto Thorngrove Pike and put the city and industrial area behind you. Follow the route along the French Broad River and its embayment, Douglas Lake all the way to Dandridge. There you will cross the river on the new bridge and continue to Newport. This is one of those cities that industrial closures has left hanging. Get on through here and now you’re out in the open, still next to the French Broad River. SR107 will take you away from the river and into the national forest.
Once you are on SR70 (not US70), it’s a short ride to the Viking Mountain turn-off. The road starts out paved but gets sketchy as it climbs. It’s smooth, but it is gravel in some places. Once at the top the views are spectacular in many directions. Return to SR70 via the same road. Pay attention and don’t be too distracted by the view as you descend.
Turn left on SR70 which becomes NC SR208 when you cross into North Carolina. Continue until you intersect with SR212 and take it to the north. It’s a twisty roller coaster until you arrive in Flag Pond. Continue to Erwin where you find fuel for you and your bike.
Leaving Erwin takes you north to Chuckey, where Davy Crockett was born. The route continues to Baileyton where there are more restaurants and fuel if needed. The ride from there continues through the rugged terrain of upper East Tennessee and eventually delivers you to US11E at Russellville. Go a short distance past the Mahle factory and turn and follow the route’s shortcut over to US25E.
Go north on US25E and cross the Cherokee Lake and turn left on Lakeshore Drive SR375. This magnificent road rises and falls and turns along the shore of Cherokee Lake all the way to SR92. If you like, turn left and visit Cherokee Dam. Return to the route and take Owl Hole Gap Rd, Indian Ridge Rd, and Richland Rd back to Blaine and US11W. This will take you to I-40 and back to the Holiday Inn.
MAP GPX
RouteType: DESTINATION, TOURING BIKE FRIENDLY
Navigation difficulty: AVERAGE
Distance: 146-168 miles
Lunch Stop: Roane County Park which is less than 35 miles from the STAR HQ hotel. Catered lunch from Buddy's BBQ requires a Lunch Ticket that can be purchased at event registration.
Direction from STAR HQ: W, SW, COUNTERCLOCKWISE
Comments:
Direct Route: The most direct route (34 mi) will get you away from the hotel on surface streets intersecting with US70 just before you leave Knox County. It’s a direct ride from there to Roane County Park just west of Midtown. The ride from US321 to Kingston is fun curves and sweepers.
Indirect Route: This route is 20 miles further and wanders through Knox, Loudon, and Roane counties on little backroads. The last part of the ride travels along the Tennessee River (Watts Bar embayment) finally delivering you to Roane County Park.
Long Ride Home: Utilizing backroads to avoid Rockwood takes you back to US70 and then up onto the plateau. US70 twists and turns to the community of Ozone where one can park and take a short walk to the top or bottom of the falls. Return east on US70 to Dogwood Rd and ride south. Eventually the route will take you to SR68 at Grandview. The route will take you down the mountain and into Spring City. Fuel is available here and then you will continue on New Lake Rd (SR302) back to SR68 which will take you across Watts Bar Dam. From here a series of backroads will wander across Meigs and Loudon counties to Loudon. US11 takes you to yet more backroads to avoid Lenoir City and then into Knox County for the return to STAR HQ (total: 112 mi).
Drag & Drop Website Builder