Rails to Trails & Paved Trails
Thermal Belt Rail Trail ... is a 13.58 point to point ride. It's a paved trail that's a great trail for beginners - and is typically not super busy. For more information ... https://www.thermalbeltrailtrail.com
Virginia Creeper Trail ... is a 34.3 crushed gravel trail that runs from Whitetop to Abingdon. It's another great option for begineers - as there's alot of ways to ride this. You can even take the easy way and get shuttled to Whitetop and coast down to Damascus!
The loop around Cades Cove is deceiving! It's paved for it's entirity (unless you take one of the cut thrus - those are gravel). However, there are a few pretty good hills - so I'd consider this a moderate ride. I highly recommend taking advantage of the vehicle free Wednesdays the park does - where they only allow people walking/hiking/biking on the loop
Sally & I decided to run/bike around in Conestee Nature Preserve before setting off on foot for a 3 mile hike around the preserve. They seem to be doing some repair - so there are some trail closures around the preserve. Sally did great running beside the bike and we had a great time just walking around the preserve too!
I went for a short ride around Conestee Nature Preserve after work. It was a great 1 hour workout and a nice way to enjoy the park!
Another after work ride ... this time along the Doodle Trail. The Doodle Trail is a fantastic alternative to the ever popular Swamp Rabbit Trail. I didn't do the entire trail ... I went as far as Turner Road then road past the parking area into downtown Easley before returning to the car. Here's a fantastic website for the trail with alot of information. I will note ... the air pump in Pickens doesn't work and the water fountains at the Rotary Park weren't operational. This was July 2023...
Family joined me for a ride along the Doodle Trail. We started at the main parking area in Easley, SC and rode up to Pickens and back to our cars. We enjoyed the cloudy start to the morning since it kept the temperature cooler! A couple things to note ... the air pump at the Pickens parking area doesn't work and the water fountains at the Rotary Park still wasn't working. Otherwise, this is a great trail and a fun ride with family! :) As a side note ... highly recommend The Smoking Pig for a great post ride meal (if you like BBQ) or the Silos (small-ish food hall with lots of outdoor seating very similar to Gather GVL).
Mom & I decided to check out the Mendota Trail. This is a trail that's relatively new ... and unfinished when we rode it. When it's completed it will be 12.5 miles from Island Road in Bristol, Virginia to Mendota, Virginia (expected to be finished mid-September). It's a fantastic trail but takes a bit more effort than the Virginia Creeper Trail. We're looking forward to riding the entire trail later this year. This is a rails to trails bike path - but considering it's fairly rough nature I'm also listing it here.
Our first stop of the weekend was to ride part of the Savannah Valley Railroad trail. It’s not in Savannah … and it’s not in Georgia either 🤷♀️. This trail … while pretty - was honestly rougher riding than either mountain bike trail I rode! Pine cones & roots galore … and spider webs!! Also, there’s a 1/2 mile trail to road detour. But at least we had it to ourselves and it had some pretty sections. Honestly wondering if the whole trail is just as rough!?