Local Roads

	Some local roads you might want to try out while you in our area here in East Tennessee, Knoxville Area
Chapter B would like to welcome everyone to our area If we can be of any assistance, while you here, please feel free to contact any of our Chapter B Staff		Knoxville Tennessee has some of the greatest motorcycle riding in the country. Make sure you take advantage of our fantastic roads and countryside
Devils Triangle: Take I-75 north to exit 128n and follow Rt 25W south into town where you will pick Rt 116 and follow it east. Stay on Rt 116 where you will find a service station approx 7 miles from Lake City on the left, they sell T-Shirts for "Devils Triangle" Stay on Rt 116 as it winds up and around the Mountain. As you come down off the mountain you will drive by "Brushy Mountain" (Closed recently) over 100 year old state prison on the right. Rt 116 will intersect Rt 62, turn left and follow Rt6 62 back to Knoxville where it will intersect I-640 where you can pick up I-75 or I-40 nearby. Little over 90 miles from downtown Round trip.
Deals Gap: Follow US route 129 towards the Knoxville airport near where it will join Rt 411 for a few miles when Rt 129 turns off to the left Follow US Route along the lake where it will head up the mountain to Deals Gap.
Cherohala Skyway: Follow US 129 towards the Airport and stay on Rt 411 where it will continue on a straight 4 lane road to Vonore, about 35 miles form downtown. Turn left onto Rt 360 for about 20 miles to Tellico Planes. Pick up Rt 165 (Cherohala Skyway) Take a little side trip off to the right just out of Tellico Planes to Bald River Falls, just keep the river on your right. After you visit the Falls return to TN 165 and turn right as it crosses the NC border towards Robbinsville NC. You can pick up US Route 129 North and head back to Deals Gap, 129 will return you to Knoxville.
Route 441 Norris Lake: Take I-75 north to Emory Road Rt 131 exit 112 and follow it to Rt 441 and turn left. Follow Rt 441 north to Rt 61 and turn right. Follow Rt 61 Follow 170 off to the left and stay on 170 where it will intersect Rt 33 where you will turn right and follow it back into Knoxville approx 70 miles round trip
Route 63: Follow I-75 north to exit 122 turn right and follow Rt 61 east to Rt 441 and make a left, follow Rt 441 across the Norris Lake dam and back to I-75, follow I-75 north to exit 134. Follow Rt 63/25W into Lafollette then approx 30 miles up the valley until it intersects Rt 25E turn right then left at the next light staying on Rt 63. Follow Rt 63 to Sneedville where you will pick up Rt 66 after you cross the river and turn left. Follow Rt 66 all the way back to Rogersville where you will intersect Rt 11W, turn right and follow 11W all the way back into Knoxville. Approx 180 miles Awesome ride!
Wheels Through Time Museum: Follow Rt 441 through Knoxville through Gatlinburg and over the mountain. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway just before you arrive in Cherokee NC and exit on NC 19 east to Maggie Valley. Follow Rt 19 through town and the Wheels Through Time will be on the left. Make sure to call for hours of operation call at 828-926-6266 you will need to allow yourself about 3-4 hours round trip plus time at the museum.
Norris Lake Dam: Follow I-75 north to exit 128 turn east and follow US route 441 to the right. Follow Rt 441 south into the Norris Lake state park area. Stop at the west overlook for a peak of the 1st Dam built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) back in 1936. Stay on 441 and ride on across the Dam and south along the Clinch river to Route 61 where you will turn left and follow Rt 61 along the Lake by Big Ridge State park and up some twisty's where you will stay on Rt 61 until it intersects Route 33 where you will follow Rt 33 (Broadway) back to I-640 approx 1 1/2 hr riding time 60 miles. Pack a lunch or stop for a bucket of chicken and have a picnic at the Big Ridge State park on the way
Cumberland Falls: From I-640 take Clinton Hwy/US 25W North as it winds through Clinton, Lake City and Lafollette. Stay on US 25W North for 80 miles where you will turn west onto Rt 90 towards the falls, follow the signs about 10 more miles to the Falls. Return trip back Rt 90 were you can return on US 25W or pick up the super slab I-75 South back into Knoxville. OR you can continue east on Rt 90 from the falls and pick up US 27 South then follow Rt 62 in Wartburg and Rt 62 will take you back into Knoxville where it will put you on I-640 and into Knoxville. Approx 200 miles the long way, you save about 10 miles coming back I-75
Pinnacle Overlook, Cumberland State Park: "The Long Way" if you like a lot of Twisty's you love this ride. NOT for the Novice rider. About 3.5 hrs and a little over 150 miles. Take I-75 North to Exit 134 and follow US Rt 25W North. After turning left in downtown Lafollette ride approx 16 miles where you will turn right on Rt 90 you will cross into Kentucky and the route number will change to Rt 74. Follow Rt 74 into Middlesboro where you will pick up US 25E south. Exit at the Cumberland Gap State park and follow Pinnacle to the top of the mountain. Make sure you take the short walk to the overlook. Back down the hill and get back on 25E south into Tazewell where you will continue straight as 25E turns off tot he left. Take Rt 33 south back into the Halls where you will pick up Rt 131 (Emory Rd) and follow it back to I-75 and back into Knoxville.
Norris Dam to Jellico: Pick up US 25W north near the Museum of Appalachia. Follow 25W North to the Norris Dam. There is an overlook on the both sides of the Dam and provides a great view of Norris Lake. Continue north across the Dam towards Lake city and along I-75 North into Caryville, Jacksboro and into Lafollette on 25W/63 East. You will take 25W north at traffic light 9. Follow 25W on into Jellico where you will pick up TN-297 as 25W turns off north stay on Rt 297 as you head South through Elk valley. You will pick up TN-63 and where you will turn left and head east Rt 63. Turn right in 1.5 miles onto Old Rt 63 as it parallels I-75 back into Caryville to where you come to Shoney's at I75 Exit 134 where you can head back south into Knoxville. From the museum back to Shoney's at exit 134/I-75 is 85 miles, very scenic with lots of twisty's. About 2 hours or so non stop.
The Famous Dragon US 129/Cherolaha Skyway: From I-75/I-40 follow the signs to the Airport which is US Route 129. Follow US route 129 south into Maryville where US 129 and US route 411 run together for about 4 miles or so and you will turn left on US 129 south follow 129 as it winds along the lake and eventually heads up the mountain onto the Famous "Dragon" as the road heads up its approx 12 miles to the gas station at Deals Gap, Good place to stop and buy your T-Shirt and take a break. Continue south as it takes a right at the intersection by the gas station. Continue on 129 into Robbinsville where you will Pickup NC 143 and head up across the Cherolaha Skyway and into Tellico Plains. Take TN-360 back over to Vonore where you will turn right back onto US 411 then back into Knoxville to the Airport. Round trip form the Airport is 170 miles, easy 4 hours. Use caution on this road especially on the Dragon as many cars and bikes use this portion to see how fast they can negotiate the curves. Sometimes it is very dangerous!! Travel at your own risk!
Just a few of the many great rides in the Knoxville area. Too many to list. Let me know if you would like me to list others, just email me and give me a direction you would like to ride. Tom Peck at tomkatpeck@msn.com