Norris Lake Century (or more!) Loop

Prospective route for a Norris Lake Century (main loop), plus lots of long spur options along the way. KEY is the Union County Ferry. You MUST call in advance to make sure it is running: Union Co. Boat Dock 423-562-8902 or Union Co. Sheriff 865-992-5212.

Back Valley (20mi) & Flat Hollow (13 mi) loops

Two beautiful loops you can join together:  Back Valley is relatively flat, w/ rolling hills and an optional (but confusing) hilly alt loop.  Flat Hollow has some hills, but doing it in this direction you get a nice descent & then climb back out to Old 63 again, which is flat. You'll see three historic school buildings: Speedwell Academy (stone, 1827) on Academy Rd., Upper Flat Hollow (frame, 20th c.) on Flat Hollow Rd., and [name?] (frame, 20th c.) on Halls Ridge Rd.

Road maps

The best road maps I've found for the Norris Lake area:

The GPS Lake Chart for Norris Lake published by Atlantic Mapping Inc. It costs $8.; order by phone, 770-426-5768.  It includes all of the north side of the lake, Powell Valley (old Middlesboro Hwy) from Jacksboro almost to Harrogate, plus the south side of the lake from Norris Dam to Tazewell.  Some of the local road names (when you do see street signs) are different from the map, but it is mostly right. 

 

The Tennessee Atlas & Gazetteer published by DeLorme ($20. and often available at gas stations) is also an excellent set of maps, but again, some of the local road names are not the same as on the maps.

Google maps are also pretty good, but they don't distinguish gravel from paved roads (nor do the DeLorme maps, I am learning).

Gravel roads in Campbell/Claiborne Cos. to watch out for:  

Flat Hollow Road:  the east end (2 mile or so?) of Flat Hollow Road, just before it meets Suttons/Suttle's Ridge Rd & Dan Bean Rd., gravel but fairly hard packed & rideable.

Davis Chapel Road does NOT actually connect to Howard/Rain Forrest Rd. (Googlemaps shows it connecting.)  Instead, it bottoms out into what on the map is called Cross Creek Ln, which is a dog-infested steep gravel dead end.  Do not go there.

Bike Shops in the area

There are no bike shops in Campbell Co. or Claiborne Co.  The closest are below (but call before making the trip).


View Bike Shops near Norris Lake & Cumberland Gap, TN in a larger map

Cumberland Gap, TN:

Wilderness Road Outfitter (clothing/equip. store, but may have tubes, tools, etc.)
602 Colwyn Avenue, downtown Cumberland Gap, TN
Phone (865) 869-9844

Middlesboro, KY (just north of Cumberland Gap):

Brown's Bike Shop‎
103 North 19th Street, Middlesboro, KY 40965-2801
Phone (606) 248-9293‎

Morristown, TN:

Pedal Shop
1010 Mountain Laurel Road, Morristown, TN 37814
Phone (423) 581-8876

Cycle Quest Bicycles‎
5972 West Andrew Johnson Highway, Morristown, TN 37814-1034
Phone (423) 581-2454‎

Halls (near Norris), TN:

Biketopia
7328 Norris Freeway
Knoxville, TN 37918
Phone (865) 922-1786
Email info@biketopia.com

Oak Ridge, TN:

Oak Ridge Bicycle Center
28 North Jefferson Circle, Oak Ridge, TN 37830-4805
(865) 482-3333

"Up the Valley" ride: LaFollette to Harrogate, 60 miles round trip

This map shows the main trunk line along Old Middlesboro Hwy/Old 63. Flat route (elev. varies by less than 300 feet over entire length), very few hills, all short. Great views of the Powell Valley, dominated by open fields and farms, w/ the Cumberland Ridge running along to the north the whole way (the Cumberland Scenic Trail is being constructed along that ridgetop). Great pizza on the Harrogate end (halfway point). Or park along the route for shorter out/backs. I have not ridden all of the side loops, but I think they're all paved. Back Valley Road (all paved) is a beautiful alternate route or makes a good loop w/ Old 63. Avoid riding west on Old Middlesboro Hwy at sunset, as cars approaching from rear will be blinded by the sun.

Cumberland Gap TN/VA loop, 25 mi (test)

Have not yet ridden this loop. If you do, please leave comments.

Harrogate Powell River loop, 20 mi (test)

Have not yet ridden this loop. If you have, please leave comments.

Test route, Harrogate to Tazewell loop, 42 mi.

Have not ridden this route, so ride at your own risk. If you do, though, please leave comments.