Tennessee Tourism Announces Bike Tennessee's New Mountain Biking Routes

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) launched mountain biking routes through its Bike Tennessee program today, adding a new phase to the state's existing road and gravel cycling routes. Developed in collaboration with the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA), the expansion features 11 mountain biking hubs with 76 trails across Tennessee.

Photo credit: Tennessee Tourism

The addition of mountain biking routes, alongside the already established road and gravel routes, brings the total Bike Tennessee collection to 165 routes available statewide. The curated collection of mountain bike trail systems offers a range of trail types and difficulty levels, from beginner to advanced, with experiences spanning interconnected urban trail networks to sprawling backcountry adventures. Four hubs, including SORBA Chattanooga, SORBA Tri-Cities, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club in Knoxville and Grind City Trails in Memphis, also offer adaptive-friendly trails, expanding access to mountain biking for cyclists of all abilities.

“The expansion of our Bike Tennessee program to include mountain biking creates new opportunities for cyclists to experience Tennessee's stunning landscapes and great outdoors,” said Commissioner Mark Ezell. “Through our partnership with SORBA, these new routes further position Tennessee as a premier cycling destination for visitors worldwide.”

The hubs bring together active SORBA chapters and bike parks dedicated to trail stewardship and expanding access to mountain biking. The new routes offer cyclists additional ways to explore the state's diverse terrain, with stunning backdrops spanning East, Middle and West Tennessee.

“We are excited to partner with Tennessee Tourism to highlight the efforts of our chapters across the state and share the incredible riding available across all three regions of Tennessee. Our volunteer-driven organizations build and maintain public trail systems for everyone to enjoy,” said Philip Darden, Executive Director of SORBA. “The addition of mountain biking to Bike Tennessee not only showcases the great riding Tennessee has to offer but also highlights the strength and dedication of our volunteers.”

The 11 mountain biking hubs include:

East Tennessee

• Appalachian Mountain Bike Club

• Clinch Valley Trail Alliance

• Five Rivers Mountain Bike Club

• Ober Gatlinburg Mountain Bike Park

• SORBA Chattanooga

• SORBA Tri-Cities

• Wildside Bike Park

• Windrock Bike Park

  
  

Middle Tennessee

• SORBA Middle Tennessee

• Upper Cumberland SORBA

  
  

West Tennessee

• Grind City Trails

  
  

Visitors can explore the new mountain biking trails on the Bike Tennessee website which provides navigation and detailed information on route distance, elevation profiles, terrain and more. Riders can customize their routes based on their preferences and skill levels.

Tennessee Tourism launched Bike Tennessee in 2024 with curated road cycling routes designed to connect cyclists with Tennessee's scenic landscapes, small towns and welcoming communities. Since then, the program has expanded to include gravel cycling and now mountain biking, creating more opportunities for visitors to explore the storytelling state on two wheels, discover local businesses and experience Tennessee beyond the trails.