MTBVT.com recently visited Knoxville to check out the trail developments on Sharps Ridge and the Wood Property:
Category Archives: Trail News
Knoxville Hosts a Tennessee School Team Mountain Bike Race
Plus a movie event with instructions on how to form a school team
Knoxville, Tenn. – The National Interscholastic Cycling Association brings a new Tennessee High School Cycling League mountain bike race to Knoxville for the first time on October 11, 2015 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. This is the third event in the state’s four-race fall series for both high school and middle school students.
“We’re using cross country school mountain bike racing as our tool to develop our youth,” said Rick Splitter, former president of NICA’s board of directors. “Our core values are building a strong mind, a strong body, a strong character. And we’re going to do that in the most equal and inclusive environment that we can.”
Working with Legacy Parks Foundation and the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club – a chapter of the International Mountain Bike Association – representatives from the Tennessee League say the Knoxville race will highlight Legacy Parks’ new purpose built flow trails for mountain biking that are ideally located in an urban area. The trails were made possible by a State of Tennessee Recreational Trails Program grant and built on Legacy Parks’ property.
In addition to the race, THSCL will present the movie “Single Track High” at Legacy Parks’ Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center, 900 Volunteer Landing Lane on Wednesday, September 2 at 7 p.m. The free movie showcases the incredible impact high school mountain biking has had in California and encourages more support for NICA and the movement. Information will be presented on how to form a team at your school and how individuals may also register to race in this year’s fall League series. Area bike shops will provide door prizes to be given away at the event.
Founded in 2009, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) develops high school mountain biking programs for student-athletes across the United States. NICA provides leadership, services, and governance for local leagues to produce quality mountain bike events and supports development of every student-athlete.
For more information, visit the League’s website at www.tennesseemtb.org
Bell Built Grant Update – AMBC is a finalist!
GOOD NEWS! Knoxville made it through the first round of voting for the $100,000 Bell Built trail building grant, representing the Eastern United States.
Now comes the big work. In this final round of voting, we need to rally more support than the West Coast and Midwest to win this. We’re underdogs here, but that’s never stopped us.
Here’s how you can help
- Go to Bellhelmets.com/bell-built and cast your vote for the URBAN WILDERNESS GRAVITY TRAIL. You can vote once per valid email address — just clear your browser’s cookies and vote again with every address you have!
- More importantly, SPREAD THE WORD. Go to DowntownDownhill.com and grab the social media profile pictures and other graphics and share, share, share! Post our videos on your Facebook profile, call your parents and ask them to vote, email all your friends and tell them how much greater we can make the Knoxville outdoor scene together!
Vote for AMBC to Receive a $100,000 Bell Built Grant
Bell Helmets is awarding $100,000 to fund a trailbuilding project, and AMBC is a semifinalist! Vote for us to make the #DowntownDownhill dream a reality.
Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness has over 40 miles of trails for biking and hiking. The proposed “Gravity Trail” – which will include rock gardens, drops, and constructed features –will put us on the map as one of the premiere outdoor recreation destinations. It will add a cool new feature to our trails, attract new riders and businesses, and increase the desirability of our community.
HERE’S WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU:
- Recreational bicycling is a $200 billion industry in the US
- One in 20 Americans makes a living off outdoor recreation – 70,000 in Tennessee
- For every dollar spent on bicycling tourism, $7 more is spent in locations they visit
- Property values close to trails and greenways are up to 30% higher
Just go to bellhelmets.com/bell-built to vote for AMBC’s Urban Wilderness Gravity Trail, or visit downtowndownhill.com for more information.
Forks of the River WMA Hunting Schedule
Forks of the River WMA is open year-round to cyclists & hikers, but certain trails are closed during hunting seasons. Per TWRA, only PERIMETER TRAIL at Forks will be open (i.e., Auggie’s Run, Bluff, and the leg of Dozer between Bluff and Burnett Creek Rd). The inner trails WILL be used by hunters during hunt dates.
Please be considerate of other trail / land users and respect these hunting dates. Hunt dates and trail closures will also be posted on AMBC’s calendar.
Contact Bill Smith at (865) 856-9711 with any trail use questions or issues at Forks of the River WMA.
All hunting is closed from Mar. 1 through 4th Friday in Aug., except for spring squirrel and spring turkey season. (All trails open to cyclists & foot traffic)
The early September waterfowl seasons are closed. Quail season – Nov. 1 – Jan. 15.
Dove season – Sep. 1, 6 and the remainder of the statewide season.
Dove (Youth/Adult) – Youth/Adult field will be open Sep. 6 to youths who must be accompanied by a licensed adult who may also hunt this field. The field will be opened to all hunters beginning on Sep. 7.
Pigeon is open with dove season.
Special Regulations – Shotguns, Muzzleloader and Archery equipment only.
Area closed one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, except for raccoon and opossum hunters and scheduled events.
From Sep. 7 – Feb. 28. Closed on Tues. and Thurs. to non-hunters except for the paved greenway and perimeter trail. On Sat. and Sun. area closed to non-hunters till noon except for the paved greenway and perimeter trail.
From Apr. 4 – May 17 (Spring turkey) area closed to nonhunters till noon except for the paved greenway. and perimeter trail.
Paintball guns and accessories prohibited.
All animals accompanied by a non-hunting person are required to be leashed.
