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Joy Ride – Big South Fork

Joy Ride Big South Fork 2026

Sunday, June 7th 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM at Big South Fork
Beginner through Intermediate

NOTE: Big South Fork straddles two time zones. We will operate this event on EST!

Join us at Big South Fork EPIC WEEKEND to celebrate National Trails Day with an EPIC JOY RIDE! Grab a friend or make some new ones at this event for female, female-identifying, and non-binary riders of all abilities 18 years and older.

This event is free, but please register and complete your 2026 AMBC Waiver by Thursday, June 4th. This helps us ensure we have enough volunteers and supplies.

Joy Ride is here to help women feel comfortable in the woods. No one gets left behind, and everyone leaves with a big smile. We make sure every rider is comfortable with the group’s pace and that no section of trail is beyond the ability level of the group. We have options for all skill levels, so come party on single track with us!!

Bring your helmet, shoes, ride snacks, water, a spare tube if you have one, and a way to carry it on your ride. Please arrive at  10:00 AM for sign-in!

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Joy Ride Full Event Schedule

10:00 – 10:15

  • Sign in – This event will meet at the Bandy Creek Visitor’s Center parking lot (151 Stable Rd. Oneida, TN 37841).
  • Mix and mingle with the other attendees

10:15 – 10:30

  • Announcements
  • Meet your group leaders

10:30 – 1:30

  • Ride and have fun!

1:30

  • Thank your ride leaders, sweeps, and fellow riders for such a fun day!

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Ride Leaders & Ride Sweeps Needed!

We are always looking for ride leaders and sweeps to lead our ride groups in a fun and safe manner. If you are a confident rider with a genuine interest in sharing your love of the sport and knowledge of the trails, please select “volunteer” in the ticket option below. You don’t have to be an advanced rider to volunteer; just be confident at the level you choose in the follow-up form.

Riding Levels

Beginner: I’m relatively new to mountain biking. I like it and want to learn about how to be comfortable on varied terrain with more technical features. Distance: 5 – 7 miles

Beginner Plus: I’m comfortable on green and most blue trails. I’m venturing out onto harder trails, but still have to walk some of the more technical features. Distance: Under 10 miles

Intermediate: I am a confident rider and can ride my bike on technical terrain. I’m fine with roots and rocks, comfortable on blue trails and ready for new challenge. Distance: 10 – 15 miles

Volunteer: I’m a confident rider. I know the trails well, and I’d love to help out as a ride leader or sweep! There will be a separate form for you to list your volunteer preferences. You don’t have to be an advanced rider to volunteer; just be confident at the level you choose in the volunteer form.

*Rides are subject to change based on weather and group consensus. Stay tuned for more info & updates.

AMBC Work & Ride at Big South Fork

Help AMBC celebrate National Trails Day by showing some love to our friends at Big South Fork! We’ll be camping Friday & Saturday night, with some trail work Saturday morning and group rides for everyone throughout the weekend!

AMBC Workday – Big South Fork

It’s our annual National Trails Day work/camp party! Come up and camp Friday night, work on trails Saturday morning, and ride and eat with AMBC the rest of the day.

Bring eye protection, gloves, and water. AMBC will provide tools.

Celebrate New Year’s Day Mountain Biking at Big South Fork

bikeriders_imageonlyEvery New Year’s Day the Big South Fork Bike Club invites all mountain bikers to ride the Big South Fork at an annual event called “The Mail Run”. Bikers meet at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at 9 am (ET), January 1st and then hit the trails. “The ride is traditionally called the Mail Run because ‘neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of the night’ keep us from getting out there on the first of the year,” said Joe Cross, President of the Big South Fork Bike Club. The Mail Run consists of a choice of rides varying anywhere from 8 to 35 miles so bikers can pick the group ride of a length they are most comfortable with.

This January 1st will be a special ride since it will take place on the first day of the National Park Service’s Centennial year. In order to help celebrate the National Park Service’s one hundred years, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has partnered with the International Mountain Biking Association, Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, and the Big South Fork Bike Club to highlight one hundred miles of outstanding mountain biking in the park during 2016. The 100 miles of highlighted trails include West Bandy-Collier Ridge Route, Duncan Hollow-Grand Gap Loop, IMBA/Epic Route, Kentucky Bike Trail, Chestnut Ridge-John Muir Trail Route, and Hatfield Ridge-Fork Ridge Route.  The International Mountain Biking Association now has a special webpage that helps bikers plan their routes on those trails.

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has almost 300 miles of trails that allow mountain biking and in 2012 was the first national park in the nation to receive the International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA) elite Epic Ride designation. “Big South Fork’s extensive mountain biking trails along with the IMBA Epic designation, is likely to draw numerous new users to this part of the country,” said Tom Sauret, IMBA Regional Director for the Southeastern United States.

For more information on the Mail Run and mountain biking at the Big South Fork go to nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/mountainbikeriding.htm or call the park at 423-569-9778.

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