We’re proud to announce Knoxville as one of the first IMBA Trail Towns in the country! “Trail Town” is a new national designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) honoring communities with an exceptional commitment to building, maintaining, and celebrating trail systems.
The Knoxville community earned this title by demonstrating strong trail infrastructure, a commitment to trail funding, an active local trail organization, a culture of community engagement, and a sustainable trail stewardship plan. Knoxville wouldn’t be where we are without years of dedicated work from individuals and organizations in our community — and AMBC couldn’t do what we do without all of our members, volunteers, and supporters.
“Earning the IMBA Trail Town designation is a reflection of decades of work by our community. With more than 250 miles of mountain bike trails within 30 miles of Knoxville, we’re proud to be a place where trails are part of everyday life and a driver of connection, health, and economic impact,” said Matthew Kellogg, Executive Director of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club (AMBC).
Trail systems are increasingly recognized as important drivers of outdoor recreation economies. Communities that invest in trails often see benefits, including increased tourism, support for local businesses, improved public health, and stronger community connections to the outdoors. Tennessee’s outdoor recreation economy continues to grow: in 2024, it reached $15.6 billion in economic impact while employing 114,070 people (Outdoor Recreation Roundtable). “Outdoor recreation is an important amenity for residents and visitors to Knoxville. We are proud of our investments in parks and open spaces and are lucky to have great partnerships that have fostered a healthy, engaged trail community,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon, City of Knoxville.
As part of the Trail Town designation, Knoxville joins 28 communities leading a growing national network of trail-forward places committed to trail stewardship, collaboration, and expanding access to outdoor recreation. We want to thank our community for helping Knoxville become a Trail Town and supporting the work we do each day!
