Baker Creek Preserve
System Details
Baker Creek Preserve is a gateway to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness and one of the city’s premier mountain biking destinations, just 10 minutes from downtown. The park features 7+ miles of trail, from the approachable Sycamore Loop to purpose-built downhill trails including Cruze Valley, Barn Burner, and Devil’s Racetrack. Baker Creek also connects riders to more than 60 miles of trails throughout the Urban Wilderness.
What’s Nearby
From Baker Creek, riders can connect directly into the Urban Wilderness, including the all-weather trails at Marie Myers Park / The Drop Inn. Nearby Gateway Park offers restrooms, water, a playground, pavilion, and additional parking.
Downtown Knoxville and the restaurants, breweries, and shops of South Knoxville are just a short drive or bike ride away.
Baker Creek Preserve is the gateway to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness and one of Knoxville’s top mountain biking destinations, just 10 minutes from downtown. With 5 multi-use trails and 3 purpose built bicycle-specific downhill trails, the park has something for everyone.
The preserve was established in 2013 when Legacy Parks received a 100-acre land donation from the Wood family. It gained momentum a couple years later when the community came together to win a grant from Bell Helmets to construct Devil’s Racetrack, our advanced downhill mountain bike trail, and the preserve officially opened as a mountain bike park in 2016. Over the years through partnerships with Legacy Parks, The City of Knoxville, AMBC, and other local organizations, Baker Creek Preserve became a popular outdoor recreation hub – a place where hikers, bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts come together to enjoy nature in their own ways.
Baker Creek features 7+ miles of singletrack and connects to over 60 miles of trails throughout the Urban Wilderness. First-timers can take advantage of the mostly flat one-mile Sycamore Loop before climbing up Red Bud Crest and riding down Floyd Fox. More adventurous riders might do some laps on the downhill mountain bike-only trails: Cruze Valley (green), Barn Burner (blue), and Devil’s Racetrack (black).
Made up of red clay trails, most of Baker Creek Preserve is not rideable in wet weather – except for Red Bud Crest, which is part of our all-weather route and takes you to our Year Round Get Down trails in Marie Myers Park. Keep an eye on our trail conditions to determine if it’s a good day to ride here, or if you should stick to the Baker Creek Bike Park and connected greenways.
Right outside Baker Creek Preserve is Baker Creek Bottoms – a hub inside a historic church building with everything you need to accompany your adventure. Rent bikes at Bear Paw Bikes, grab some drinks and a meal at 71 South, or enjoy a climb at Climbing Roots Bouldering Gym.
Parking: You can park at Baker Creek Bottoms, Baker Creek Pavilion, or nearby street parking. You can also park in the lot at the end of James White Parkway (1515 Tilson Street) and where the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park begins, and then warm up on the greenway and trail features to get to Baker Creek Preserve.
