Sharp’s Ridge Veterans Memorial Park sits just off Broadway in North Knoxville, with some of Knoxville’s best views of downtown and the Great Smoky Mountains. Just 15 minutes from downtown, the 8 miles of trails make a great spot for mountain biking, hiking, and trail running. Thanks to its rocky terrain, Sharp’s Ridge is often one of the first places ready to ride after a good rain.

People have been enjoying Sharp’s Ridge for outdoor recreation for decades, and in 1953, the park was officially dedicated as a war memorial honoring local veterans. AMBC began building the rugged, hand-built Sharp Shin trail in 2014, helping establish the ridge as a mountain biking destination. A few years later, Legacy Parks received a land donation from the Dick family and multiple grants to add a kids’ playspace and an adaptive mountain bike (aMTB) trail, which opened in 2020. In 2026, AMBC partnered with the City of Knoxville and Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation to build a new pump track and short flow trails at the base of the ridge off Tiberius Road – creating an easier place for new riders and kids to get rolling. And it’s right across from the playground, so it’s a good starter spot for the whole family. 

Sharp’s Ridge is known for its rugged, exposed terrain, with several trails cut into the ridgeline and some steep drop-offs along the way. But there’s plenty here for different levels of riders. Beginners will want to start with the roughly 3-mile Lincoln trail. Just know it isn’t a loop on its own – you’ll either need to do an out-and-back or use the road or connect to intermediate trails like Independence and Firebreak to make your way back a different way. More experienced riders looking for a thrill can drop into the downhill-only Knight Fall for a steep, fast ride with jumps and flowy turns.

Parking: The question is: Do you want to end your ride with a climb or a cooldown? If you want to end with a climb (and a view!), then park in the lot near the top of Sharp’s Ridge Memorial Drive. If you want to end with a mostly downhill ride, you can park in the lot at the end of Tiberius Road (mainly for aMTB and accessible parking) on the north side, or you can park at the lot at the end of Dill Street on the south side of the ridge. There is also a small lot at the base of Sharp’s Ridge Memorial Drive where you can easily hop onto Firebreak or Lincoln.