Route Overview

Rollin' Appalachia

Exploring Southern Appalachia on two wheels

50 mi.

4,487 ft.

A mixed surface ride that takes you from from the shores of Lake Chilhowee, over Mt Pleasant, and then up to the famed Farr Gap in Cherokee Nation Forest. A beautiful back-country ride on gravel and "marginal" asphalt.

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Route Details

This is a fun multi-surface route that takes you into the backroads of Cherokee National Forest. The Citico Creek area of Cherokee National Forest is known for some fantastic gravel riding and this route surely doesn't disappoint. While this route has a significant part that is on pavement, I'd certainly not discount it since it takes  you places you wouldn't want to ride a road bike on (it gets a little rough in areas).  The route is approximately 70% well maintained @photo[gravel roads](1574122) and 30% asphalt surface in varying condition, with most of the asphalt occurring in the beginning of the loop, on @slice[Mt Pleasant Road](d,2163.42,23804.52).

# Route

* I usually park at @point[Citico Baptist Church](d,2.92). This is on-route and seems to be a safe place to leave your vehicle. Of course, you probably don't want to park there when church is in session. On Sunday mornings I'd just drive a little furthere down on Citico Rd and park at one of the numerous @point[pull-offs](d,24991.23) along the creek.
* This ride can be thought of in three sections: @slice[Mt Pleasant Rd](d,2163.42,23804.52), @slice[Citico Creek Road](d,23804.52,41490.49) and the @slice[Farr Gap loop](d,41490.49,65111.5).
* @slice[Mt Pleasant Rd](d,2163.42,23804.52) starts off "pleasant" enough with some gentle grades as it leads you to the shores of Lake Chilhowee. You'll ride by @photo[Chilhowee Dam](1574115) getting a @photo[nice view of the reservoir](1574116) with a backdrop of the Smoky Mountains. Once leaving the shores of the reservoir is when Mt Pleasant shows its stuff.  Be prepared for numerous short, steep ups-and-downs, many of the hills exceede 15%! They are all short and pack a punch. Mt Pleasant is mostly asphalt, in varying condition, but it does have a @slice[3.5 mile gravel section](d,9920.72,15338.9) that starts around mile 6, just as the first hills start.
* After Mt Pleasant warms you up, you'll have a steady @slice["river grade" climb](d,23804.52,41490.49) along Citico Creek. You'll have @photo[awesome views of the creek](1574118) the whole way as you meander through the gorge, up the watershed. You'll mostly be on gravel, with a few short sections of asphalt thrown in here-and-there. In general, you'll be slightly climbing for almost 10 miles, but it's generally 2-3% the whole way (with one or two rollers thrown in). It's a nice intermission between the true climbs and has some great scenery.
* Just shy of mile 26, you'll see a sign for @point[Farr Gap](d,51639.31) to the left, via @slice[Double Camp Rd](d,41490.49,51639.31). This is a pretty @slice[solid 6.8 mile climb](d,41518.5,52513.64) to the top of the mountain. Its starts off pretty easy with some mellow grades, and slowly increases its slope to a moderate grade as you climb. At @point[Farr Gap](d,51636.23) (just shy of the top) the road name changes to @slice[Cold Springs Road](d,52598.83,65111.5). Once on top of the mountain, there will be a few places where you can catch a @photo[few views](1574120) of the @photo[mountains unfolding before you](1574119)  (the vegetation gets thick in the summer, so colder months actually have better views.) After a mile of being "@slice[on top](d,52571.54,54221.84)", get ready for a long and fast 7 mile descent back to Citico Creek Road.
* At the bottom of Cold Springs Road, make a right onto @slice[Citico Creek Road](d,65111.5,80402.22) and now enjoy the "river grade" descent back to your car.  This is the same roads you previously climbed to get to the Farr Gap climb.
* Most of the gravel roads back here are well maintained.  After hard winters, groups of pot holes sometime pop up (especially on @slice[Citico Creek Road](d,65111.5,80493.16)).
* In general, this area gets little traffic.  In the winter months, you may not see anyone out here. In the warmer month, there will be many fishermen and campers. Be carefull when descending into blind curves as it's possible a vehicle could be coming the other direction.

# Notes

* Route is great all year long. It gets real cold on top of the mountains in the winter.
* Since this loop doubles back on itself, you could easily eliminate one of the loops.
* You can ride a gravel, CX or mountain bike on this route.  Faster rolling tires are best. We generally like tires in the width of 40's up to 1.8 in mountain bike tires for the fast descents
* You'll need to bring all food and drinks for this ride. There are no stores on route. There are ample creeks and streams, so you could bring a water filter if you don't want to carry multiple bottles.
* Zero cell service-don't depend on it.
* Bring along Trails Illustrated [Map # 781](http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/maps/trail-maps/tennessee/781-tellico-and-ocoee-rivers--cherokee-national-forest--trail-map?npd&npd&) "Tellico and Ocoee Rivers" just in case...

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Chill by the Farr Multi-Surface Loop

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