Mtn Bike Rides

Lone Mountain State
Forest Bike Rides

Distance: 13.7 miles
Time: 3 hours
Rating: Moderate to strenuous.
Elevation: 1020' to 2300' (1870' cumulative climb)

Maps: USGS Camp Austin Quadrangle. There is also a map available from the Forestry Office at the trail head.

Access: From Highway 61 west of Oliver Springs drive north on US 27 about 7 miles. Turn west at the Lone Mountain State Forest signs (Clayton Howard Rd.) and go about 0.3 miles to the Forestry headquarters. Park across the road from the headquarters.

An alternate starting point that avoids the steep climbs from the Forestry Office is to drive (3 mi.) around to the gravel road off of Bob Armes Circle (then Ervia Armes Road) and start at the Longest Mile. This reduces the ride to a 9.4 mile loop with 1210' cumulative climb.

Click here for map or a 3-D map (33K).

Description: The trail leaves the parking area (1340') toward the south and begins a gradual climb through the hardwood forest. At mile 1.4 the trail climbs very steeply through a series of switch backs. At mile 2.1 (2000') the Longest Mile section of the trail closes the trail loop. From this junction continue climbing to 2280' at mile 2.6. Pass Rankin Spring at mile 3.4. At mile 3.8 take the spur to Coyote Point (2120') for good views south into the Tennessee Valley. The ranger has provided picnic tables and hitching posts for your steed. Return to the main trail and begin the 3 mile descent. At mile 5.8 the trail crosses Hall Branch Creek several times before intersecting a gravel road at mile 6.8. Continue down the road to where the trail heads up bumpy Carl Branch Spur (1020') through a beautiful hemlock forest. The trail crosses the gravel road again at mile 8.8 (1500') and begins the fast Longest Mile section (2.7 miles) to the junction with the trail from the parking area at mile 11.5. Turn left and begin your free-fall back to the car.

Instead of bumping up Carl Branch Spur, you can climb the gravel road (1.4 miles), or go up the Saw Mill trail (2.1 miles). The Saw Mill trail is a nice down hill when starting from the junction of the Longest Mile and the gravel road. You can make a nice 4.1 mile loop with Carl Branch Spur (500' cumulative climb).