Photo By: Matthew Corey
When planning a winter vacation, Northeast Tennessee is a unique all-season destination that offers year-round activities like biking! The cooler months are short and sweet, with the perfect amount of cold weather for winter adventures mixed with bouts of warm sunny days. This region is ideal for outdoor recreationists.
Steele Creek Park
Typically, you clean the bikes and stow them away during the colder months once ski season arrives. Up here, bike season is year-round with the proper gear and responsible recreation practices.
Steele Creek Park in Bristol is a great place to take the family out on a cruise, especially for those younger ones just learning to ride their bikes. For the more adventurous riders, the park boasts trails with opportunities to gain more elevation with steep descents.
Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Temperature dips overnight can cause trails to freeze and thaw into a muddy mess during sunny afternoons. Avoid riding at this time, as it can cause severe damage to the trails by leaving ruts. Plan to get on the trails early in the morning before they have a chance to thaw.
Bays Mountain
Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport offers over 40 miles of mountain biking trails for all skill levels. This is the largest city-owned park in the state of Tennessee, where you can get outside and observe wildlife all in one visit. The park is open year-round with shortened hours in the winter and closed on holidays.
The Tweetsie Trail in Johnson City
The trailhead begins in Johnson City with 9.6 miles to the other end in Elizabethton. This trail is the longest “rails-to-trails” project in Tennessee, and users often make it an out-and-back ride to opt for a 20-mile excursion.
Hampton Watershed
The Hampton Watershed trails can be made into short and sweet rides or multiple loops with more elevation gain. These trails wind around hilly terrain with rocks and roots that parallel the Doe River.
Erwin Linear Trail
The Erwin Linear Trail is an out-and-back path accessible for use right off I-26. The trail is mostly paved, open all year, and parallels the Nolichucky River for a stretch of peaceful scenery with opportunities to venture off for a quick bite to eat.
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Winter Lodging Features
USA Raft
Make USA Raft Adventure Resort your winter basecamp, and enjoy off-season lodging specials. Pictured above is the riverfront Geodesic Dome.
The Pond House
Stay at The Pond House for a relaxing experience with your own hot tub and wooded oasis.
There’s More Up Here!
Looking for something else to do during your visit? Check out these Backroad Civil War Sites, where many historical battles took place.
