waterfall – Southern Summit Collection

Located in south Knoxville, Baker’s Creek Preserve mountain bike trails are a part of a forty-mile trail system known as the South Loop Knoxville Urban Wilderness. Baker’s creek preserve has approximately eight miles of trails which include three downhill flow trails, two pump tracks (concrete and dirt), children’s play area and (currently not built yet) a dirt jump area.

The three trails names are Cruze Valley (Green Trail), Barn Burner (Blue Trail), and Devil’s Race Track (Double black diamond). These three trails are all super smooth and flowy, which is unusual to most of Tennessee’s trails. These trails are full of wide berms, fast speed sections, and jumps for all skills levels. Below is a breakdown of each of the three trails and its key features:

Cruze Valley – perfect for beginners, big wide berms with a few steep sections to help rider’s progress to more technical trails. The jumps on this trail include small long and low jumps which are all very rollable and don’t buck the riders. The most impressive feature built on this trail is the huge S-berm located mid-way along the trail. Other features found on this trail is a bunch of roller which will allow beginner riders learn to pump and jump. These rollers can be connected for double gap jumps by more experienced riders. More experience riders can also enjoy these rollers for manuals.
Barn burner – arguably the best trail at Baker’s Creek Preserve is playground for immediate riders and expert riders. This trail has a mix of big tables, step ups, step downs, alternate line gap jumps, and is super-fast. Overall, this trail screams progression, and besides for the alternate line gap jumps can be rolled and by passed. This trail is home to big airs and huge trains.
Devil’s Racetrack – this is the trail that was won by the Bell Helmets award. This downhill flow trail has huge gap jumps, an 8-foot wood step down bridge drop, 15-foot wall ride, and an alternative rock garden (rock shielded trail) with jumps. Overall, this trail is high speed and has gaps of all sizes, this trail can be ridden without hitting the gaps. I highly recommend if you can’t hit the jumps in the beginning of the trail or can’t clear all of the barn burner jumps to not head to this trail until you have completed those tasks.

These trails are absolutely awesome and I highly recommend you heading to this trail system. Other trail systems worth the visit in the Knoxville area are Haw Ridge, Sharps Ridge, and Windrock Bike park.

Comment your requests of places we should visit or tips you would like to learn!

Thanks,

The Southern Summit Crew

IG: SouthernSummitCo

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Ozone Falls

Ozone Falls is arguably one of my favorite waterfalls in Tennessee. It is 110 feet and is an awesome hidden jewel. This gorgeous waterfall is located in Cumberland County, Tennessee which is in-between Nashville and Knoxville. This waterfall isn’t super well known especially for new adventurers or average tourists which makes this place an awesome surprise especially since it is located directly on the side of a road. So what is awesome about this waterfall?

Well to start, this waterfall is directly next to a road and by just driving down the road you would never guess there would be such a huge waterfall in the area. This waterfall is massive and is surrounded by huge cliff walls around the base of the fall. When arriving to the GPS coordinates you will find a dirt parking lot. After parking, you just have to exit your car and head across the street. There you will find the trail head. There are only two well marked trails that lead you around the waterfall. One trail heads left which leads you to the top of the water fall overlooking the massive hundred-foot water fall. The other trail heads right and will lead you to the base of the waterfall. This waterfall area is very much primitive so be careful hiking around the top of the waterfall. Not paying attention could lead you to walk off the cliff or a single slip on a wet rock could end deathly.

This waterfall doesn’t require a long hike so it is good for those who are looking for a quick adventure on their road trip or for those who want to have a short day. However, an important tip is to make sure you are physically able to hike down the steep slippery terrain. The trail down to the base of the waterfall is extreme slick rock and requires good hiking shoes.

Make sure to plan your trip around the rainy season, if you plan to go during the summer it is possible you will have a poor stream. So I recommend going late winter or early spring time to catch the full power of the waterfall.

If you go to the waterfall during the summer, there is a high possibility the watering hole on the bottom won’t be filled; however, it will allow you to stand under the waterfall. Be careful walking under the waterfall, not just for slippery rocks but when I was under the fall many people say a ton of new born snakes in the rocks. Most likely they were just banded water snakes however, a few people claimed they were copperheads. Either way it is better to know and be prepared then not know and be surprised.

Additional activities to do while viewing this magnificent fall is to bring climbing gear to go rappelling. Sadly, on my trip I wasn’t prepared but I saw several people rappelling the walls and I saw a couple lines that I wish I could have rappelled! Nevertheless, I will definitely go back!

Overall, this is an awesome stop or even day trip. Comment your requests of places we should visit!

Thanks,

The Southern Summit Crew

IG: SouthernSummitCo

FB: Southern Summit Collection

GPS Coordinates: 35.8814° N, 84.8103° W

Category: waterfall

Baker’s Creek Preserve Mountain Bike Trails (Bell Helmets Mountain Bike Grant)

Ozone Falls