This ride heads eastward from Townsend alongside the Little River on tree-lined roads through the northern edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The first 12 miles upriver are a false flat, but the road angles up to Fighting Creek Gap for about a mile of steep climbing before plummeting 800 feet down the other side to the turnaround at Sugarlands Visitor Center. This leaves you with a stiff climb on the return, but it’s followed by a 16-mile descent at easy speeds along the twisting river.
Tip: There’s no shoulder and plenty of turns, so ride early, especially during tourist season.
-Mapped by Chris Vanden Bossche
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Datum: |
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Little River Road
| Dist: 39.72 mi |
Points: 493 |
Calories: none |
| Time: none |
Speed: 0.0 mph |
Pace: 0:00 / mi |
| 0.00 mi |
Start |
Head east on US 321 |
Then go 0.43 mi |
| 0.43 mi |
Straight |
Continue straight on TN 337/Smoky Mountains Hwy. |
Then go 2.24 mi |
| 2.67 mi |
Bear Left |
Stay on TN 337 |
Then go 5.93 mi |
| 8.59 mi |
Straight |
Continue on Little River Rd. |
Then go 11.32 mi |
| 19.91 mi |
U-Turn |
Follow the same route back to the start |
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Riverside Ride
Location: 35.669535°, -83.682303°
The road runs right alongside the river for most of this ride. © Chris Vanden Bossche
The start
Location: 35.679331°, -83.741956°
The small shopping center with an IGA grocery and other stores provides ample parking.
Cades Cove Option
Location: 35.659040°, -83.708825°
To extend this ride to 65 miles total, bear right here to go to Cades Cove. The road gently climbs a valley to an 11-mile loop around the Cove. Return on the same route.
Little River
Location: 35.660190°, -83.706679°
Once you pass the T intersection, the road follows the Little River for about 15 miles.
Little River Road
Location: 35.670302°, -83.674278°
Little River Road: The road is narrow and popular with tourists, so ride early in the morning if possible.
Smoky Mountains Highway
Location: 35.671522°, -83.642178°
Smoky Mountains Highway along the Little River
Newfound Gap Extension
Location: 35.682782°, -83.534031°
You can extend the ride by taking US 441 to Newfound Gap. It's a significant climb -- 13 miles up a 5 to 6 percent grade -- on a busy road.
Turn for Elkmont Campground and Ranger Station
Location: 35.665107°, -83.598576°
Turn right here for a 1.5-mile side trip to Elkmont Campground, which has restroom facilities, water, and vending machines.
Fighting Creek Gap/Laurel Falls Trailhead
Location: 35.671905°, -83.580809°
The gap is the high point of the ride.
Hairpin Turn
Location: 35.671138°, -83.559094°
On the descent, be aware of this sharp curve.
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Location: 35.685570°, -83.536735°
Sugarlands Visitor Center: the turnaround point for this ride has restrooms, drinking fountains, and vending machines.
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