ROUTES | Cycle Sequatchie

Choose Your Own Adventure!

There are four base routes to choose from: 15, 35, 50 and 80 miles, plus three optional climbs. You can stay in the valley and ride the rolling hills found on the base routes or you can add more challenge & distance by taking on the optional out & back climbs. Combine the 80-mile base route with all three climbs and you'll have 102 miles and 8,000 feet of climbing!

We also offer three mixed-surface routes (40, 64, 100) that provide access to some hidden gems in Sequatchie Valley accessible only by unpaved (or barely paved) roads. See below for more details about these special routes!

If you take on any of the climbs or complete a mixed-surface route, don't forget to stop by the Cycle Sequatchie tent near the lunch area when you finish to receive your reward! Special thanks to Village Volkswagen for sponsoring the 3 Mtn Challenge!

Please be advised that the optional climbs are super steep and on narrow backroads with rough pavement. Experienced cyclists only - with disc brakes!

If you're looking for a short shakeout ride on Friday or recovery ride on Sunday, we've provided a couple of options at the bottom of the page. These routes are self-guided and will not be marked on the roads.

And if you've got little ones who want to get in on the action, we have a free 2-mile kids ride on Dunlap's Coops Creek Greenway Saturday morning at 9:15!

Base Routes

BASE ROUTES

15-MILE ROUTE: A great introduction to cycling in Sequatchie Valley with plenty of rolling hills and nice views of the valley & ridges. Click below for a downloadable map.

80-MILE ROUTE: A beautiful route that takes the scenic 50-mile loop and adds a bonus 30-mile loop north of Pikeville, giving you a taste of the gorgeous riding on the north end of the Valley. Click below for a downloadable map.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to continue on the 80-mile route, you must reach the Church of Christ rest stop at mile 26 by 11:30. After 11:30, all cyclists will be redirected to return to Dunlap via the 50-mile route.

REST STOPS

The rest stop at the Dollar General is provided by our friends at Tower Community Bank, and it's the first rest stop on all of the base routes except the 15-mile route (which doesn't have a rest stop due to the length of the route). If you don't do any of the climbs, you'll hit this rest stop around mile 11.

The rest stop at Stephens Chapel United Methodist Church is provided by the Chattanooga Bicycle Club and is the final rest stop on all of the routes (mile 22 for the 35-mile, mile 38 for the 50-mile, mile 66 for the 80-mile). It is roughly 12 miles from the finish line. The church is in a beautiful setting and makes for a great rest stop, but please note that the driveway is gravel. Please use caution as you enter this rest stop.

The Sequatchie Valley Church of Christ rest stop is provided by the Chattanooga Bicycle Club and marks the midway point for the 50-mile route, arriving around mile 26 (without doing any of the climbs). If you're doing the 80-mile route, you'll hit the Pikeville rest stop twice, popping in again on your way back from the upper valley loop north of Pikeville at mile 57 (without any climbs).

PLEASE NOTE: In order to continue on the 80-mile route, you must reach the Pikeville rest stop by 11:30. After 11:30, all cyclists will be redirected to return to Dunlap via the 50-mile route.

The rest stop at the top of the Henson Gap climb is hosted by the Tennessee Tree Toppers. Not only are the Tree Toppers allowing our riders take in the view at their hang gliding launch, but they're also providing snacks and drinks as well! This rest stop won't be as well-stocked as the other rest stops, so don't expect the full spread, but we wanted to offer some basic items for you to enjoy while you soaked in the breathtaking view at the top of this brutal climb!

3 Mtn Challenge

3 MTN CHALLENGE

Presented by Village Volkswagen

FULL CENTURY (Henson Gap first): To complete the century, combine the 80-mile base route with all three climbs. 102 miles, 8000 feet of climbing. Click below for a downloadable map.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to continue on the full century route, you must reach the Pikeville rest stop by 11:30. After 11:30, all cyclists will be redirected to return to Dunlap via the 50-mile route.

THE CLIMBS

5.1 miles to the top / 1,600 feet of climbing

HENSON GAP is the longest of the three climbs, but it rewards those brave enough to take it on with a spectacular view overlooking Sequatchie Valley (along with a rest stop). With its location just a few miles from our home base in downtown Dunlap, Henson Gap can be attempted right off the bat when your legs are still waking up, or you can save it for the end when your legs are potentially cooked from a long day in the saddle. Your call. The climb consists of two parts, with a consistently steep first part that includes a nasty "S" curve with grades in the high teens. After grinding out the first three and a half miles on Henson Gap Road, you'll then turn onto Window Rock Road and continue uphill with a series of steep ramps before finally reaching the rest stop at the Tree Toppers hang gliding launch pad. The descent requires sharp focus and steady braking to ensure that your speed remains under control, especially prior to entering the "S" curve, which is not only the steepest and curviest part of the descent, but also has the worst pavement. Use extreme caution and don't cheat the corners. This climb/descent is for experienced cyclists only. Don't underestimate the grades and curves!

1.8 miles to the top / 800 feet of climbing

While it may be the shortest of the three climbs, LOWES GAP is arguably the hardest! It's also the most scenic, as it follows a little stream through a rocky gorge with beautiful stone ledges and heavy tree cover. It even has a framed view of the valley below when you reach the top. It's not quite the breathtaking panoramic vista like the top of Henson Gap, but the powerline cut at the turnaround point offers a nice reward for the effort. The relatively flat approach to the climb after you cross over Upper East Valley Road has very rough pavement and you'll need to watch for potholes, but once you get on the actual climb the pavement improves considerably. The grade, however, is a different story. Once you start climbing, it's pretty unrelenting and only gets worse, with grades in the mid to upper teens as you battle through the switchbacks towards the top of the climb. Because this road is very narrow and does not have a yellow line, it is imperative that you stay to the right side of the road at all times. Do not attempt this climb if you are unable to climb steep grades without weaving back & forth.

3.6 miles to the top / 1,200 feet of climbing

PITTS GAP is a quiet wooded climb with some nice views of the valley where the power lines cut through the trees. The climb starts off with an easy warm-up before tilting up sharply and then stays in the 7-14% range most of the way up (with a short break before the final push). This consistently steep grade coupled with a rough surface make the descent a challenge as well. Good gears, good brakes and conservative riding (both going up and coming down) are keys to completing this challenge!

Mixed-Surface

MIXED-SURFACE ROUTES

The full mixed-surface century includes 9 unpaved (or barely paved) sectors and two brutal climbs! Roughly 80% paved/20% gravel & trashy asphalt. 100 miles, 7900 feet of climbing. Please note that this route WILL NOT BE MARKED. This is a challenge for experienced cyclists only and requires the ability to self-navigate and manage road surfaces not suitable for skinny road tires. Click below for a downloadable map.

For those of you interested in exploring some unpaved roads but not interested in riding 100 miles, check out the mixed-surface metric century! The metric has 7 unpaved (or barely paved) sectors, one never-ending climb up the Cumberland Plateau, and one never-ending descent! Roughly 75% paved/25% gravel & trashy asphalt. 64 miles, 5000 feet of climbing. As with the full century, the metric century WILL NOT BE MARKED. This is a challenge for experienced cyclists only and requires the ability to self-navigate and manage road surfaces not suitable for skinny road tires. Click below for a downloadable map.

While we wish Sequatchie Valley had a higher percentage of pure gravel roads, the point of the mixed surface routes is not so much the experience of riding gravel as it is what these roads offer, i.e. hidden gems and amazing scenery available only to those willing to traverse roads unsuitable for skinny tires.

McWILLIAMS RD

3 miles of gravelly asphalt starting around Mile 9.

HOWARD BREAVERT RD

5.5 miles of gravelly asphalt and pure gravel starting around Mile 14.

HERMAN SMITH RD

1 mile of gravelly asphalt starting around Mile 20.

LEE STATION MTN RD (not on 40-miler)

2-mile super steep gravelly asphalt climb starting around Mile 24.

BENCH RD (not on 40-miler)

2.5 miles of pure gravel followed by half a mile of gravelly asphalt starting round Mile 26. (Keep an eye out for the rock ledge overlook less than a mile after turning onto Bench Rd!)

CYRUS DANIELS/DARBEE CEMETERY RD (only on full century)

1 mile of gravelly asphalt followed by 1.5 miles of pure gravel starting around Mile 66.

RAY HIXSON RD

Half-mile of gravelly asphalt followed by 1.5 miles of pure gravel starting around Mile 87.

McWILLIAMS RD

1 mile of gravelly asphalt starting around Mile 89.

For 2024 we've added a shorter mixed-use option that offers a taste of Sequatchie Valley's hidden gravel roads without a big climb. The 40-miler is roughly 70% paved/30% unpaved, and even without a signature climb it still gives you close to 3,000 feet of climbing. As with the other two mixed-surface routes, the 40-miler WILL NOT BE MARKED. This is a challenge for experienced cyclists only and requires the ability to self-navigate and manage road surfaces not suitable for skinny road tires. Click below for a downloadable map.

Shakout/Recovery

FRIDAY SHAKEOUT / SUNDAY RECOVERY

COOKIE JAR LOOP: Starting and finishing at the Cookie Jar Cafe, this 27-mile loop will wake up your legs with plenty of short hills along with plenty of great views! It also features stops at the historic Coke Ovens, Veterans Park, and Clarks Bakery. Click below for a downloadable map.