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.

Between the four base routes and the three optional climbs, there are a total of 21 route combinations ranging from 15 to 100 miles. (We've even got a free 2-mile kids ride on Dunlap's Coops Creek Greenway Saturday morning at 9:15!)

As if that's not enough, we also offer a mixed-surface century and metric century 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 Prize Table when you reach the finish line 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 - preferably with disc brakes!

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 Pikeville rest stop 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 Pikeville 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 55 (without any climbs). The rest stop is in downtown Pikeville, which will give you a taste of their annual Fall Festival. Expect plenty of activity when you arrive! You can also expect barricades, as the downtown streets will be blocked off to cars. Just walk your bike around those barricades when you get to downtown.

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): This is the ultimate challenge that combines the 80-mile base route with all three climbs. 103 miles, 8200 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.

100 Miles (3 Mtn Challenge) Henson First.jpg

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!

2.9 miles to the top / 1,100 feet of climbing

DO NOT attempt this climb without disc brakes! The descent is too steep to safely descend on rim brakes. With grades over 20%, Smith Mtn is no joke. It's a beautiful climb, but it's a stout challenge for even the most seasoned of climbers. The climb is the shortest of the 3 Mtn Challenge, and the back half is relatively easy with only a few ramps to slow you down. It's just the first mile that you have to worry about, and worry you should! With the exception of two short breaks, the first mile is unrelenting double-digit grades, mostly running between 12 and 16 percent, with a few ramps that reach 22%! 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. This is the hardest of the three climbs!

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 10 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 8 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!)

LOWES GAP (only on full century)

2-mile beautiful but seriously challenging gravelly asphalt climb starting around Mile 53.

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.

WESLEY CHAPEL RD (not on 40-miler)

2 miles of gravelly asphalt with gravel pockets starting around Mile 75.

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.