Mountain bikers are one step closer to trails in the Smokies
Sevier County could attract a new crop of adventure tourists if a plan for mountain bike trails in Wears Valley is approved.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is already the most visited national park in the country for hikers, campers, and people who want to take in a nice view, but now it’s one step closer to being a destination for mountain bikers.
The National Park Service (NPS) recently finished up an environmental assessment and issued a decision and a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) for the proposed mountain bike trails in the Wears Valley portion of the Foothills Parkway. That means if funding becomes available, mountain bike trails are good to go as far as the environment is concerned.
Nearly 40 years ago, this section of the park in Sevier County was identified by the NPS as “one of the most desirable areas for recreational development.”
While more than 800 miles of trails exist in the Park, fewer than 8 miles are designated for biking. Public roads within the Park are open to biking, but no purpose-built mountain biking trails currently exist.
“We understand the public’s desire to have a purpose-built bike trail, and this marks a step for potential future development of a trail in Wears Valley,” GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash said in a release. “Having the signed FONSI allows us the opportunity to explore potential funding paths for both the construction and the annual operational costs.”
The next steps will include a business analysis by the NPS to examine possible operational strategies for a mountain bike trail system. The selected alternative may also include a concession/bike rental building and/or a fee collection station, depending on the identified operational strategy.
No funding for construction has yet been identified.
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