The April 2025 Issue of Rider Magazine featured a 3-day bucket list Great Escape motorcycle tour of 3 East Tennessee  National Scenic Byways.

Arrival Date: Destination Cumberland Gap

Leave your home and follow  map route 1

Your trip will take you through Harriman, TN, the town the “Temperance Built.” You will be following along the portions of the Emory River and th railroad lines that supported regional industry. You will pass through Oak Ridge and Clinton, so prepare for a bit of stop and go. The route opens back up, but will get windy going around Big Ridge State Park. This road was built when the dam was built and the twists will take you around surprising bends. Once you hit 170, you are following a classic Appalachian Valley until the intersection with SR33 (of the Thunder Road Fame.) Make the left carefully as traffic moves quickly on this road.

• Option 1- Late Lunch  Hickory Star Marina at the intersection of 144 and 170 Hickory Star Marina was one of first marinas built on Norris Lake.

• Option 2-  Rustic River Retreat along 25E. This restaurant is located along one of the river tributaries of Norris Lake. Cumberland Gap: Check In

Lodging Options: Historic  Old Mill and Mine B&B or Cumberland Gap Inn- Check in

• Stretch your legs- Walk town or walk a portion of the Iron Furnace trailhead.

• Ride your bikes through the Cumberland Tunnel- See the sunset at Pinnacle Overlook Walkable dinner suggestion in Cumberland Gap: Nineteen 19 Grill and Bar

• Other walkable dining: Juice Spot (vegan sandwiches and fresh juices) 8 am to 5 pm or  Gap Creek Coffee Shop (sandwiches, coffee, ice-cream)- 8 am to 8 pm

Saturday

Day 2 Carving a Trail- Pioneer Pathways map 2

Today you will be following portions of the East TN Crossing National Scenic Byway.   Your ending stop will be Grey  Gables Bed and Breakfast in Rugby.

Along the way, you will be traveling through history and scenic farmlands. Many of these roads and railroad lines began linking communities prior to the passage of a national transportation program. Power production and mobility- coal mining communities, reminders of steam engines, the infancy of automobile manufacturing, and TVA’s hydroelectric dams, and geography- have shaped these roads

Must stop scenics along this route:

•  Veterans Overlook at Clinch Mountain  Bean Station Civil War site

•  Rankin Bottom Coaling Tower  Historic downtown Dandridge

•  Norris Dam Overlook at Norris Historic Freeway (SR441)

•  Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Visitor Welcome Center. Suggested places to eat lunch along the route:

• Yum (but perhaps too early) Clinch Mountain Bakery and Restaurant Bean Station Tinsley Bible Drug Store and Soda Fountain in Dandridge, TN

• Clinch River Brewery in Norris Dam State Park (a favorite stop for motorcyclists)

• Rickards Ridge at Cove Lake State Park

Arrive in historic Rugby and check in is at 4PM

Stroll the historic town. Cool off at the Gentlemen’s Swimming Hole trail or head to Lily Pad Hopyard Brewery in Lansing and the Sauced Frog food truck to relax and enjoy some live music from 6 pm to 8 pm. *please let your hostess know if you will not be needing dinner on Saturday night if you choose to this option.

Dinner at Grey Gables is at 7 pm.

It has been a long day, so enjoy some restful sleep.

Sunday

Day 3- Outposts and Outlaws

Your day takes you on  map route 3. Highlights on this route is Fort Southwest Point, 1797 site of the US’s farthest fort west at the intersection of the US and Cherokee Land and a point of interest of the planning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition; Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project National Historic Park; and the “Devil’s Triangle,” a twisty route (116) that passes old coal roads and the infamous Brush Mountain State Prison. This is a challenging ride with steep drop offs.

Scenic Must stops:

•  Obed Wild and Scenic River @ Nemo Bridge- Wartburg TN.

• Fort Southwest Point- Kingston- Stroll this replica fort situated on the Tennessee River. K25 Overlook and Visitor Center- Oak Ridge

• Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary- Petros

If you are up for it- Historic Scott County Jail- Huntsville- the owners are avid women motorcyclists Or- Highland Manor Winery in Jamestown- 12 pm – 6 pm. Please know that dinner at Grey Gables begins at 7 pm.

Suggestions to stop and eat:

• RM Brooks Store- opens at 10 am.

• Kingston and Oak Ridge have national branded coffee stops Brushy Mountain’s Warden’s Table for lunch (10:30 am to 7 pm) Dinner at Grey Gables 7 pm.

Departure Day

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Grey Gables. Travel safely home