Bicycle Mornings in Cades Cove to Begin

Bicycle Mornings in Cades Cove to Begin

Monday, May 6, 2013

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This Wednesday marks the first day of vehicle-free cycling in Cades Cove. From May 8th through late September, the Cades Cove Loop Road will be closed to motor vehicle traffic on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m. in order to allow bicyclists and pedestrians the chance to enjoy the cove without the hustle and bustle of automobile traffic.

Three years ago the Smokies re-paved the loop road and made it an outstanding destination for road bikes. The 11-mile one-way road provides bicyclists with excellent opportunities for viewing wildlife and touring 19th century homesites. During the summer and fall season, bicycles may be rented from the Cades Cove Campground Store (located near the Cades Cove Campground) if needed. For information call (865) 448-9034. If at all possible I would highly recommend bringing your own bikes.

If you wish to explore the interior of Cades Cove via Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane, you will need a mountain bike or a hybrid.

For more information on cycling in the Smokies, please click here.










Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Google Maps adds "bicycle route finder"

Google Maps adds "bicycle route finder"

Monday, March 15, 2010

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Last week, in conjuction with the opening day of the National Bike Summit in Washington DC, Google maps launched a Beta version of its new direction finder for bicycle routes.

The new map tool will help cyclists find the quickest, safest way from Point A to Point B.

Apparently cyclists have been advocating for Google to add a layer for bicycles to its "Get Directions" function for some time now.

A petition started by Peter Smith at Google Maps 'BikeThere' received more than 50,000 signatures from bicyclists who wanted the service.

The bicycle route finder uses data gathered on bike paths, bike lanes and low-traffic streets to arrive at the suggested route. Google staffers are emphasizing that this project is in Beta, and have built in ways that users can inject their feedback into the results at the "Report a Problem" area.

The results may not show the most direct route in some cases. Not only safety, but topography is also factored into the route-finding formula so that cyclists can avoid steep hills, etc.

Google has produced a "how to" video explaining how to use the new service:




> Please click here to give the new map tool a "test drive."

> Click here for information on bicycling in and around the Great Smokies.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Bicycling the Cades Cove Loop Road

Bicycling the Cades Cove Loop Road

Thursday, April 30, 2009

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Beginning next week, the Cades Cove Loop Road in the Great Smoky Mountains will become a bicycling friendly option for cyclists again. Every year during the summer months, the National Park Service closes the 11-mile, one-way loop to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m. in order to allow cyclists the opportunity to enjoy the cove without the hassle of dodging motorists.

The Cades Cove Loop Road provides cyclists with excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and touring 19th century homesteads in this historic area of the park. The terrain along the loop is mostly flat, but there are a few, short, steep hills. Although the road is paved, there are many sections of rough and pot-holed pavement. The loop is passable for road bikes, but until the loop is re-paved, mountain bikes and hybrids are probably better suited for this road. The loop is scheduled to be re-paved during the first-half of 2010.

From May 6 through September 23, 2009, the loop will be closed to motor vehicles on Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00 a.m.

For more information on bicycling in Cades Cove, and several other locations in and around the park, please click here.

May 10 - Don't forget Mom!

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.

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New additions to HikingintheSmokys.com

New additions to HikingintheSmokys.com

Friday, February 13, 2009

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We have a couple of new additions to our HikingintheSmokys.com website I’d like to share.

Appalachian Trail
The first is our new Appalachian Trail pages. The combined two pages offer detailed information on hiking the Appalachian Trail through the Smoky Mountains, including information on key points along the way, backcountry shelters, water sources, mileage data, an elevation profile, a brief history of the trail, as well as other key online resources. Please click here to visit the page.

Bicycling in the Smokies
We’ve also added a page that provides a list of suggested road cycling and mountain biking routes in the Great Smoky Mountains and in the immediate areas just outside of the national park. Please click here to visit the page.

Place Names in the Smoky Mountains
Finally, the last addition I wanted to let everyone know about is our new “Place Names in the Smoky Mountains” page. This is a list of more than 45 place names and regional terms to help explain the meaning and historical origins of some of the names and places in the Smokies that may have had you asking “where did that name come from?" or "what in the world does that mean?". Please click here to visit the page.

I would love to hear your feedback about any or all of these new additions. Particularly, do they provide useful information? Am I missing anything? Any recommendations on anything that I could add or change to strengthen the information would be greatly appreciated.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.

Read More