Watauga & Tweetsie Trail Loop, 28.7 miles, 1,349’ elevation gain
● start/end at Hunter First Baptist Church, 693 TN-91, Elizabethton, TN
https://www.strava.com/routes/3826240
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1287673991/
This is a great summer ride. Most of the roads are shady, and many are not far from the Watauga River, a state-designated Trophy Trout Stream with water temperatures below 50 degrees year round. From Hunter cyclists follow the Watauga River west on Stoney Creek Highway and Watauga Road. The route then turns in a southerly direction on Smalling Road as the Watauga meanders that way. Dalewood is an interesting, out-of-the-way, back country road with some short, steep climbs and plenty of scenery. Woodlyn Road (unlovely but safe) leads into Johnson City, where cyclists need to exercise caution and use urban cycling skills. The unpaved but road-bike-friendly Tweetsie Trail west-to-east is a gradual downhill all the way to Elizabethton and the Covered Bridge. Broad Street follows the Watauga back to Hunter First Baptist Church.
Cue Sheet: Watauga, Tweetsie Trail Loop
Miles Action and Landmark/Road
0.0 start at Hunter First Baptist Church
0.0 left onto Dawn Drive
0.4 left onto Pierce Street
0.7 right onto Stoney Creek Hwy. (TN-91)
3.1 go under US-19E bridge,now on Lover’s lane
4.3 at top of short hill turn left onto Old Bristol Hwy.
4.4 left onto Watauga Road (TN-400)
6.7 left onto Smalling Rd.
9.4 narrow bridge over Watauga River
9.6 bear right onto Sinking Creek Road
10.1 sharp right onto Dalewood Drive
11.8 left onto Woodlyn Rd.
13.4 right onto Smith Street
13.6 left onto E. Fairview Ave.
13.8 left onto Iron Rd.
13.9 right onto E. Milliard St.
14.4 left onto N. Broadway
15.0 at major intersection, cross E. Main St., stay on N. Broadway
15.3 right onto Orleans St.
15.9 left onto Legion St.
16.0 right onto Alabama St.
16.0 enter the Tweetsie Trail and follow to Elizabethton
24.1 exit trail and take a left onto Hattie Lane
24.3 ride or walk bike through Covered Bridge
24.4 left onto So. Main Street
24.5 right onto East Elk Ave.
24.6 left onto US-19E
24.9 right onto Broad Street
25.0 right onto Circle Drive
25.3 right onto Thomas Blvd.
25.6 right onto Broad Street
27.7 Broad Street Bridge
27.7 right onto Stoney Creek Hwy. (TN-91)
27.9 Craig’s Barber Shop
27.9 left onto Pierce Street
28.1 right onto Dawn Drive
28.6 right onto South Street
28.7 end at Hunter First Baptist Church