This Small Tennessee Town Just Got $6.3 Million to Build a Trail Mecca
In the heart of Carter County, Tennessee, an area already known as an outdoor paradise, a local trail system is about to go from a hidden gem to a full-blown destination. Thanks to a massive $6.3 million state grant, the Hampton Watershed Trails are set to more than double in size, adding big-mountain-style riding to the Appalachian landscape.
For years, local riders have enjoyed the classic, old-school loops of the Hampton Watershed, originally cut by Boy Scouts back in 2003. But the local SORBA Tri-Cities chapter had a bigger vision. Now, that vision is fully funded and shovel-ready.
The plan is to add another six miles of singletrack, bringing the system's total to 12. But this isn't just more of the same. The expansion will utilize the untouched terrain on 3,300-foot Cedar Mountain, which sits directly behind the current trails. The centerpiece of the project includes:
- A new climbing trail ascending to the summit of Cedar Mountain, promising 360-degree views.
- Two massive new descending trails dropping 1,500 feet over two miles each—one advanced black and one intermediate blue.
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As if that wasn't enough, the funding will also complete a crucial section of the historic Tweetsie Trail, a rail-trail project that will create a pedestrian and bike corridor connecting the Hampton Watershed directly to the popular Tannery Knobs Bike Park. Suddenly, you have a network of connected, diverse riding experiences.
And they aren't stopping there. A future Phase Three is already being dreamed up, which would add a pump track, a kids' course, and a full-scale slopestyle/dirt jump park with lines ranging from green to double-black.
While the project is currently on a brief hold pending some final planning for the Tweetsie Trail connection, the SORBA Tri-Cities team hopes to have dirt moving by 2026. It's a game-changing investment that proves big things are happening for mountain biking in small towns.
