Shady Valley is one of the jewels in the crown of this region. A unique area thought to have been formed by the impact of a comet or asteroid eons ago, Shady Valley was named that because of the dense forest that blanketed this area. Native cranberry bogs once thrived in "Shady" until the Army Corps of Engineers, in all it's wisdom, drained this land in the early 60's so it could be used as farm land. Unfortunately, they also destroyed most of native bogs. Now there are just a few bogs remaining including the Jesse Jenkins Cranberry Bog, managed by The Nature Conservancy. You'll get a look at it on this route, but I'll warn you now, don't blink. It is one of the smallest (if not THE smallest) areas in the US managed by The Nature Conservancy. Residents have a Cranberry Festival every year in early October with parades, food, an auction and craft sale.
Fall is an extraordinary time to ride this area and you can get a bite to eat afterward at one of the country restaurants, or stores. Carroll Long at the Shady Valley Country Store showed me this route and he welcomes bikers to park in his parking lot. It wouldn't hurt to go in and partake of a cool drink, a baloney sandwich and a Clip-On Guide of the Shady Valley Road Loop while you are there.
Distance: 11.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Riding Surface: Paved Road
Configuration: Loop
Start/End: Cross Roads at Shady Valley (Intersection of US 421, US 133, US 91)
Maps: USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle,
Trail Town Maps Clip-On Guide #6
Elevation change: This ride begins at an elevation of 2785 feet and climbs 200
feet in the first mile. At the turn on Sluder Road you will roll gently downhill, crossing
TN 91, and continuing all the way to the intersection with US 421. At this point you will
climb less than 100 feet on Winchester Road. Then the fun begins as you descend 200 feet,
following Beaver Dam Creek along this scenic road. One short but steep climb of 200 feet
over 0.7 mile and your home free, descending gently all the way back to the store.
Total grade is 2%. Total elevation gain is 475 feet. Maximum climb is 201 feet in 1.3
miles.
Access: From Damascus Virginia, take VA 133 approximately 15 miles south to the intersection of US 421 and TN 91, the main Shady Valley intersection. There are several stores here at this intersection and the owner of the Shady Valley Country Store has given permission for people to park at his store. (He offers cold drinks and snacks so you may want to partake of his wares as a way of thanking him for allowing us to park there.) From Bristol, take US 421 South 20 miles, (traveling over Holston Mountain) to the main intersection in Shady Valley.
Description: This ride meanders along some of the paved, back-roads of beautiful Shady Valley Tennessee. This ride is an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend an afternoon at a pace that is laid back and lazy. Enjoy the scenery any time of the year, but especially in the Fall as the leaves become explosive with color, adding to the warm feeling and friendly attitude of this quaint rural area.
| 0.0 Starting from the cross roads in Shady Valley, turn right on US 421 heading toward
Mountain City TN. This section is a gradual ascent with some very nice views behind you of
the valley and to the front of you of the Iron Mountain range. Watch for traffic on this
road. |
| 1.0 Turn right onto Sluder Road, a paved road. You will begin a short descent. There are
many nice farms, open pasture land, a rock house and orchards along this road. Deer are
plentiful so keep your eyes open. Stay on this road for the next 2.2 miles. |
| 3.2 Turn right onto US 91. Be alert for the next left turn off this road as it is very
soon! |
| 3.3 Turn left onto Orchard Road. (It is the first left after you turn onto US 91.) |
| 3.6 Pass a sawmill on the right. Nice views of the valley on this fairly level road |
| 3.8 Continue straight on the paved road. Do not take the road to the left that says
Orchard Road. |
| 4.3 Pass the Jessee Jenkins Cranberry Bog. This small parcel of land is owned by The
Nature Conservancy. |
| 5.9 Turn left onto US 421 |
| 6.0 Turn Right onto Winchester Road at the Presbyterian Church. You will follow this
rolling road for the next 3.2 miles. It turns into Gorman Gentry Road at about the midway
point. You will follow Beaver Dam Creek as it meanders alongside the road. |
| 8.8 Continue straight on this road. There is a scenic view down into Beaver Dam Creek on
the right. There is a swinging bridge on the right that is still used for access to the
property across the creek. |
| 9.2 Turn right on US 133. You will enter the Shady Valley unincorporated limits. You
must climb the steep hill ahead of you. Use caution as this is the main road and the
traffic sometimes moves fast. |
| 9.9 At the top of the hill, on the right, is the Blevins Family Cemetery. There are many
old graves in this cemetery, some dating back to the 1880’s and earlier, although
some markers are not readable. |
| 11.6 Pass the Shady Valley Elementary school on the right. This is a rock school built
during the 1930’s by the CCC. |
| 11.9 Arrive back at the Shady Valley crossroads from where you started. |