Reviewed by: ClydesdaleDave ,  Racer

Summary:
Rode this last week and despite a few large downfalls, it's officially my favorite trail. I first rode it during the SERC race last August and that general route is probably the way to ride it because it keeps you on a ribbon of perfect singletrack for many miles. I'm not sure what you call the trail design feature, but on lots of the newer cuts, it seems like you get stair-step little downhills that propel you up the hill...does that make sense.

Recommended Route:
WW Center up to Bear Paw turn right, folow bear paw around to Chestnut mt. Climb up to River View (blue)...stay to the left at every turn on blue. When it intersects Chestnut again, go right and go down about 100yds to the Orange 1330 bypass on the left. Take the Orange to the quartz loop...(optional) turn right and do the quartz loop counter-clockwise. Take quartz connector down to chstnut and do the screaming fs road downhill to Thunder Rock Express for an incredibly fun, technical downhill...on the fs road, go right, cross the dam and ride the bike path on the highway back to the ww center. 12-16 miles of great fun.!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Blue Ridge trails along Aska Rd. Green Mt, Stanley Gap, Long Branch.

Reviewed by: Matt , from Atlanta, GA

Summary:
Be sure to stop by the WWC to get a free (with a $3 parking tag) sweatproof color map. All trails are very well marked an the colors are coordinated to the maps. There are also on-trail cues to guide you. (I pulled the map off www.chattbike.com before I went to the trail.) This is a great trail system. Although I am not a big fan of riding on FS roads, the quality of the single track makes climbing these FS roads worth it. The Quartz loop is great, but needs to be ridden more. I would recommend the doing the QL counter-clockwise for the best downhill. Also, run the ThunderRock CG Express trail from the Chestnut loop to the Campground. It is fast and fun. Overall, the riding is probably intermediate. Very few technical sections with a lot of easy riding from a technical perspective. However, it is mountain biking, so there are some strenuous climbs. Definitely a great ride.

Recommended Route:
Up from the WWC, clockwise around Chestnut Mtn, hitting all of the loops along the way.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Chilhowee is a great second day.

Reviewed by: Terry , from Conyers, GA

Summary:
This is a great ride. I rode all the new terrain for the first time last weekend. They have really come a long way!!!

Recommended Route:
Park at Thunder Rock. Climb FS45 to Westfork. You have to really watch for this one. It is on the left in a big hairpin turn in the road. It is easy to miss because it drops off sharply from the road.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Chilhowee -- A slightly more challenging but at least as fun ride.

Reviewed by: The Lone Clydesdale , from Jawja

Summary:
Go just as Terry from Conyers said below, although if you park near the lower (non-suspension) bridge, you can cross it and go left up through the picnic area and paved path to the trailhead. Bear Paw is a fun, wide singletrack - beginner/intermediate, try it both directions, especially downhill on the right/East spur for one small but fun jump on which you can get decent air and a safe runout (very important in the LC's Book of Safe Air). Head out the FS 1330 at the top of Bear Paw to begin the Chestnut Mountain loop. If you want a singletrack grunt, turn at the junction with FS 1330A just a short distance on the right. I'm glad I continued on the roller coaster of FS 1330 (but generally UP) to the gate at FS 221 and took a right up the hill a short way to FS 1330B (look for beige blaze and white diamond - it's just a slight veer to the right). I took this road screamin' down in the big ring, past one junction where some wipe has torn the signs down (stay right). About another 3/4 mile or so down you will come to a small grassy clearing where the loop breaks off to the right, an old road that turns into some fine singletrack - a great middle ring cruise! Some of this is what I call 'class A' - cut by hand, very narrow in spots (not on an old road bed like much of the 'class B' singletrack of Tsali). After a time it reverts to old road and brings you back to the FS 1330 junction you passed at the top. Turn right and ride around Bear Paw a few more times!! I plan to find out who works on the trails up here and help them build some more of this stuff. Five wheelies for this four-wheelies-with-potential trail system.

Recommended Route:
see "Terry from Conyers, GA" - two reviews down. This is an excellent loop if you prefer your uphill grunts on fairly smooth fire roads and your downhill breezin' on singletrack.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Definitely Chilhowee - up Clemmer, around on top (especially Slickrock and Azalea), down Clear Creek.

Reviewed by: John Hembree , from Lebanon, TN

Summary:
This is a great trail .. go ride it, it should have a much higher rating, I loved this trail, it challenges you, has all types of surface to ride on, good mix, tough stuff on the single track. The first person who reviewed the trail at the bottom is obviously an newby or total gear head if they think this trail stinks.

Recommended Route:
Check the information at the top, I came through cleveland, tn .. copperhill etc ...

Other recommended trails in the same area:
chilhowee, and if your there, you ain't too far from Tsali ..