Norris

Distance: 20+ miles of trails
Rating: easy to moderate
Elevation: 860' to 1460'
Surface: dirt/gravel
Maps:
     USGS Quadrangles: Norris
     trail map
     watershed trail map (big, 476K) color version available at Norris city building
     color topo (138K)
     color 3-D topo (86K)
Access: Exit 122 east off of I75, take 441 toward Norris Dam State Park . Park west of 441 across from the Lenoir Museum (Google map/image/topo or Mapquest map) and bicycle in on along Lower Clear Creek Rd (gravel) by the mill (860'). Other access points are above the dam in the cabin area (Tea Room, 1200'), and on Upper Clear Creek Rd (gravel) off of Red Hill Rd east of Norris. We have GPS waypoints (.gpx), maps, and driving directions for some of the trail heads at trail-head parking.

Discourteous and speeding bicyclists (speed limit 10 mph) are threatening future use of the watershed by bicyclists. Slow down and yield to horses/hikers!

Description:

The City of Norris watershed provides a collection of jeep roads and single track for offroad vehicles (no ATVs), bicyclists, equestrians, and hikers. The City does a super job grading and maintaining the dirt roads in this 2,300 acre wilderness. The trails/roads are over a hilly, karstic terrain (sink holes and caves) through hardwood forests. The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club and many other volunteers have helped with trail development, maintenance, and signs.

From the pumping station (890'), the High Point jeep road climbs 1.8 miles to High Point (1460'). Ridgecrest trail, Freeway, and Longmire offer steep (300'+) single track to the west of High Point. Red Hill and Raccoon Run are more moderate double track. The Lakeside loop trail descends 300' to the edge of Norris Lake (1020'). The trail passes above a large sink hole that is full of water when the lake is at full pool. Easier loops can be found in the vicinity of the rifle range (1100') on Upper Clear Creek Rd.

Trails south of Clear Creek include East Trail, Reservoir Hill Trail (0.6), Reservoir Hill Loop (2.0), and it's about 0.9 miles to Observation Point from Reservoir Hill. Another 2.5 mile loop, south of Obersvation Point, includes Deer Ridge Rd and Eagle Trail. This loop passes through the small park next to the City building and can be accessed from mile post 8 on US 441.

The watershed is closed for various periods each fall for hunting. For 2008, the watershed will be closed for hunting Sep 27-Oct 5, Nov 22-30. Trails south of Clear Creek remain open during the hunts. Some trails are designated for foot traffic only. Cliff trail and Grist Mill Trail are closed to cyclists. Trails are closed at dark -- no night riding.

A new trail should be available in spring of 2009. Starting at High Point the trail will head down to the lake and run along the edge of the lake, eventually tying into the Lakeside Loop.