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Maryville-Alcoa Greenway Trail
Reported: August 2024
The paved Maryville-Alcoa Greenway Trail winds through Maryville and Alcoa, Tennessee. The trail "spine" runs 9 miles following Pistol Creek - with spurs, loops and connectors, the total grows to 18+ miles. Extensions are under construction, with more planned. The Greenway connects parks, schools, neighborhoods, and businesses. Parks provide parking and restrooms, with food and shopping nearby.
Location: Blount County, TN (Maryville, Alcoa) (See map)
Distance: 9 miles, 18+ with loops, spurs and connections
Surface: Paved
Nearby Points of Interest: Knoxville, Great Smoky
Mountains National Park
Bike Shops/Rentals:
Cycology
Bicycles (rentals, sales, service,
group rides)
Maryville Bike & Trail (sales, service,
group rides)
Page Summary:
The Greenway and its spurs are very diverse, running through wooded areas and fields along Pistol Creek, through parks and business areas. We liked the northern (Alcoa) section due to the scenic ride along Pistol Creek. While others may prefer the more diverse ride at Maryville (south), overall we found this a worthwhile visit. The trail is easy to ride, with few road crossings and underpasses at major roads. Some sections run roadside, but mostly away from roads or with wide buffers making it hard to believe this is the middle of town. Mile markers, interpretative and historic signs, and benches are located along the way.
We biked the main trail between Springbrook Park (Alcoa) and Pearson Springs Park (Maryville), and visited two spurs: the North Greenway Trail spur, and connector to Richard Williams Park.
Here we visit north to south. Although less diverse than the Greenway in Maryville, we enjoyed the long, scenic stretch along Pistol Creek.
This section includes:
Almost 2 miles of the Maryville-Alcoa Greenway runs through and loops around Springbrook Park. The scenic park is a local gem with something for everyone from a peaceful walk to athletic events. Facilities include parking, restrooms, picnicking, playgrounds, recreation center, pool, sports fields, 8-acre Duck Pond for fishing.
Here we visit south to north. The Greenway here has a lot of diversity with several parks and downtown Maryville, but also needs better signage to navigate through it.
This section includes:
* History: John Craig's Fort was built in 1785 to protect settlers from Indian raids. The Spring provided water.
The Greenway runs along Greenbelt Lake (Pistol Creek) paralleling the Park. This section is mostly flat and unshaded.
The bridge linking to the Park was closed for repair, so we returned to the spur crossing Greenbelt Lake. We then meandered through the Park, exiting at Harper Ave. The Park, a reclamation project of an old industrial area, is popular for biking, walking, picnicking and fishing, scenic with benches and shade. The Greenway and several paths link and wander through the park, with some gentle hills.
Nearby Biking:
Townsend Historical Trail
Will Skelton Greenway
(Knoxville)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Bike-Tennessee
- More information about biking in Tennessee
Related Resources:
Maryville-Alcoa-Blount County Parks & Recreation
Legacy Parks Foundation - Maryville-Alcoa Greenway
Support and Advocacy:
Legacy Parks Foundation
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