Citico- River LoopClockwise route

Bald River Falls

Clockwise route- Tellico River Rd, Bald River Rd, Wildcat Creek Rd 

A few weeks ago, I decided to try out what I call the "River Loop". The combination of Tellico River Rd, Bald River Road and Wildcat Creek Rd  It looks to make a perfect loop to add some miles to other routes on the north side of the Skyway - about 31 miles. In previous rides, I've ridden Tellico Rive Rd, east bound past Bald River Falls.  Usually the falls are a mad house with crazy amounts of people hanging out and seeing the falls (they're  definitely worth it), but today, weather due to football, or just being a little later into the season, the falls were almost void of people.  I took advantage of the quite and stopped to have a bit to eat, just me and the falls....very nice. Contouring on, the road gently climbs along the river and then pops out in the rental cabin community of Green Cove. I didn't expect to run into a development like this this far out into the woods, but it's kinda nice since they have a convince store to get fueled up if you need food or drinks.

A little way up from Green Cove, you leave the paved road and civilization behind when you make a right onto Bald River Rd. Bald River Rd really gives you the feeling of being out there.  The gravel road meanders through the forest, hanging on the edge of the mountains, surrounded by big trees. It's pretty rad, with the mountain sharply dropping off on your right, it gives you the view through the forest from mid tree height, nice. After climbing a bit, you get rewarded with a long descent down to Holly Flats Campground. It's starts with a super fast section, winding along the side of the mountains, and then is followed by a gently/pedaling downhill section for the last few mile.  Perfect gravel and fast and fun.  Holly Flats makes for a nice place to stop and eat.  No real facilities to note, but a nice wall to sit on.  

swoopy meanders

Purrr-fect gravel

From there you hit another solid climb up Gravelstand Mtn.  Some section made me keep trying to shift down into a gear that I didn't have.  Once you reach the four way intersection on top you have the choice to turn left and continue climbing up to the tower (save that for another day) turn left onto a mystery road or continues straight and down to Wildcat ( which I did). It's another long fast, and at times loose downhill -fun, but would be a bit more fun on fatter tires. It opens up at times to give you an awesome view, in my case, a view of the rain clouds approaching. Time to put the hammer down, I've been caught too many times up in these mountain during "not mess around" thunder storms, shivering in the middle of summer.  Descending quickly, made a right on wildcat, descended some more, zig zagging down to the river.  Made the final right back onto (the paved) Tellico Rive Rd, and completed the loop, getting caught in a short downpour 1 mile from shelter.

Alone with the forest

Storm clouds a brewing on descent from Gravelstand Top

The River loop is great, totally recommend it, a great wilderness ride.  You might need a little lower gearing and tires with some knobs if you try to tackle it CCW, as the climb up Gravelstand is steep and loose. Be prepared, I saw no one once I turned off of Tellico River Rd,  if something happens out there, it may be a while before some one drives by.