Trail #2: 
The Dandridge/Douglas Lake Trail
  

Trail Highlights:  Mountain streams, river gorge, mountain coves, mountain lake, historical town, Tennessee Valley Authority dam, bypass around Pigeon Forge, TN

Start the Dandridge/Douglas Lake Trail at traffic light #10 in Gatlinburg taking Hwy. 441 North nine-tenths of a mile to traffic light #3.
At the light, veer off to the right onto Hwys. 321 North/73 (also called the East Parkway in Gatlinburg). From traffic light #3 take 321 North - 6.2 miles out to Pittman Center and cross the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River at the Greenbriar Entrance to the National Park.  Just across the river turn left onto Hwy. 416 North.
About a mile up 416 riders enter the river gorge of the Middle Fork of the Little Pigeon River. Ride thru this ancient canyon with caution but enjoy its extraordinary setting. This is one of the most pristine rivers left on the north side of the national park. However, this 7-mile stretch of Hwy. 416, with its numerous sharp, blind curves, shoulderless drops down to the river, falling rock and potholes, often with loose gravel, is very unforgiving. So riders should be diligent thru this stretch of road.
Once out of the river gorge riders will stay on 416.  About a mile out of the gorge riders pass a little white church on the left and an “8” mile marker on the right. About 1.5 miles past the church the road comes to a stop at a “T” intersection.
Turn right at the stop, following Hwy. 416 N. approximately 5.2 miles, where the road comes to an end again, this time at a traffic light. At the traffic light turn right onto Hwy. 411 North (known to locals as the Newport Highway).
From this turn the next turn will be in the hamlet of Chestnut Hill, about 11 miles on. Some 4.5 miles out this stretch of road riders will come upon a local treasure, Clint’s Family Restaurant (Hot Spot #4). Owners Clint and Elaine Carnley welcome everyone and their home-cookin’ menu is meant to please. Stop by and say hello, and tell them Smoky sent ya!
About 3.5 miles past Clint’s there is a significant dog leg in the road. When riders come out on the other side they will be on a more narrow, two-lane highway with less of a shoulder. This section of the run is thru the English Mountain Valley, just north of its namesake English Mountain.  The 4-mile run thru the valley is, with the exception of a few slight curves, straight and mogally, followed by a curvy dip into the burg of Chestnut Hill.
In Chestnut Hill, riders will come upon a left turn onto Hwy. 92 North. The Bush Brothers bean plant is sprawled all over the corner in front of this turn. Riders will know they’re on the right track if when they get to 92 they smell beans being processed J.  Turn left onto Hwy. 92 North.
From this turn it is going to be about 9 miles to the two-lane bridge that crosses Douglas Lake into the quaint little town of Dandridge. The first few miles of this narrow highway are nicely curved and mogally as it runs through rolling countryside between two sections of Douglas Lake.  The closer riders get to Dandridge the more windy the road becomes, with a steeper grade down to the lake.
Just before crossing the bridge into Dandridge, notice Angelo’s At The Point on the right. This large restaurant and marina is a favorite of locals (not unrelated to their wonderful waterside patio bar and outside dining in the warm months). It’s worth a stop to check it out.
Once across the bridge there is plenty more to check out in Dandridge, Tennessee’s second oldest town.  Go to the end of 92 and turn right onto East Meeting Street (Hwy. 25 West). About a mile out riders will find Dandridge Seafood, one of the top seafood restaurants in East Tennessee.
From the 4-way stop in downtown Dandridge, riders continue on the trail by taking Hwy. 139 West out of town. Once clear of town, the highway will run along the north shore of Douglas Lake until it reaches an area about 9.5 miles from downtown Dandridge near Douglas Dam.
The trail turns left in this area onto Hwy. 338 South. About a mile down 338 riders will find the entrance to Douglas Dam. There are restrooms located above the dam and the overlook provides visitors with spectacular views of the lake with the Smoky Mountains in the background.
Continuing on 338, just past the entrance to the dam, riders will cross a long narrow bridge just below the dam and across the French Broad River. (The French Broad watershed, which includes the Pigeon River, flowing out of the Western North Carolina/Eastern Tennessee mountains, is the primary source for the water forming Douglas Lake.  Smoky’s Waynesville and Maggie Valley Trails run on Interstate 40 alongside the Pigeon River thru its gorge between Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee).
About 5.5 miles from the dam on 338 the road comes to a stop at a “T” intersection with a traffic light. Turn left at this traffic light onto Winfield Dunn Pkwy (Hwy. 66). Now in Sevierville, Winfield Dunn Pkwy. Is the main artery from Interstate 40 through Sevierville to the Smoky Mountains.
Ride south on the parkway 2.3 miles to the 4th traffic light then turn left, following the signs to Hwy. 411 (Dolly Parton Pkwy.) onto a short connector (half a mile) around. At the traffic light turn left onto Dolly Parton Pkwy. and proceed 1 mile to the third traffic light. Turn right at the light onto Middle Creek Road and ride four tenths of a mile to the traffic light. Turn right onto Veterans Blvd.
Once on Veterans, it’s a 5.7 mile ride to its end at the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. About a mile and a half before it ends, riders will see the new entrances to Dollywood Splash Country and Dollywood on their left.
After passing Dollywood, riders will come to a traffic light and the name of the road changes back to Middle Creek Road. Continue on, passing the Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course on the left, until the road ends at the Parkway. (and yes, the Gatlinburg Golf Course is located in Pigeon Forge and the Gatlinburg Airport is located in Sevierville. It’s just the way we hillbillies do things here in East Tennessee).
Turn left at the traffic light onto the parkway and ride eight tenths of a mile to the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain Parkway, known to locals as “the spur”, then, 4.5 miles back to Gatlinburg. Once in Gatlinburg stay on Hwy. 441 S 1.6 miles back to the starting point at traffic light #10 in front of Smoky’s Pub & Grub, the biker, hiker and family friendly sports pub where this trail originally started. Stop by and ask for Smoky! He’s probably out on the patio having a nice cold one.