RELIANCE Routes | Tennessee Gravel

RACE ROUTES

Unlike the 2025 race, we won't have an overall podium decided by the cumulative total time for Saturday and Sunday. Instead, we'll have separate races each day, which will allow riders to compete even if they can't race both days.

SATURDAY we'll have two race routes. The long route is 72 miles with 8700 feet of climbing, and the short route is 46 miles with 5600 feet of climbing. Both routes feature some of the best scenery the Cherokee National Forest has to offer, with cascading creeks and waterfalls, a stunning 360-degree view at the top of Buck Bald, and a beautiful start along the Hiwassee River. While there's no avoiding chunky sections in the forest, the race routes skip the worst offenders from the last two years (Smith Mtn Road, among others) and is doable on a gravel bike.

For SUNDAY, rather than give you another long race of attrition, we thought it would be fun to have a race that really felt like a race, with a faster pace and tighter competition. So we're offering just one relatively short route - the Sunday Sprint! - with 28 miles and 3700 feet of climbing. In addition to racing at a different heart rate zone than Saturday, the Sunday Sprint will also allow you to wrap up the weekend a little sooner if you need to get on the road to head home. (We anticipate podiums taking place before noon.) Like Saturday, the route will have some chunky sections but is doable on a gravel bike.

PLEASE NOTE: While we're happy to provide a bailout option on Saturday's 72-mile route (which comes at mile 40 and gives you 46 miles for the day), if you start with the 72 milers and then take the bailout, you will NOT be eligible for the podiums for the 46-mile race even though you will have completed the 46-mile route. (Your time will also be noted differently on the final results to distinguish it from the 46-mile racers.) If you want to race the 46-mile route and be eligible for the podiums at that distance, you must start with the 46-milers.

RECREATIONAL ROUTES

The Saturday and Sunday rec routes are the same as previous years, with a beautiful 24-miler on Saturday and a slightly more challenging (and rockier) 26-miler on Sunday. While these routes are not considered race routes and will not have podiums, they're not a walk in the park either, with around 3,000 feet of climbing each day. Gravel bikes are appropriate for both routes, as are hardtails (which will make Sunday's bumpy descents a little more enjoyable).

CATEGORIES & AWARDS

Everyone who completes both days of riding will be presented with a finisher award on Sunday regardless of distance or time thanks to the generosity of Village Volkswagen of Chattanooga. Village VW has also generously sponsored our podium awards and cash prizes, which will be awarded for the top 3 finishers for the following categories in Saturday's 46-mile and 72-mile routes and Sunday's 28-mile route:

Men's Open
Women's Open
Men's Masters (45+)
Women's Masters (45+)
Single Speed
Juniors (18 & under)

The first place winners in each category will also receive free entry to next year's event so that they can defend their titles!

TIMING & CHECKPOINTS

Although the recreational routes will not have podiums, all of the routes will be timed with results posted for each distance. All riders must STOP at the timing table at the finish line each day to ensure that their time is properly noted. In addition, everyone riding the 46 and 72-mile routes must STOP and check in at the aid station at the top of Buck Bald, and everyone riding the 72-mile route must STOP and check in at the aid station at the top of Starr Mtn. If you don't stop at the checkpoints and at the finish line, then we won't be able to give you a finishing time. There are no checkpoints for Sunday's routes.

SUPPORT CUTOFF

There are no cutoff times this year, but there are closing times for the aid stations and for the sweep vehicles. So if you plan to ride all day on Saturday, make sure you are fully self-sufficient in case our volunteers have already packed up. Please note the following closing times for the Saturday aid stations. Also please note the distance between aid stations and plan accordingly.

McFarland (mile 15): 10:00
Buck Bald (mile 26): 11:30
Starr Mtn (mile 48): 1:00

NAVIGATION

The routes will NOT be marked. It is therefore imperative that you download the routes before you arrive at the event by clicking on the maps below. If you're planning to ride the 72-mile route, please also download the 46-mile route in case you need to switch routes.

SATURDAY

24 Miles | 3,000 Feet of Climbing | 70% Gravel

Although the distance is relatively short, this route packs a punch, with plenty of climbing & descending on the Powerhouse climb and Lost Creek Road. It also provides the perfect introduction to the beauty of the Cherokee National Forest!
An aid station with nutrition & hydration will be available at mile 11.
Click below for a downloadable map.

46 Miles | 5,600 Feet of Climbing | 50% Gravel

The "short" race route mirrors the 24-mile rec route with the super scenic start along the Hiwassee River and the subsequent Powerhouse climb, but you'll take a left turn onto McFarland Road after Powerhouse rather than a right turn like the rec route. From there you'll drop down a screaming descent to the Hiwassee River before launching onto a beautiful 4-mile climb along Wolf Creek. After briefly coming out of the national forest and navigating some pavement that will take you back down to the Hiwassee River, you'll tackle the 5-mile Buck Bald climb, with its stunning 360-degree view waiting at the top as a reward for all the hard work! The work's not over though, as you'll still have to make your way across the 8-mile Fingerboard rollercoaster with its punchy climbs and steep grades before finally reaching a fun, mostly downhill stretch to finish the ride!
Aid stations with nutrition & hydration will be available at mile 15 (top of McFarland climb) and mile 26 (top of Buck Bald). Please note that the Buck Bald aid station is also a checkpoint where you must STOP and check in.
Watch for the right turn to stay on Fingerboard around mile 34. It's easy to miss!
Click below for a downloadable map.

72 Miles | 8,700 Feet of Climbing | 55% Gravel

Saturday's long race route follows the 46-mile route all the way to mile 40 before working its way across a few paved roads to the base of Starr Mountain for a beautiful but challenging 4-mile climb. While the top of the climb doesn't have a view like Buck Bald, you'll still have a sweet reward in the form of a super fun descent that takes you back down to the pavement and over to a twisty and deceptively challenging asphalt road called Ivy Trail. After making a couple of turns and passing by Towee Falls, you'll be back in the national forest on a different (and much more pleasant) section of Fingerboard. After emerging from the woods you'll enjoy a mostly downhill finish on fast pavement!
Aid stations with nutrition & hydration will be available at mile 15 (top of McFarland climb), mile 26 (top of Buck Bald), and mile 48 (top of Starr Mtn). Please note that the Buck Bald and Starr Mtn aid stations are also checkpoints where you must STOP and check in.
Watch for the right turn to stay on Fingerboard around mile 34. It's easy to miss!
Click below for a downloadable map.

SUNDAY

26 Miles | 2,700 Feet of Climbing | 50% Gravel

Like Saturday's short route, this 26-miler is much tougher than it sounds, with a hard 3-mile climb up Kimsey Mtn Hwy early in the ride followed by a series of short, steep climbs & descents on the rowdy Piney Flats section.
An aid station with nutrition & hydration will be available at mile 15.
Watch for the left turn onto Piney Flats around mile 9. It's easy to miss!
Click below for a downloadable map.

28 Miles | 3,700 Feet of Climbing | 70% Gravel

The Sunday Sprint race route follows the same path as the rec route for the first 15 miles, with the 3-mile climb up Kimsey Mtn Hwy and the rowdy rollercoaster of Piney Flats. However, rather than returning home across the Powerhouse bridge like the rec route, the race route takes a left at the aid station at mile 15 and returns home via Lost Creek Road, which has fast gravel and a never-ending series of short climbs, making for a fun and challenging finish!
Watch for the left turn onto Piney Flats around mile 9. It's easy to miss!
Click below for a downloadable map.