THREE RIVERS WAY

Take a journey through the deep woods and beautiful backroads of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains on a bikepacking route like no other: THREE RIVERS WAY! Designed by Kim Murrell and named for the three rivers that define this gorgeous landscape - the Ocoee, Hiwassee & Tellico - Three Rivers Way is truly a bucket-list bikepacking adventure.

With two distances to choose from, you'll discover a carefully crafted course designed to maximize your experience both on and off the bike. Ride it solo or join us for the annual Grand Depart. Either way, you'll find breathtaking views and stunning scenery on this adventure of a lifetime!

Click on the maps below for downloadable route maps.

The Vista: 316 Miles

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ROUTE MAP

The VISTA uses the best singletrack, gravel, and tarmac that the Cherokee National Forest and the surrounding area have to offer to showcase the beauty of the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Mountain: 430 Miles

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ROUTE MAP

The MOUNTAIN is an expanded version of the Vista route that includes the deep woods of the Chattahoochee National Forest in north Georgia.

DETAILS

The Grand Depart is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Grand Depart

If you want to participate in the Grand Depart on May 9th, please email Kim Murrell at kim@veloviewbiketours.com before April 9th. There is no charge for the Grand Depart and if space is available you can camp for free at Fireside Outpost, but you must contact Kim before April 9th.

Verification

There are two ways to have your time verified. You can submit a Strava file to us after the ride (use the form below) or you can set up tracking with Trackleaders.com which will allow your friends and family to watch your progress "live" during your ride. Please contact Trackleaders at least a week prior to your intended ride date. (Allow more time if you need to rent a "Spot" tracking device from them.)

Support & Wayfinding

Riding Three Rivers Way is a self-supported endeavor, both individually or as part of the Grand Depart. It is imperative that you familiarize yourself with the route prior to attempting the ride and that you prepare a nutrition & hydration plan. There are no aid stations, wayfinding or support on the course. Please note that the majority of roads on the route (especially in the national forest) do not have signs.

Liability

We are providing the Vista and Mountain routes as a free service and in no way assume any liability for your experience in choosing to ride them.

Registration

There is no charge for participating in the Grand Depart or riding an ITT, and you do not have to register before you ride. However, you do need to have your ride verified after you've completed the ride in order to get on the leaderboard. (Use the verification form below.)

Ride Start & Parking

Both routes start & finish at Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park in southeast Tennessee: 404 Spring Creek Rd, Delano, TN 37325. Parking at the State Park is $3/day which you can pay at the ranger station.

Instagram

Stay up to date on Three Rivers Way finishers, course conditions, and other news by following @TennesseeGravel on Instagram!

LODGING

Two great options for staying at the start/finish of Three Rivers Way.

Hiwassee Ocoee State Park

Fireside Outpost

RULES

Three Rivers Way finishers practice self-sufficiency from start to finish.

If you want your time recorded on our list of Finishers, you must adhere to the following rules of self support. The intent of this solo self-supported race is to ride the route as fast as possible in the simplest/purist style possible. If you find yourself looking for loopholes, consider taking another year to prepare before racing. Most likely you'll go faster and enjoy it more as a result.

1. You must take a picture of your bike computer right before you start and right after you finish. The pictures need to show the time of day and the mileage.

2. No motorized transport or hitch-hiking. You must complete the route under your own power.

3. No stashed caches along the route.

4. No sharing supplies between riders.

5. No outside assistance with navigation.

6. No pacers.

7. No support crews. You can only receive support from local businesses on-site during their normal business hours.

8. No sharing supplies between riders.

9. During an ITT, assistance with navigation, supplies, or lodging cannot be received from friends, family or private individuals when it's not available to all riders.

10. You must have a contingency plan in place before you start the ride in case of emergency or if you need to quit. You are responsible for your own safety and well-being out there.

TRAIL MAGIC: Trail Magic is an unexpected occurrence that lifts a rider's spirits and inspires awe and gratitude. During an ITT, obtaining an item from another person can only be unsolicited and accidental. Otherwise, the receipt of assistance or supplies by individuals when it's not available to all riders reflects a lack of self sufficiency which renders an effort not self-supported. In short, you can't ask for Trail Magic. You can only pray for it!

FINISHERS

Click on the rider names in blue for ride reports.

Fastest Known Times

MOUNTAIN

Dave Chen: 3d-3h-45m

VISTA

Brian Toone: 1d-14h-46m

2023 Results

MOUNTAIN GRAND DEPART

Jason Vance: 3d-23h-52m (opposite direction)

VISTA GRAND DEPART

Joe Wharton: 1d-18h-22m
Garret Molzer: 1d-20h-54m (includes 1-hour penalty)
Brandon Lee: 2d-5h-24m (singlespeed)
Irmantas Stiega: 3d-2h-58m
Tim Smith: 3d-7h
Chase Blanton: 3d-7-27m
Kim Ranallo: 3d-10h-9m

VISTA ITTs

Cedar Blanchard: 2d-1h-27m (singlespeed)
Clint Gibson: 2d-1h-27m (singlespeed)

SCRATCHED: 4 riders (Gary Cors)

2021 Results

MOUNTAIN GRAND DEPART

Steve Fisher: 6d-4h-15m

VISTA GRAND DEPART

Brian Toone: 1d-15h-30m (includes 3-hour penalty for missing Buck Bald)
Joe Wharton: 1d-19h-46m
Hank McCullough: 2d-11h-06m
Betsy Schrauer: 2d-19h-45m
Travis Stevens: 2d-19h-45m
Irmantas Stiega: 3d-9h
Karl Stine: 4d-12h-45m

VISTA ITTs

Michael Rasch: 3d-12h-51m

SCRATCHED: 8 riders

2019 Results

MOUNTAIN GRAND DEPART

Dave Chen: 3d-9h-31m *
Graham Skardon: 3d-18h-26m *
Sara Dallman: 4d-7h-07m *
Betsy Schauer: 4d-13h-30m
Travis Stevens: 4d-13h-30m
Scotty Hilgenfeldt: 5d-18h-21m
Jason Vance: 6d-6h-42m
Ryan Smith: 6d-16h-35m *

VISTA GRAND DEPART

Brad Beadles: 2d-5h-30m
Joe Urbanowicz: 2d-7h-4m *
Eric Olsen: 2d-22h-18m
Michael Rasch: 3d-36m *
Eric Henderson: 3d-39m
Jacob Spath: 3d-9h-59m
Brad Mcleod: 3d-17h-47m
Thierry Crouzet: 4d-7h-01m

MOUNTAIN ITTs

Charles Watkins: 8d-11h-16m
John Pickron: 8d-11h-16

VISTA ITTs

Irmantus Lu: 5d-8h-15m
Irmantus Steiga: 5d-8h-15m

SCRATCHED: 24 riders

*There was an additional challenge added in 2019. Riders could choose to do the Waucheesi Bald KOM. That climb added 825 feet of elevation gain in the 1.5 miles to the summit. There is a star next to the recorded time of the riders on each route that summited first. There is a star next to all the riders who summited.

2024 Results

MOUNTAIN GRAND DEPART

Chris Summerlin: 3d-18h-15m
Kyle Rowe: 4d-17h-15m
Kim Ranallo/Graham Skardon: 5d-15h

VISTA GRAND DEPART

Brandon Lee: Finishes without a time

SCRATCHED: 12 riders

2022 Results*

VISTA GRAND DEPART

Brian Toone: 1d-14h-46m (course record)
Chad Brandon: 1d-23h-52m (singlespeed, includes 3-hour penalty for missing Buck Bald)
Jeremy Cook: 2d-14h-59m (includes a 15-minute penalty for missing the singletrack trail through Hiwassee Ocoee State Park)
Irmantas Stiega: 3d-13h-19m
Saul de Arcia: 3d-13h-19m
Juan Buitrago: 3d-13h-19m
Ryan Smith: 3d-19h-55m