These fun, pedal-powered tours offer incredible natural scenery and metropolitan amenities
Words by Eric J. Wallace
Few outdoor activities immerse you in a natural landscape the way a long-distance bike ride does, but tackling the logistics of a perfect pedal-powered adventure can be tricky. Luckily, the South brims with bucket-list routes that pair incredible scenery with luxe amenities and an almost plug-and-play ease of access.
Whether it’s a breezy weekend jaunt through Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains or a spin along a historic canal system founded by former President George Washington, these five cycling tours offer ready-made adventure sans the headache.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park | West Virginia
This paved, gently graded trail traces a 19th-century canal path along the banks of the Potomac River for 185 miles from Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Maryland. Every inch is lovely, but the 66-mile section between the historic towns of Harpers Ferry and Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is spectacular.
The former is etched into a hillside overlooking the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. It features a magical mix of eat-and-drink spots, historic inns, cobblestoned streets, and Colonial architecture. Follow the rail-to-trail through a cliff-lined, riverside corridor of protected mountains that includes restored train trestles, old mills, and dozens of stone canal locks.
Split the ride into manageable sections with a suite-style stay at the delightfully equipped Bay Farms Bed & Breakfast in Williamsport, Maryland. Round things out with a soak in natural hot springs at the 200-year-old grand Federal-style Roman bathhouse at Berkeley Springs State Park.
The Virginia Creeper Trail | Virginia
This 35-mile rail-to-trail connects the historic Great Wagon Road city of Abingdon with the hip and funky Appalachian Trail town of Damascus and the tiny mountain village of Whitetop. It parallels a sequence of scenic creeks and small rivers that feed into South Holston Lake. Pedal through bucolic farms and isolated woodlands in the Jefferson National Forest and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area—and wheel across nearly 50 wooden railroad trestles along the way.
While work is still underway to repair damage caused by Hurricane Helene on the trail’s latter half, the first 17 miles make a fantastic weekend out-and-back. Bookend the ride with stays at the luxe and museum-esque Martha Washington Inn & Spa in downtown Abingdon, which USA Today readers crowned one of the country’s top 10 small-town foodie destinations. Meanwhile, Damascus’ Old Mill Inn offers a boutiquey, suite-style overnight on the banks of Laurel Creek.
Few outdoor activities immerse you in a natural landscape the way a long-distance bike ride does.Â
Knoxville Urban Wilderness & Greenway System | Tennessee
The roughly 200,000-person mountain city of Knoxville, Tennessee, brims with visit-worthy music and culinary culture and is home to a sprawling 1,500-acre network of protected municipal lands that wind through town along the banks of the Holston and Tennessee rivers.
The Urban Wilderness includes five city parks, four historic heritage sites, and multiple nature preserves linked by more than 60 miles of bike trails. What’s more, they feed into an additional 67 miles of designated greenways. Download maps from the city website at knoxvilletn.gov and take advantage of the trail density for an incredible weekend of riding.
Stay in the posh and quirkily overhauled historic Oliver Hotel and reward yourself with eats and craft cocktails at standouts like the Fiori Bar & Lounge or James Beard Foundation Award-winning chef Joseph Lenn’s J.C. Holdway Restaurant.
Palmetto Trail Swamp Fox Passage | South Carolina
If you love a long boardwalk through Lowcountry wetlands filled with towering bald cypress trees, this is your jam. The 47-mile segment is the longest on the state-spanning Palmetto Trail and widely praised as its crown jewel. The route begins on the shores of Lake Moultrie and proceeds through a series of swamps, wildflower meadows, longleaf pine forests, and grasslands in the 259,000-acre Francis Marion National Forest. The action concludes 30 miles north of Charleston in the nifty coastal fishing town of Awendaw.
Paths are dirt or boardwalk and can be a bit rough, so a gravel rig or single-fork mountain bike is recommended. Split the ride into two legs, with shuttles to and from the Witherbee Trailhead parking lot, courtesy of Nature Adventures Outfitters. Stay in a cozy, lakefront Airbnb in Bonneau Beach and enjoy hearty steakhouse fare and craft cocktails with expansive views at Watermark Bar & Grill.
The South brims with bucket-list routes that pair incredible scenery with luxe amenities and an almost plug-and-play ease of access.Â
Silver Comet Trail | Georgia
An epic, 62-mile westward spin through the rural Peach State countryside begins in Atlanta-neighboring Smyrna and follows a converted rail corridor to the Alabama border. The paved trail pursues a mostly gentle gradient through a string of quaint small towns and a remarkable range of landscapes that include quiet creeks, swamps, lakes, hill country forests, cliffy rock formations, and farms. The 750-foot-long, 126-foot-tall Pumpkin Vine Trestle and 800-foot historic Brushy Mountain Tunnel are highlights.
While quality trailside hotels and inns are scarce, upscale Airbnb cottages abound. Break up the ride with stopovers in Smyrna, Dallas, and Cedartown, Georgia. And if your legs are game for more adventure, continue onto the connecting Chief Ladiga Trail, which continues for another 33 miles to Anniston, Alabama.
Ready for more adventure? Check out Florida’s Legacy Trail between Sarasota and Venice, or Louisiana’s Tammany Trace from Covington to Abita Springs.
