Baker Creek Preserve
A recreation area within Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness
This popular outdoor destination for families and adventurers is located in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, just three miles from downtown. A wide range of offerings includes convenient parking, a kid’s adventure play area, a kid’s bicycle pump track and loop, and easy multi-use trails. For experienced adventurers, Baker Creek offers five multi-use trails and three downhill mountain bike trails, which range in difficulty and connect to 42 miles of Urban Wilderness trails. The most advanced trail, Devil’s Racetrack, is the only double-black diamond downhill trail in the region, drawing expert riders to its intense gaps and drops.
NOTE: Baker Creek Preserve is under construction, but parking and trail access will remain open.
Entrance: 3700 Lancaster Drive
Park Size: 100 acres
Natural Trails: 7.1 miles
Type: single track and double track
Difficulty: easy to advanced
Features: kid-friendly, playground, mountain biking, hiking, trail running, leashed dogs, restrooms
Trailhead Parking: 3700 Lancaster Drive
Find on Google Maps
Directions: Take I-40 to the James White Parkway across the river. Take the Moody Ave exit (last exit) and turn left onto Sevierville Pike. Go 0.5 miles and turn right onto Lancaster Dr. and the parking area will be on the left adjacent to the church building.
MULTI-USE TRAILS
Trail names at Baker Creek Preserve reflect the terrain and history of the property. Devil’s Racetrack and Floyd Fox pay homage to the days of moonshine in south Knoxville. The Barn Burner Downhill trail terminates at the location of the old barn on the property. Sycamore Loop winds through some of the largest native trees in the area. Cruze Valley Run descends into the valley located in the heart of the property at a wide-open meadow between the two ridges, and Pappy’s Way, the trail up to Pappy’s Point, is in thanks to the property donor.
DOWNHILL ONLY TRAILS
The below trails are one-way directional trails — no uphill traffic allowed! Mountain bikes only, no foot traffic or dogs allowed.
DOWNHILL TRAIL USERS:
Downhill Mountain Biking is an extreme sport with inherent danger and is a significantly different than multi-use trail riding. These trails contain natural and constructed technical features that require constant physical and mental effort including jumps, mandatory drops, steep grades, and rough texture.
- Downhill trails are not intended for novice riders, even with significant trail riding experience
- Do not determine your downhill skill level based on multi-use trail ability - they are rated on different scales
- Obey all signs
- Ride within your abilities - user assumes all risks
- Full face helmets and other safety equipment are strongly recommended
- No hiking or riding uphill is allowed on downhill trails.
