Please read
New River Trail - Day 1 for an overview of our trip to bicycle the 57 mile New River Trail. This is an excellent bike trail that I highly recommend. Day 3 of our September 2014 trip continued with a drive from Pulaski back to Hiwassee to pick up a vehicle and then on to Fries. Since the daily parking fee had already been paid at Hiwassee, it wasn't required again.
Starting at Fries (pronounced "freeze"), the trail follows the New River downstream to Fries Junction. From Fries Junction, I returned upstream to Fries. This was the only segment of the trail with a significant number of pedestrians, but most turn around before reaching the junction. Please note that they have the right of way to bicyclists.
Just upstream from the trailhead is Fries Mill Dam. Construction of the 40 foot high dam began in 1901 and the mill it powered began operation in 1903. The Town of Fries quickly grew with mill employment. Although the mill ceased operation in 1989, the town has moved on to outdoor adventure and music as sources of pride and income. Although Fries has a population of less than 500, it hosts a weekly music jam session, an annual spring festival honoring musician Henry Whitter, and a fall harvest festival. The festivals are held at the Town Park along the riverside.
The trail begins near the park and skirts the edge of a neighborhood before passing the water treatment plant. After passing through another residential area, it parallels East Main Street (Road 606) along the edge of several fields. The trail crosses the highway at 1.6 miles from the Fries parking area. Trail users have very limited visibility of vehicles leaving Fries due to a guard rail, a small hill on the highway and the road curving to cross the trail. Please exercise extreme caution at this crossing. The remainder of the trail to Fries Junction is in the woods near the river.
Fries to Fries Junction Mileage Chart
Trail Segment
| Segment Mileage | Total Mileage |
Fries to Road 606 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
Road 606 to Fries Junction | 3.9 | 5.5 |
Fries Junction to Road 606 | 3.9 | 9.4 |
Road 606 to Fries | 1.6 | 11.0 |
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