While biking the Third Creek, Neyland, and James White greenways in late September 2017, we stopped for a break at Volunteer Landing. I took some pictures of the area, including the quickly changing South Knoxville skyline.
Second Baptist Church
The new Regal Entertainment Group headquarters nearing completion
Andrew Johnson Building (1930), Riverview Tower (1985), and Plaza Tower (1978)
Treaty of Holston (1791) marker
Riverwalk at the Bridges apartment complex
Gay Street Bridge, Regal, and Riverwalk at the Bridges
There is no fee to use Knoxville and Knox County greenways.
We decided to get our bicycles out for an early autumn ride on the greenway in Townsend, Tennessee. Since we hadn't been on our bikes in months, we chose to ride the flatter route on the north side of US-321 and TN-73 or East Lamar Alexander Parkway. We parked at the firehall at the west end of town and rode our bikes to the east end of town at Towns End Drive. We biked a total of 9.6 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of about 90 feet from west to east.
While the bike trail on the south side of the highway is often more than 100 feet from the roadway, the trail on the north side of the highway is a sidewalk that is often just a few feet from automobile traffic. In addition, the north side trail is concrete with numerous rather abrupt driveway transitions. It is still a nice ride, but requires paying more attention to traffic than does the south trail. The north trail also requires crossing Wears Valley Road at the only traffic light in town. There is no crosswalk light, so crossing often requires making eye contact with several drivers to ensure that you are seen.
I recorded the 34 minute ride east on my GoPro HERO3. We biked the eastern leg in 34 minutes. Heading west, we returned in under 30 minutes as we lost a bit of altitude.
My short 2013 post about the parallel trail on the south side of the highway can be found here.
The Third Creek Greenway follows Third Creek 4.5 miles upstream from Neyland Drive through Tyson Park to Forrest Park Boulevard in Bearden. It connects with the Neyland Greenway at its eastern terminus and with the Bearden Village Greenway at its western end. The route is paved and includes several bridges over Third Creek and its tributaries. Although there are a few small hills to climb, the route is fairly flat for Knoxville. We biked the route in mid-July 2014.
Athletic fields, Alcoa Highway and the Tower at Morgan Hill
The greenway and Third Creek pass under Kingston Pike
Third Creek
Interstate 40 spans the creek, the greenway and Tyson McGhee Park Street
Picnic pavilion at Tyson Park
Playground equipment at the park
Lighted tennis courts
Crossing East Third Creek
Near the side trail to Safety City
Crossing Third Creek on a shingled bridge
The trail provides lots of shade along the creek
Crossing Third Creek for the third time
The hills and curves increase as the greenway approaches Bearden
Norfolk Southern spans Third Creek and the greenway with this masonry arch bridge
There is no fee to access the greenway. While the city and its wastewater utility are making improvements, be aware that Third Creek is posted as not suitable for human contact.
The James White Greenway begins at Governor Ned McWherter Riverside Landing Park and heads west for just less than a mile to the pedestrian bridge over First Creek where the greenway changes names to the Neyland Greenway. The Neyland Greenway runs three miles along the Tennessee River and Neyland Drive to the University of Tennessee Undergraduate Admissions Visitor Center on the corner of Neyland Drive and Kingston Pike. It crosses Neyland Drive twice at crosswalks and twice via underpasses. The underpasses are located at Second Creek and Third Creek. The route is not the most picturesque, but it does have some nice views of the Tennessee River and the bridges that cross it. The greenway is paved with either asphalt or concrete. A couple of portions run on sidewalks immediately adjacent to Neyland Drive, but most it provides some separation from the roadway. Except for a short climb to the Visitor Center in the west and the two dips for the underpasses, the route is fairly level. To reduce opportunities for vandalism, most of the directional signs are located a bit too high for easy visibility while on a bicycle. Additional visible signage at the road crossings and underpasses would be an improvement. Mileage is marked every ¼ mile on short posts with the zero point at the eastern end of the two greenways at Governor Ned McWherter Riverside Landing Park. According to the markers, the total length of the two greenways is 3.85 miles. Parking to access the greenways is available at several locations including the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center, the Governor Ned McWherter Riverside Landing Park under James White Parkway and a small lot near the KUB waste water treatment plant. Although there are signs marking the greenway in several university parking lots, those lots are restricted to faculty, staff or students. We biked both greenways in mid-July 2014.
Governor Ned McWherter Riverside Landing Park is located under the James White Parkway bridge over the river
Playground equipment in the park
The Knoxville skyline from the beginning of the greenway
The greenway squeezes between the Knoxville & Holston Railroad and Riverside condominiums
The end of the James White Greenway and the beginning of the Neyland Greenway is on this bridge over First Creek
Part of the Knoxville skyline visible from the Neyland Greenway
The greenway passes near the site of the Treaty of the Holston as depicted in this statue
Looking back at the iron Gay Street Bridge
A Norfolk Southern train crosses the river
Reflections from the water create a green hue on the underside of the Henley Street Bridge
Another view of the recently rebuilt Henley Street Bridge
Engines 1269 and 2002 of the Knoxville & Holston Railroad haul a short train
Paddleboarders near the Henley Street Bridge with the Gay Street Bridge in the background
Norfolk Southern railroad bridge
Clearance is limited as the greenway passes under the K&H RR and Neyland Drive at Second Creek
After passing parking garages and the Thompson Boling Arena, the greenway crosses Neyland Drive at Lake Loudon Boulevard
Riding under the CSX railroad bridge
A second look at the CSX railroad bridge
River Towne condominiums
Low clearance on the underpass at Second Creek
A miniature cloverleaf brings the greenway up from creekside to cross the bridge
The bridge over Second Creek is too narrow for meeting anyone
The second grade crossing of Neyland Drive is at the Joe Johnson Drive entrance to the University
After the final crossing of Neyland Drive, the greenway continues under Alcoa Highway toward the Visitor Center
There is no fee to walk, run, or bike any of the greenways in Knoxville.
