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An incredibly fun loop to guide you through the majority of the trails at Sugar Hollow Park.


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Map Key

7.7

Miles

12.3

KM

100%

Singletrack

2,184' 666 m

High

1,837' 560 m

Low

996' 304 m

Up

1,004' 306 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

26%

Max Grade (15°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

The backside of the park closes at 9 pm in the summer and 5:30 pm during the winter months. Sugar Hollow Rd will have a gate up when the park closes. The trails and the main entrance are still accessible from the main parking area off Hwy 11 during closed hours.

Overview

This ride is a mix-n-match of trails within the park and hits the best sections. The majority of the trails are not signed so you'll need to reference this map or use the MTB Project mobile app to find your way.

Need to Know

The park is located off Exit 7 in Bristol which is a highly developed area with LOTS of places to eat and have a post-ride brew. The park is only a couple of minutes off I-81 and is a nice quick ride if you're passing through or looking for a fun post-work ride.

Description

This ride starts from the intersection of Sugar Hollow Rd and Waldo Miles Rd. From the parking area there, ride Sugar Hollow Rd back the way you came for 20 yards or so and you'll see an open field on your left. In the back of the field you'll see a black sign with red writing at a trail. This is Raccoon Run Trail. From here, you'll climb a mellow and meandering trail to the top of the hill. From that point on you'll need to reference this map several times as you'll encounter several trail intersections.

At the midpoint of this ride, you'll come out on the main throughway in the park - Sugar Hollow Rd. You'll turn right then an immediate left. The next trail - Fox Trot - will start just behind the picnic shelter by the wooden bridge. Again, once you get onto this trail, there will be many trail intersections and you may need to consult this map.

There is very little signage within the park and the number of trail intersections can make the ride a bit confusing at first. Once you're familiar with the park, mainly the loop here, you can start to connect some of the additional trails that are offered. There are no real beginner trails here, but most everything is blue-level riding. There are a couple of steep climbs, but they are rideable and are worth the effort. The majority of the trails follow the terrain's contours and have excellent flow with lots of elevation changes and optional trail features.

History & Background

This park is all on a conservation easement to the city of Bristol, Virginia from the Tennessee Valley Authority. The entrance of the park, off of Hwy 11, was built up with an earthen dam to mitigate flooding in downtown Bristol via Beaver Creek. Because of the continued use of the area for flood water management, much of the park is unusable for major development.

The park has around 75 campsites, free wifi, a kids playground, baseball fields, picnic shelters and frisbee golf. The local chapter - SORBA Tri-Cities - has been helping with trail construction and connectivity within the park. The trails are a spiderweb with several extensions that end up on main roads within the park. The chapter is currently working with the city to create fewer trail intersections and a more cohesive loop for a better riding experience.

Contacts

Shared By:

Anthony D.

Trail Ratings

  3.7 from 18 votes

#2123

Overall
  3.7 from 18 votes
5 Star
28%
4 Star
44%
3 Star
6%
2 Star
11%
1 Star
11%
Recommended Route Rankings

#65

in Virginia

#2,123

Overall
27 Views Last Month
6,652 Since Dec 9, 2015
Intermediate Intermediate

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76%
12%
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Photos

Bob Cheers descending on the Cascade Trail!
Apr 7, 2016 near Bristol, VA
The Cliffs Trail
Dec 9, 2015 near Bristol, VA
Why the call it The Cliffs. Great view of Beaver Creek below. The trail descends down to Cascade Trail that follows Beaver Creek. There is a nice small waterfall at the bottom that is a great spot for taking a break.
Dec 9, 2015 near Bristol, VA
The Beginning.
Apr 20, 2016 near Bristol, VA
Cascade Trail during high water
Mar 1, 2019 near Bristol, VA
Old school tail builder Ben and riders enjoying his work.
Sep 22, 2022 near Bristol, VA
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 3 days ago
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Check-Ins

Aug 20, 2023
Cole Houser
Jul 7, 2022
Dustin Jackson
Classic XC that I have been searching for! 11mi — 1h 30m
Dec 8, 2020
Joey Atkins
Sep 3, 2020
Mellow Honek
Camped here and rode almost everyday for 5 days. Fantastic trail system. Can't wait to return
Jul 19, 2020
Kris Versteegen
Jun 5, 2020
Jonathan Hand
First Mountain Bike trip! 5mi
Mar 19, 2020
Brice Crum
All of the fun lines are gone and have been replaced with Mindless XC work arounds. These trails, especially raccoon run side, do not drain well.
Sep 4, 2019
Joey Atkins

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