BIKING AND BEER IN ANDERSON COUNTY
Updated February 11, 2025
Few things seem to go together like biking and beer. What’s better than a challenging bike ride and a delicious craft beer afterward? Anderson County can offer you not only some of the best mountain biking trails in East Tennessee, but also one of the best local breweries around!
Let’s start with one of the best places to mountain bike in Anderson County – Norris Dam State Park.
Norris Dam State Park has over 4,000 acres for visitors to enjoy. The park offers 11 mountain biking trails that border the Norris Watershed and cover approximately 22 miles. They range in length and difficulty, so we highly recommend looking at a map to see which trails work best for you.
A couple of our favorite trails: The Andrews Ridge Trail is 1.95 miles, passes through the forest and has a variety of terrain to ride over. Lake View Trail goes through the woods as well, but you’re right along the shoreline of Norris Lake, creating a serene 4.75 mile bike ride. Along the trail are remnants of the many old homesteads that once rested on the ridges before Norris Dam was built. For a map of Norris Dam State Park trails, click here or you can stop by the park office and pick one up.
And just a couple of miles down the road is Loyston Point, one of the most popular places in the area to mountain bike. From beginner to intermediate, there are trails that suit every skill and endurance level. A favorite trail among locals is the Loyston Loop Trail. It is a great trail for beginner mountain bikers and offers beautiful views of Norris Lake. To find out more about mountain biking at Loyston Point, click here.
So, you’ve gone for your ride and you’re ready for a cold beer. Where do you go? Clinch River Brewing is adjacent to Norris Dam State Park. In addition to two levels of inside seating, the Brewery has a quant beer garden complete with a trout pond (very fitting as the Clinch River is located directly across the street). There are 16 taps, 14 of those are Clinch River Brewing original creations, one is a delicious rotating Gypsy Circus cider or mead and the other is reserved for a rotating sour tap. There is a beer for every taste bud! You may want a bite to eat after your bike ride too and Clinch River Brewing will not disappoint!
New to Anderson County: Aspire Recreation Area
Aspire Park is a 300-acre outdoor haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers. With 22 miles of professionally built trails, it’s a top destination for mountain biking. The highlight is the Grit’n Bank It Bike Park, a pump track designed for riders of all skill levels. Featuring banked turns, ridges, and rollers, it offers a safe and exciting way to build biking skills, from beginners learning the basics to advanced riders tackling challenging obstacles.
While this article focuses on mountain biking and beer, we’d be remiss not to mention Aspire Park’s Clinch River launch, perfect for kayaking and fishing (non-motorized vessels only). Plus, riders can freshen up after their ride with convenient changing rooms.
Aspire Park is also home to the Pearl Restaurant, serving southern culinary favorites for lunch and dinner. The Pearl at Aspire takes your dining experience to the next level with a carefully curated selection of beers on tap. From crisp domestic favorites to locally crafted brews and bold IPAs, every pour is chosen to deliver the perfect balance of quality and variety. Whether you’re unwinding with a familiar classic or discovering a new favorite, their selection is designed to complement every meal.
