North Boundary Trails

Outdoorknoxville.com has this area listed on its website. This is a combination of gravel and single track trails that is popular with trail runners and mountain bikers. My favorite lollipop ride is to park at the CROET greenway office area (the next left after Poplar Creek) and climb the jeep trail behind Philotechics building (across the road from the CROET building) through the meadow until it Tees into the gravel road just past a steel tube gate. From there, turn right and peddle towards the quarry, past Gallaher Cemetery to the single track trails of Boulder, Big Oak, and Sinkhole. Once the single track loop is complete take the gravel road back to the meadow and return to your car. It's a little over 10 miles. For a longer ride, start at Poplar Creek and make an immediate left after going around the gate and crossing the bridge. Parallel the small creek for 0.3 miles and turn uphill for a 400 vertical foot climb. About half way up the hill take the greater than 90 degree right fork. Crest the hill and enjoy a fun descent. When the trail passes into a small meadow turn right and in 100 meters you reach Poplar Creek road. Turn left. In 0.25 miles, you reach the split in the gravel road loop just past the large bridge over Poplar Creek. The left fork has a series of hill climbs and past the water tower is the single track loop of Boulder, Big Oak, and Sinkhole. The single track starts just before the asphalt road and the steel tube gate. The return route has several options. You can descend the single track to the southeastern North Greenway boundary road or return the way you came. The right fork, past the large bridge over Poplar Creek, is less hilly and goes past Gallaher Cemetery to the single track loop.

If you bonk or dehydrate, you can ride the road (Hwy 58, the four lane you came in on) southwest back to Poplar Creek from the single track loop.

On a hot day, the quarry makes a good cool down spot.