Johnson City Roundtrip The Southern Dozen Ride 06 Spelunker Tour
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 12-02-2021
Route Summary
This is part 6 of the Southern Dozen and is officially an 60 miles round-trip along Highway 11 from Johnson City to Bristol and back. To make the ride more interesting we will ride the scenic roads and “the Snake” into Shady valley.
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Verdict
Duration
4h 2m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
219.18 km
Countries
RP22 Watauga Point Recreational Area
RouteXpert Review
Route 6 of the Southern Dozen; Spelunker Tour.The Southern Dozen are twelve rides based in Johnson City that travel all around the region. Each one is an adventure in itself that will take you through winding curves, breath taking natural scenery, historic landmarks, local points of interest, and fun attractions. Whether you feel like exploring caves, seeing wolves, touring historic sites, leaning into heart-pounding curves or just taking in the views, you’ll find a ride that’s exactly what you’re looking for.
The is part 6 of the Southern Dozen and is officially an 60 miles round-trip along Highway 11 from Johnson City to Bristol and back. To make the ride more interesting we will ride the scenic roads and “the Snake” into Shady valley.
In the early days of colonization, settlers were confronted by Indians who seemed to attack and then disappear into thin air. Later, colonists discovered a majestic underground river, which they used as a hiding place during the Civil War. On this ride you’ll see this unique cave, now called Bristol Caverns, as well as Appalachian Caverns - an underground labyrinth more than one million years old.
On your way to Bristol you can also visit Winged Deer Park and Boone Lake (RP2) where you can have a short break to stretch your legs, enjoy the scenery and even go for a swim.
A couple of miles further down to road you can visit the Rocky Mountain living museum (RP3), it sits at the foot of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and offers tours along the different sites where they use living history to enhance public understanding of the daily life and values of the early settlers in our area.
We continue our ride through the beautiful Piney Flats countryside to head up to the next stop at the Appalachian Caverns (RP6). It is the perfect destination to experience amazing natural beauty located deep beneath the Earth's surface. The site features guided tours of the caverns, a campground, picnic area, gem mine, and gift shop.
The next stop is Bristol Caverns (RP14) is one of the oldest and most beautiful attractions in northeast Tennessee. There are several tours a day and they take you to all three levels of the caverns; from Mayor Preston's Chamber in the upper section to the winding banks of the Underground River 180 feet below on the cavern floor.
On our way back to Johnson City we will ride “the Snake” in the Tennessee mountains, through Stoney Creek and across into the pastoral Shady Valley. You can have a short stop at the Shady Valley Country Store (RP18). The Snake is said to have "489 curves, 3 mountains, 1 valley packed into 33 miles!"
The ride continues on beautiful scenic (curvy) mountain roads through Mountain City and Zionville. You can have a break at the Watauga Point Recreational Area (RP22) and plan a stop for dinner in Elizabethon (RP25) before we arrive in Johnson City.
This ride combines beautiful roads and a lot of sight seeing and I rate it with 5 stars.
RP4 Piney Flats
RP15 Bridge across Holston Lake
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Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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