Route Recommendations

To Fairview and Beyond

This 55 mile ride also leaves from the Hwy 100/Temple Publix. This beautiful route has scenic and well-paved roads, with a bit less climbing. After a short climb up the backside of Hester Beasley, there is a rolling downhill on a scenic road back to Hwy 100. After 6 miles on Old Hwy 96, enjoy the mellow 2 mile climb up Ferndale/Cumberland. Rest at the Marathon gas station on Hwy 100 at mile 17. Explore Fairview on isolated scenic roads along the ridge. After Pinewood, enjoy a fast 3 mile run down Pewitt — but be careful of your speed with a semi sharp downhill left and stop sign at the end (mile 37.5). Ride past one of the prettiest properties in west Williamson County on the corner of South Harpeth and Old 96, then down Old 96 (the fast way) + the scenic South Harpeth/Poplar Creek roads up to McCrory. If you can ride this route comfortably, you will be ready for nearly any of the Harpeth Bike Club’s Saturday’s rides.

Park on Highway 100 and Temple Road at the Publix shopping center, behind McDonalds and in front of the Trace Bikes shop.

For a variation, drive up the Natchez Trace for 2 miles, park in parking lot at the top of the hill at mile marker 440 and start from there. This makes for a great downhill run to start the ride and connects you to Hwy 100 . But just remember, you have to climb back up the Natchez Trace to get to your car!

Triathlete’s Favorite

This route along Leipers Creek Road is a favorite segment with the triathletes in the area. Leipers Creek Road is mostly flat (two hills) and mostly straight for 12.8 miles one way to the end at Hwy 7 resulting in a 26 miles total out and back route. If you want a shorter route, ride up the hill to Interstate 840 (which will be above you), turn around and come back for 11 miles. Make it any length you are comfortable with. It is hard to get lost going out and coming back on the same road. Many great adventures can be found on the side roads connecting to Leipers Creek Rd with two routes listed below. After the ride, get a coffee at the separate coffee stand at the nearby Shell Station, or stop in Leipers Fork for lunch, ice cream, or a walk.

Durk’s Favorite Road

This is a mildly hilly 23 miles on classic HBC roads. After a 2 mile warm up on Leipers Creek, there is the gradual rise up Garrison Road to Fox’ market, a frequent regrouping spot that our Fearless Ride leader Durk has led us to for many years. Continuing straight on Greenbrier to the end at South Lick (stop sign at the bottom of the hill) leads to the secluded climb up Doug Thompon and to the Old Natchez Trace which parallels the Natchez Trace Parkway. A nice mostly downhill run on Davis Hollow ends at Leipers Creek for the ride back to the school.

This 23 mile route is typical of HBC groups rides. The hills are mostly rollers with a few longer hills (nothing too steep), averaging about 50-55 feet per miles of elevation for the entire ride. For newer riders, the longer 50 mile HBC rides are similar to this ride in elevation per mile, just longer. Look for the Bison on the left side of Garrison Road after the first roller (mile 3 of the route).

Natchez Trace Parkway

We are lucky to have the Natchez Trace Parkway in our backyard, which is a safe and beautiful National Park Service Road. The Trace starts in Bellevue and is quite hilly until Leipers Fork, and then starts to flatten heading further south. Ride to Mississippi and back if you want!

This 29 mile loop route heads south of Leipers Fork. You will begin with three hills in the first 7 miles up to the Tennessee Divide. You get to recover in the next 10 miles with a mostly flat or downhill and fast ride all the way to Highway 7. Get off the Trace at the very first exit on Hwy 7 and ride all the way back on Leipers Creek Road to Pinewood for a fast 29 mile loop.

There are bathrooms and water at Garrison Creek (mile 2.5). Stop at the historic sites along the Trace. Look for remnants of the Old Natchez Trace crossing over and under the Parkway as you ride.

East and West Side Story (of Leipers)

No jets or sharks, but this 51 mile route out of Leipers Fork from Hillsboro Middle School is a great sampling of some our favorite roads in the area. Secluded climbs like Davis Hollow, Doug Thompson and Sulphur Springs, the fast downhills of South Lick, Vestal Hollow (a little bumpy), and Les Robinson (really fast). Add in the beauty of South Lick, West Harpeth, and the Floyd/Bailey loop and this route highlights some of best roads around. The rest stop at the Burwood market at mile 29. There is a fair amount of climbing but nothing too difficult for a cyclist who can ride 50 miles. This route will have you ready for nearly all of the Saturday and Sunday club rides.

Look for the Alpacas at the top of Floyd Road.

Trinity Park Loop

This 19 mile route warms up with the flats and rollers of Wilson Pike and Cox Road. We ride past Arrington Vineyard on your left. Turning right On McDaniel bring us west for 5 miles to Peytonsville-Trinity Road. Left onto North Chapel Road for the final 4 miles for a quiet ride back to Trinity Park. This route has no long or steep climbs, and has less elevation than a typical HBC ride, but is rollers throughout the farmland and large acre lots of eastern Williamson County.

East Side Scamper

This 36 mile route is a longer version of the 19 mile route above. We warm up with the flats and rollers of Wilson Pike and Cox Road. This time we turn left at Arrington Vineyards. 5.5 miles through the farmland on Patton and Patterson brings us to the short climb up Hill Road, where we are rewarded with a 2 mile downhill to Rocky Glade Farm. After a 0.4 mile climb up Gene Underwood is the always fast and fun winding rollers of Taliaferro. We then work out way west for 7 miles to Peytonsville-Trinity Road. Left onto North Chapel Road for the final 4 miles works equally well to increase you ride speed average, or to have a nice social warm down back to Trinity Park.

Following the Harpeth River

This 14.5 mile loop is mostly flat (572 ft) and partially shaded. This is a great summer day and evening route too. Cyclists are regularly seen on these roads. Moran Road is a great reminder of how easy it is to go from suburb to countryside in Nashville. As our HBC President RJ says, it is always a good day when you get to ride on Moran. After Moran, the route follows along the Harpeth River on Old Natchez and Del Rio. Beautiful scenery, historic houses, and plenty of horses give this route a real country and rural feel just off the main roads. The short stretch on Hillsboro has more traffic but a bike lane keeps you protected on your way back to the start.

After turning on to Moran and crossing the Harpeth River, look for the giant white barns and house formerly belonging to the country music artist Alan Jackson. Just further up the road Texas Longhorns sometimes seen at mile 2.5 on the right side.

West End to Warner Park

Nashville has one of the largest city parks in the country – Percy and Edwin Warner Parks. Over 3200 acres of trails, mountain biking, golf, camping, and horseback riding. By comparison, Central Park in New York City is a paltry 843 acres!

This route leaves from Elmington Park and travels through the rolling hills of Belle Meade, an area of old Nashville with many houses listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Riding up and back on Belle Meade Boulevard leads to a gradual climb and loop through Warner Park. After Warner Park is the fast and fun run down Chickering Road and across the mild grade of Tyne. Through the Nashville areas of Forest Hills, Oak Hill, and finally West End completes the scenic tree lined city route. This pleasant route reveals that Nashville is not flat but also shows that a city ride through Nashville can be great riding experience.