Rowing and Riding in Anderson County Tennessee

Known for its role in developing the atomic bomb that ended WWII, Oak Ridge, Tennessee is a city that thrives with scientific achievements, scenic beauty, thrilling outdoor adventure, and fascinating history.

Melton Hill Lake

Melton Hill Lake is the ultimate haven for visitors who can’t resist the water. With 173 miles of shoreline, Melton Hill Lake is a popular attraction for boating, fishing, swimming, and rowing.

The Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) and City of Oak Ridge continue to develop Melton Hill Lake into one of the best rowing venues in the US. ORRA offers rowing instruction to athletes of all ages and skill levels, from the recreational athlete to high level competitive pursuits. Access to the lake is free to the public, so adventurers can bring their own skid, kayak or other watercraft for recreational use.

Along the lake’s shoreline are county parks, a marina, several public access areas, beaches, and campgrounds.

Norris Lake

The mountains meet the water at beautiful Norris Lake. Surrounded by the majestic mountains of East Tennessee, Norris Lake covers 34,000 acres and has 800 miles of shoreline. So, whether you’re fishing, camping, boating or simply enjoying the picturesque shoreline, you are sure to find something to do at the many marinas, restaurants, cabins, houseboats, and campgrounds.

Norris Lake is also home to Norris Dam, the first dam built in the Tennessee Valley Authority system. The 13-mile stretch of the Clinch River below Norris Dam is a scenic float trip and is one of the best trout fishing streams in the U.S.

Recreational use of Norris Dam State Park, which includes land on both sides of the dam includes fully furnished rustic and deluxe cabins; primitive and full service campgrounds; bathhouses with showers; meeting rooms; game courts; an Olympic size swimming pool; miles of hiking trails and a well-equipped marina and boat launch.

ATV Riding at Windrock Mountain

More than 72,000 acres of off-road fun await at the Coal Creek OHV Area on Windrock Mountain. The entire family will enjoy the picturesque views of the East Tennessee mountains and valleys while exploring over 250 miles of trails for riding ATVs, Motor Cycles, Mountain Bikes, and horses, in addition to hiking and four wheeling in Jeeps and Railbuggies. Windrock Mountain is also the perfect place to see TVA’s 262 foot windmill farm.

If you would like to visit Windrock but do not have your own ATV or Dirt Bike, you can rent one from EagleRider Motorcycle Rentals. Hundreds of off-roaders can be found every weekend enjoying the trails which are open to everyone and just about any type of vehicle. ATV's, motorcycles, Jeeps, buggies, and trucks all enjoy some of the best off-roading in the country each weekend.
The Windrock ATV Club has a licensing agreement with the Coal Creek Company to manage and maintain the OHV areas of the property. The club does a lot to keep the OHV area open to everyone. They map and mark each trail, hold monthly work days to insure the trails are usable and meet environmental standards. They also provide convenient locations for everyone to purchase the required "Land Use Permits" to access the area.

Mountain Biking at Haw Ridge Park

Haw Ridge Park is a 780-acre park on the shores of Melton Hill Lake across from the Bull Run Steam Plant. The park is a wilderness area supporting more than forty varieties of wild flower, including one endangered plant.

More than 25 miles of trails and 5 miles of shoreline are used by hikers, trail runners, canoers, mountain bikers, Nordic skiers, and horseback riders. Haw Ridge Park is also a popular spot for Geocaching, the exciting hi-tech treasure hunting game.

The park offers a variety of trails and former jeep roads for the hiker, trail runner, or experienced mountain biker. The park was a playground for jeeps and motorcycles until it was closed to motorized vehicles in the winter of 1987. Now it is a mountain biker's playground, offering roller-coaster like trails. The only entrance fee is the climb over Haw Ridge that greets you at each entry point. The west entrance is most popular area, although it’s rocky for the first half mile. Once inside the park, you can test your thighs on steep, technical climbs, or test your nerves on descents with gradients in excess of 70 percent. Some trail sections have rocks, roots, and ruts. There are some scenic and relaxing 7.5 miles single-track trails along the shore of the lake, and if you would rather push than pedal, you can ride the trails along the western two thirds of the ridge line. Trail signs are color coded – green is easy, blue is intermediate, black is hard.

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