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Outdoor Activities in Oak Ridge: Get Ready to Soar!

Strong community support for nature makes this stunning region a great place to explore.

By Cary Estes on June 7, 2023

Haw Ridge Park in Oak Ridge, TN
Nathan Lambrecht

The outdoors in Oak Ridge are fabulous, and so are the people. Put the two together, and you have the ability to create recreational assets that can be enjoyed by the entire community.

Sure, nature has taken care of establishing the groundwork (literally) for the outdoor playground in the Oak Ridge area and throughout East Tennessee. Simply being at the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains – the most popular national park in the country – is enough to provide Oak Ridge with an array of recreational options.

But it is the people power that propels Oak Ridge to heights rivaling the surrounding mountains, with projects made possible by the collaborative efforts of volunteers, local businesses and other strategic partners.

“We’ve had tremendous support from a lot of people and businesses in the area,” says Lisa Mueller, president of the Clinch Valley Trail Alliance (CVTA), which works to build and maintain biking and hiking trails throughout the region. “So many people have championed us and our events. Even if they have no desire to go on the trail themselves, they’ve been supportive of what we’re doing.”

Hiking and having fun at Haw Ridge Park in Oak Ridge, TN
Michael D. Tedesco

Working Together to Create Great Trails

Since its formation in 2018, CVTA has worked with such organizations as United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR), the Legacy Parks Foundation and the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club to preserve and create multiuse trails in the region. These include more than 30 miles of trails at 780-acre Haw Ridge Park (located on a peninsula along the Clinch River) as well as the Boulder and Sinkhole trails that connect to the North Boundary Greenway System.

The organization has raised money to build trails and make improvements to existing trails.

“We’re especially highlighting trails that are beginner-friendly, that are smoother and have fewer climbs. We’re working on building a small trail just for kids,” Mueller says. “We listen to the community to see what they’re looking for. We want to make these trails fun and give people a lot of variety. Then it takes a big group effort of a lot of entities to come together and make it happen.”

Get Dirty

The Dirt Lab is a mountain bike skills park that opened in 2020 at Haw Ridge Park in Oak Ridge, TN.

This type of collaboration also led to the creation of The Dirt Lab. CVTA worked with UCOR and several local businesses to establish this outdoor biking laboratory, where cyclists can test their moves and improve their ability.

“One of our fundamental responsibilities at UCOR is to be investing in our community, and The Dirt Lab is a great example of that,” UCOR President and CEO Ken Rueter said following the official Dirt Lab ribbon-cutting.

“None of this would be possible without partnerships, and how community members have come together with city leaders and industrial leaders like UCOR to ultimately produce something of this magnitude at no financial expense to our regional or city taxpayers.”

Ben Martin Track at Oak Ridge High School in Tennessee
ORS Maintenance and Operations Dept.

Staying on Track in Oak Ridge

Outdoor recreation doesn’t always mean venturing into the mountains or other natural areas. Simply running or walking around a track also is a great way to get fresh air and enjoy the weather.

Oak Ridge residents now have a new $1.3 million track-and-field facility to use, as do members of the Oak Ridge High School track team. After more than five years of planning and fundraising, the school’s new track was completed earlier this year.

“It’s 1,000 times better than what we had,” says Allen Etheridge, Oak Ridge High School’s assistant athletic director and former track coach. “There’s a new shot-put area that’s outstanding. There’s a new high-def video board that can show replays. We now have a lot of things that you just don’t find at most high schools. This will allow us to bid for any event in track and field, and host youth track meets that will bring in thousands of people.”

Etheridge says city officials worked with the school on the creation of the new facility. In addition, a fundraising campaign generated more than $70,000 that was used for the purchase of hurdles, steeplechase barriers and other track equipment.

“It was a cooperative effort,” says Etheridge. “This has always been a community track facility that anybody can use, and the community came together to help make this new one happen.”

Set Your Sights on a Fun Outing

Outdoor enthusiasts who are aiming to do something beyond hiking and biking can hit an entertainment bullseye at Windrock Shooting Range and Training Center, located less than 10 miles from Oak Ridge near the town of Oliver Springs.

“It’s gorgeous in the valley where we are located,” says Eric Matson, Windrock Shooting Range and Training Center operating partner. “This is a great place to experience Tennessee’s beautiful outdoors.”

The facility accommodates a variety of firearms, as well as different levels of expertise.

“Everybody is welcome, whether you’re experienced with firearms or new to it,” Matson says. “We like to spend time with people and make sure that they enjoy what they’re doing in a safe manner. We conduct training, from basic firearms fundamentals to personal protection. We also have a very large competitive shooting team and host competitive events at our facility.”

In addition, Matson says the shooting range stays involved with the local community by hosting fundraising events each year for Norwood Elementary School in Oliver Springs, as well as the local fire department. He says the facility also is used free of charge for training by area police departments.

“We like to do as much as we can for our community,” Matson says. “The people in this area are absolutely amazing. They are such giving people, and we try to give back to them whenever we can.”

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