Excerpted from Mountain Bike! The Southern Appalachian & Smoky Mountains by Steve Jones

The O & W's legacy can be traced back to the tall trees that once grew wherever a root could take hold. After a group of Cincinnati businessmen decided to build the railroad, local land developer and later state senator John Toomy worked with large land owner Bruno Gernt to build a lumber business. It took just 16 years to harvest the trees. With the top side ravaged, companies began filling the O & W's cars with coal dug from local mines. It took 25 years to remove enough coal to make business slack, and in 1954, the O & W"pulled the steel" of the four-and-a-half-foot-wide track. It would be another 20 years before Congress passed legislation providing for the formation of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. In 1984, completed construction of nearby facilities at Bandy Creek attracted visitors, some of whom arrived with mountain bikes and rediscovered the tracks of days and ways gone by.

Finding the trail: Leave Oneida on TN 297, headed west. About 8 miles out of town, the small community of New Haven is marked by several farms, one of them a Hereford (polled, I believe) farm on the right, with its sign near the highway. Slow down. Turn left onto the next road on the left (most likely, there's no sign). If you reach the intersection where TN 297 turns left to Bandy Creek, you've gone too far. Turn around and travel just over a half mile. The turn should be obvious this time. Turn right. It's slightly over 2 miles down this road before you reach the trailhead, bearing left at the next intersection with a farm's driveway. A gas well and storage tank will be on the left, near the bottom of an extremely steep descent.

Notes on the trail: The epic adventure begins at Toomy and heads west toward Jamestown for at least 22 out-and-back (total) miles, under occasionally rugged and wet conditions. In those miles to Zenith and back, expect to ford at least ten creeks... twice. It is a navigational no-brainer: just keep on the canyon floor, close to the creek or in it. But for those times when the water's too high to safely cross North White Oak Creek, try starting at Gernt and ride the western portion.

	O & W Rail Trail Practicalities Trail Map Length/configuration: More than 11 miles one way (22 miles total) on an out-and-back double-track. Aerobic difficulty: The first 3 miles lose 300 vertical feet; over the next 8 miles, about 80 feet is regained. Technical difficulty: The ride is a piece of cake; the stream crossings, however, especially of North White Oak Creek, require fords across occasionally high and swift waters. Scenery: Even though the ride is at the bottom of the gorge, away from all the overlooks, it is here that the scenery of Big South Fork is at its best. Special comments: Do not ride this trail expecting to stay dry, no matter what time of year it is. General Location: Big South Fork is located 70 miles northwest of Knoxville and about 10 miles west of Oneida, just south of the Kentucky border. Elevation Change: It's basically level. Season: Periods of high water will make some passages impassable; other than that, when the water's right it's a great run the year round. Services: First-rate camping facilities are at Bandy Creek, which makes for a convenient central location. Oneida is a good 20-minute ride away and can only provide the basics. Knoxville is the closest city where a complete range of services can be found. Hazards: The numerous stream crossings  no less then ten, the least of which can be tricky  require extra caution. Rescue Index: Definitely come prepared for self-rescue on this one. Bring extra tubes and food. Land Status: Part of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Maps: The best map for biking in this region is the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

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