This information is a public record of the 1973 NRT application and may be out of date if it has not been updated by a trail manager --
check with the trail manager for updated details before visiting.

North Ridge Trail

City, Town, or County Backcountry Trail

Length
7.7 miles
Elevation Gain
--
Route Type
out & back

(1 review)

The North Ridge Trail is one of the first to be designated a National Recreation Trail under the 1971 National Trails Act.

Nom nom. Photo by Patricia Ellis

Nom nom

View from electric tower area

Steep bit with chain

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Location: Oak Ridge

States: Tennessee
Counties: Anderson

The North Ridge Trail is one of the first to be designated a National Recreation Trail under the 1971 National Trails Act. It is located in the northernmost greenbelt of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The main, linear (though far from straight) trail is approximately 7.7 miles long, with 10 trailheads. In addition to the main trail and connecting with it, there is also a 2-mile Delaware Trail loop and a shorter trail bisecting the loop in the widest part of the northern greenbelt. The Delaware Trail loop is short enough to provide a lovely outing after work, and its route exemplifies the variety of scenery found in the longer, linear trail. Winding through deciduous forests, it drops down to a spring-fed creek and returns up a narrow valley filled with mountain laurel, passing interesting rock ledges and a sinkhole. The main linear trail is blazed white, access trails are blazed blue, the circular Delaware Trail is blazed in red, the bisecting trail is blazed yellow and the main linear trail is white.

Accessibility Information

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Reviews

Patricia Ellis

Mar 3, 2026

It’s a mini Appalachian Trail

Hiked on March 2, 2026. I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail last year, and this trail is just like the AT. You are always going either up or down. Up down up down up down, 7.7 miles with 1900 feet of elevation gain and a similar amount of elevation loss. Woods, white blazes. If one wanted to train for the AT, I’d recommend doing this as an out-and-back for 15.4 total miles and 3800 feet of elevation gain/loss.

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Allowed Uses:

Dogs, on leash Hiking/Walking

Other Activities

Wildlife viewing / observation

Public Contact

Hon Hetrick
City of Oak Ridge
P.O Box 1
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
[email protected] • (865) 425-3450

Contact the trail manager for current maps and visiting details.

More Details

Elevation (low): --
Elevation (high): --
Elevation (cumulative): --

Part of a Trail System? No
Surface (primary): Soil
Surfaces (additional): Soil

Tread Width (average): 32"
Tread Width (minimum): --
Running length (minimum): --

Tread Grade (average, percent): --
Tread Grade (maximum):
Running length (maximum): --

Cross-slope (average, percent): --
Cross-slope (maximum): --
Running length (maximum): --

Certified as an NRT
Feb 28, 1973

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