Bear Wheels Trail
Bear Wheels Mountain Bike Trail at Defeated Creek Park near Carthage, Tennessee, offers a scenic mountain biking experience through the wooded hills surrounding Cordell Hull Lake. The trail system features stacked singletrack loops ranging from beginner-friendly terrain to more challenging sections, with rolling climbs, descents, and views of the lake. The Bear Den, Black Bear, and Grizzly Bear sections provide different levels of difficulty, making the area a good option for riders looking for a varied Middle Tennessee ride. Its also the home of the famous 6 Hour Bear Wheels Challenge Race.
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Recommended Routes
Black Bear Loop
Distance: 3 miles (Blue)
Elevation Gain: 221ft
Difficulty: Intermediate
Start/End: Trailhead Parking adjacent to Defeated Creek Campground
Approximately 3-mile wooded singletrack trail that offers a mix of flowing terrain, rolling sections, and technical features. With optional drops and roll-ins, the trail provides opportunities for riders to challenge their skills without the sustained climbing found on the more difficult Grizzly Bear Loop. Surrounded by dense forest near Cordell Hull Lake, Black Bear is a great choice for beginner-to-intermediate riders looking for an enjoyable ride with a balance of flow, challenge, and natural scenery..
Bear Wheels Full
Distance: 8.4 miles (Blue)
Elevation Gain: 761 ft
Difficulty: Intermediate
Start/End: Trailhead Parking adjacent to Defeated Creek Campground
The full mountain bike route at Defeated Creek starting with the Bear Den Loop: A short, gentle ~0.6-mile beginner-friendly warm-up loop with minimal elevation change (average grade ~2%).
Black Bear Loop: An intermediate-to-difficult singletrack segment that introduces tighter turns, features like small bridges or drops, and more physical engagement.
Grizzly Bear Loop: The primary upper-mountain climb and anchor of the system. It features a tough, sustained climb up the mountain followed by fast, flowing, and rocky descents, tight switchbacks, and occasional natural drops or whoop-de-doos.