Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail
Tennessee · Rail-trail
A quiet river-and-wetlands rail-trail with both paved and gravel sections—good when mixed surface is part of the appeal.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Ashland City · Tennessee
- Ride length
- 6.5 mi
- Ride format
- One way / out & back
- Surface
- Asphalt + natural gravel
- Road crossings
- The old Tennessee Central corridor is mostly separated, with access-road interactions near trailheads.
- Elevation
- Mostly flat rail grade
- Starting location
- Bicentennial Trail, 328 Frey St, Ashland City, TN
Ashland City to Cheatham Lake corridor
Existing Tennessee simplified route; verify the listed entrance.
Cumberland River Bicentennial — Marks Creek: short bicycle return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-10-21. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
Ashland City, Tennessee · Up to 4 miles return · Paved southern main path; wooden bridge transitions
Start: Cumberland River Bicentennial — Marks Creek, 177 Chapmansboro Road, Ashland City, TN. City identifies the public trail facility at this address; public Rails-to-Trails description confirms Marks Creek trail-user parking on Chapmansboro Road. Walk to the signed paved main line and avoid private spaces or road-side overflow. Use designated ordinary visitor spaces, respect reserved spaces and walk through the lot to the signed main path. The address identifies a public facility, not a surveyed stall.
Ride: Follow the signed main path northwest toward Sycamore Creek on the paved main rail trail. Turn after 2 outward miles or before the first public-road crossing, work barrier, uncertain continuation or uncomfortable transition, whichever comes first; retrace. Walk any initial lot or access-drive interface. Do not use a road or private-property detour.
Distance: Chosen 4-mile maximum return, not the full regional corridor or a surveyed parking-to-parking distance. Earlier interfaces shorten the outing; parking walking is extra.
Permission and effort: Source-backed ordinary bicycle use on the designated improved main path; walking-only spurs and adjacent private property are excluded. Local Tennessee Trails Association describes mostly flat asphalt / gravel rail terrain. This selected paved southern return is qualitative, not a surveyed maximum; walk slippery or awkward bridge approaches.
Planning: Daylight to dusk; posted lot terms govern. No current ordinary access tariff established; posted terms govern. Event, camping and rental charges are separate. Yield to walkers and horses where present, keep right and announce passes. Obey posted speed, helmet and pet requirements. Ordinary pedal bicycles covered here; no blanket e-bike-class permission inferred.
Access reviewed October 20, 2026 Central (October 21 UTC): Current city retains four paved miles plus 2.5 gravel. Phase II engineering procurement / March2026 change order does not prove an extension completed. This short southern return excludes gravel Eagle Pass continuation, dam approaches and any work barrier; a dated 2025 rider reported the dam-end closed, not whole trail closed. This is a dated source review, not a field inspection or current-day all-clear. Postpone for snow, ice, high water, soft tread or barriers rather than improvising a bypass.
Bring water and choose suitable weather. Parking walking is extra. No surveyed parking-space pin or navigable GPX is supplied.
Sources: City existing surface / named public facility / hours · Rails-to-Trails named public arrival · Local trail organization qualitative terrain · Current city project procurement, not opening