Bicycling is another popular sport being revised in the County, mainly through the work of two annual events that use the Town Square and land around Chatuge Dam.
These bicycling events attract cyclists from all over the United States and foreign countries. The Southern Appalachian Bicycling Association (SABA) holds a race in the late spring and, during autumn the Murphy Medical Center sponsors a bike race, called “Two Hours from Anywhere.” Cyclists often use these back roads in the County for their races or outings: Downings Creek Road, east of Hayesville, and Tusquittee Road, northeast. And bicyclers ride along the paved paths at Clay County Recreation Park overlooking Lake Chatuge. Local cyclers are eager to use a biking trail that will be built on top of the old Peavine Railroad bed, which extends several miles along the Hiwassee River westward into the Fires Creek area. SABA sponsors rides for both road and mountain biking.
In addition, the State of North Carolina has designated a bicycling route through the County, following U.S. Highway 64. Along this route are green road signs with an image of a riding cyclist and the words, “From Murphy to Mateo,” which is a 560 miles one-way trip. Murphy is 25 minutes west of Hayesville in the southwestern corner of the state and Mateo is located on Roanoke Island at the Atlantic Ocean.
“Coming soon will be a series of bicycling trails on a peninsula” at the entrance to Jackrabbit Recreation Area off NC Highway 175 South (turn right off U. S. Highway 64 East). Here “the Southern Appalachian Bicycling Association is working together with the U. S. Forest Service to provide another recreational opportunity for locals and visitors”.
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