Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapOverview
The 9-mile Maryville-Alcoa Greenway is a 21.2-mile trail with numerous branches and spurs that connects parks and neighborhoods in Alcoa and Maryville.
About the Route
There is trail signage and some of the route has mile markers. Where the cities meet, Mile 0 begins on the greenway. From that point head north through Alcoa or south to and around Maryville. The route includes numerous branches, spurs and loops.
The trail connects many parks including Springbrook Park in Alcoa, and Bicentennial Park and Sandy Springs Park in Maryville. The greenway includes loops through several of the parks it passes and offers links to shopping districts, businesses, nature areas, fitness stations and picnic pavilions.
The Maryville-Alcoa Greenway runs between Alcoa and Maryville.
Parking is available at:
Visit the TrailLink map for all parking options and detailed directions.
I went on a Saturday in the beginning of September (mid morning) and it was barely crowded. Perfect for me for my long run. I did have to ask someone for directions just to make sure I was on the right track to Alcoa. I guess the only time I got confused was when it travels over 411 and there isn’t a lot of signage to tell where the trail goes next. Other than that it was perfect for me!!! I felt generally safe, as being a woman who was running by herself. There isn’t a TON of hills, but there are more just condensed in certain areas
Signage is minimal at best. Surface is nice and so are the bridges. Good amount of traffic with walkers, runners, dogs and bikers. I had my bike and found it difficult to find my way around due to lack of signage. It was my first time on this trail and I am sure the local users enjoy it, but for me it will be better next time (if there is one).
Loved this trail for biking! We started at the Clayton Disc Golf course and rode to the Waterfront Bar & Grill for a bite to eat before heading back! Be sure to look for the Gnome House along the way!
Nice trail but not shown on the map... this should be updated at least every quarter
Trail route included crossing Lamar Alexander and Montvale Rd. Traffic was respectful on both roads. Caution needed. Will park at the church next time. After crossing montvale and entering greenway to the parks, it was lovely seeing ducks, a heron, and bustling creek beside the greenway. There were alot of people on the trail.
My wife & I rode this stretch for the first time 12.26.21. Great intermediate ride with a few inclines and bridges but mostly level. All hard surfaces and some of this trail is lighted but not all. GPS did not get us to the starting point correctly. Best way to find the parking for this starting point coming off Old Knoxville Highway is to turn on to Williams Mill Rd and turn on to Alcoa Trail and parking is just a short piece on the right before crossing pistol creek. Trail actually goes along side or crosses creek in a few places. Parking did have some lighting. No bathroom facility at the parking point.
There are new parts of the Greenway off springbrook towards Clayton. Would love to know what those look like.
It's been a few years since we've ridden this Greenway. We still love it but found it unnecessarily frustrating today. The main parts of the Greenway are obvious. Moving between various sections, primarily at the parks (Bicentennial/Greenbelt and Charles West Amphitheater) that have multiple paths and when on the the sidewalks along the road, we found ourselves doubling back after hitting numerous dead ends or simply sensing we were going the wrong way. Even with a map. The problem is there's not adequate signage. I remember having challenges in the past, but today was rough. (Note: I'm usually exceptional with map reading, sign reading, and sensing my way. Not today!)
We started at Sandy Springs Park as we always do. We may try something different next time. Yes, we will ride this one again and again. It's a great set of connected trails. Just with the signage was better.
Great greenway!!! Nice and peaceful! Majority shaded. Pavement smooth and well cared for. Maps of this area not so good- hard to follow. Easy to follow and access when actually on greenway though. Best greenway in town and surrounding area!!!
Just ride this trail October 14th. Nicely paved trail all the way and pretty ride with a creek alongside at times and a few ponds and fountain. Some short hills in the Alcoa sections. Easy access from various places. We parked in the parking lot behind the Maryville courthouse and jumped right on the trail there and headed north towards Alcoa. When we came into town, we stopped first at the Maryville Visitor Center and they gave us a map and highlighted the trail and key points for us. This is a good idea because though the trail is great it is not marked in a number of places so easy to get puzzled as to which way to go. We did 18 miles total by going up and back and then a few miles south from the parking lot.
Easy access to trail, several parking lots
Great trail for the whole family, but if your riding a trike or single speed bike, I suggest sticking to the north end of the trail. Its a bit more level.
I ran several days on this trail while in town. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this trail as much as I did.
The Greenbelt is one of the best features of Maryville. Over the many years, I have walked my dogs, brought my children to play on the equipment, picnicked in the park, run and biked the trails for exercise, and casually walked with girlfriends. There is so much to enjoy.
There are a few places where you have to follow the signs across a street and down a block of so to continue the trail, but you can also download the app or load a map of the trail in advance so you know where you're going. If you're uncomfortable figuring it out for yourself, find someone who is running and follow them. That's what I did several times!
I love that I live in Maryville and this trail goes all over Maryville and into Alcoa. It also crosses over Alcoa Hwy with a nice pedestrian bridge. The other side of the trail is a wetland where you can see herons perched in trees. It is much longer than 9 miles if you know how to follow the trail.
The trail is well paved, poorly marked in the city, and really only about 6 miles long. If you want a longer than 6 mile ride, don't use this trail. Lovely trail, along a creek, well paved. But you get lost in the city.
What a beautiful route for a Autumn ride! At times, I felt like I was in the photo one might see on a postcard. Easy riding on a comfort style bike. Most of the pavement was in good condition. A short portion of the greenway was along the street on a concrete sidewalk then brick. (At that point, I was thankful not to be on my road cycle with smooth, skinny tires.). Most of the greenway markings were apparent except around Bicentennial Park. So many options but what I tried worked. (Knowing from a prior review that the trail wasn't well-marked helped me not to worry.) What a glorious day! I will definitely do this one again!
It has been a great time in my life. I have now covered all of the of the trail. I started walking in march of 2013. I live in knoxville but we keep our Grand children, who live in Maryvile. So this was a good time to start walking the greenway. I have used this to become the bigest loser where I work. I was at 250 lbs. when I started walking now at 185lbs. Thanks Greenway.
Beautiful, fun trail with rolling small hills easily climbed and fun downside. Nicely paved. Wife and I rode from the playground in Maryville to Alcoa Elementary and back. Not a sleeper trail, it had quick turns and many side trails. Most signage was good but we had difficulty on return trip right after the lake and at the cemetary; better signs would help there. This was a minor inconvenience and actually added to the fun of the ride. Of the many trails we have ridden, the Greenway is one of our favorites; mildly challenging, following a lovely creek valley with some runners, walkers and bikers to keep us alert.
We biked the Maryville-Alcoa Greenway trail on a spring Friday afternoon (March 2010). It was not a trail we would bike again. Signage and maps are both poor. There are many small paths leading from/to the main trail, and non are marked as such. Very easy to get lost or take a wrong turn. It is a slow, frightening, and frustrating ride.
The trail is wonderful for walking but frightening to bike. Many narrow areas, sharp turns over bridges with center pole barriers, blind spots, etc. There is one spot where you could easily take a wrong turn and go off a steep embankment -- I almost did it even though it was my second time through there.
Best place to ride if you're going to do it is north of Bicententenial Greenbelt Park (about in the middle of the trail) up to and around Springbrook Park. Use the loop that is west of Hall Road (35), it is really very pretty and a nice, but short ride. If you use the eastern part of the loop that goes along Springbrook Road be prepared to be lost for a while.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
