November is bringing plenty of reasons to get outside in East Tennessee. Mountain bikers are gathering at Baker Creek Preserve, holiday lights are returning to Gatlinburg, and families have opportunities to explore wildlife, geology and conservation.
Whether your plans include a trail, a mountaintop or an afternoon discovering nature, the coming days offer something worth exploring.
Mountain biking community gathers for AMBC Fall Festival
Baker Creek Preserve in South Knoxville hosts the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club’s annual Fall Festival November 6–7.
The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club is celebrating its 17th annual Fall Festival at Baker Creek Preserve, bringing together riders, families and outdoor enthusiasts for a weekend centered on the trails.
The festival begins Friday, November 6, with activities continuing Saturday, November 7. Organizers describe the gathering as an opportunity to reconnect with friends, welcome newcomers and celebrate the trails that connect East Tennessee communities.
Admission is free, and the event includes opportunities for riders of different experience levels.
Women’s mountain biking: AMBC Joy Ride will host a Ladies Fall Fest Ride at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The group emphasizes a welcoming environment where riders can build confidence without being left behind. E-bikes are welcome.
Adaptive mountain biking: Catalyst Sports Knoxville will offer an adaptive mountain biking opportunity at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Participants can experience the adaptive trails at Baker Creek Preserve, with adaptive bicycles available to rent. The festival also offers activities for spectators and families who simply want to enjoy the outdoor community.
For those who haven’t visited Baker Creek Preserve recently, the event provides another reason to discover one of South Knoxville’s popular recreation destinations. Appalachian Mountain Bike Club.
Gatlinburg SkyPark welcomes holiday lights November 6
The mountains are beginning to trade fall colors for Christmas lights. Lights Over Gatlinburg returns Friday, November 6, transforming Gatlinburg SkyPark into a mountaintop holiday display. Thousands of lights will illuminate the park, including the 680-foot SkyBridge, which will feature lights along its entire length.
Visitors can expect a towering Christmas tree, seasonal decorations and numerous opportunities for family photographs. The celebration continues daily through January 31, 2027. Santa Claus is scheduled to make appearances December 5, 12, 18 and 19.
Admission to the holiday lights experience is included with regular SkyPark admission at no additional charge. Visitors purchasing an online SkyPass can enjoy mountain views during the day and return to see the lights after dark.
Located above downtown Gatlinburg, SkyPark offers panoramic views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains. Lights Over Gatlinburg information and tickets.
Discover the Smokies from the ground up
The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is offering two educational experiences November 6-8 for people interested in learning more about the natural world.
Geology at Tremont: Participants will investigate rock formations, sedimentary and metamorphic outcrops, and geological structures such as folds and faults.
The program encourages visitors to look beyond mountain scenery and discover the forces that shaped the landscape.
Mammals of the Smokies: This program explores the lives of mammals inhabiting the national park, from black bears and bats to smaller animals such as shrews.
Participants will learn how these animals live, move and interact with their surroundings.
Both programs begin Friday, November 6, at 9 a.m. Registration and additional details are available through the institute. Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.
Outdoor volunteers can make a difference
Two opportunities this weekend invite residents to help protect the natural spaces they enjoy.
Clean the Clinch River — November 7: The City of Oak Ridge’s Healthy Waters Program will host a cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon at Melton Lake Park Pavilion.
Volunteers can help remove litter from the shoreline and greenway or participate from the water. A limited number of watercraft will be available, and participants may bring their own canoe or kayak.
Cedar Barrens Cleanup — November 7: Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning will organize a cleanup and invasive-plant removal effort beginning at 9 a.m. near Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge. The work will help protect one of East Tennessee’s uncommon cedar barrens habitats, where invasive plants threaten native prairie grasses. Volunteers should bring gloves, loppers and water. A pizza lunch is planned. Outdoor Knoxville event calendar.
More ways to enjoy the weekend outdoors
Beginner Outdoor Skills — November 7: Ijams Nature Center will offer a 9 a.m. class covering shelter building, fire preparation, compass use and other outdoor survival basics. Cost: $15.
Woodpeckers at Seven Islands — November 7: Learn about woodpecker adaptations and behaviors before walking Hickory Ridge Trail to look and listen for the birds. Begins at 9 a.m. Cost: $8. Seven Islands State Birding Park.
Storytime at the Ijams Nature Playscape — November 7: Families can enjoy a free nature-themed storytelling experience beginning at 10 a.m.
Moss Meander — November 7: Ijams Nature Center offers a 2 p.m. opportunity to discover the often-overlooked world of mosses. Cost: $15. Ijams Nature Center.
Move Through November encourages everyone to explore local parks
Knox County Parks and Recreation is inviting residents to participate in Move Through November, a monthlong challenge encouraging people to enjoy parks, trails and blueways. The challenge runs November 1-30.
Participants can log their activities through a Strava Club, whether they choose to walk, hike, ride bicycles or paddle. The goal is simple: Encourage more people to experience the outdoor recreation opportunities available close to home. A family bicycle ride, a walk with a dog or an afternoon exploring a new trail can all count. Knox County Parks and Recreation.
Daily Connections — Friday, November 6
Today’s Motivation: The best adventures don’t always require traveling far. Sometimes they begin by exploring a place close to home.
Today in History: On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States, an event that preceded the nation’s Civil War.
Tennessee Trivia: Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the oldest mountains in the world, with rock formations that tell a geological story stretching back hundreds of millions of years.
Today’s Smile: Why did the tree take a nap? It was feeling a little leafy.
Local Events and Opportunities
AMBC Fall Festival — November 6-7: Baker Creek Preserve, South Knoxville. Mountain biking, community activities and opportunities for riders of different abilities. Appalachian Mountain Bike Club.
Lights Over Gatlinburg — November 6-January 31: Gatlinburg SkyPark, 765 Parkway, Gatlinburg. Thousands of holiday lights, illuminated SkyBridge and seasonal displays. Regular admission applies. Gatlinburg SkyPark.
Clean the Clinch River — November 7: 9 a.m.-noon, Melton Lake Park Pavilion, Oak Ridge. Free volunteer cleanup. Outdoor Knoxville.
Keep Knoxville Beautiful waste audit — November 13: 12:30-3:30 p.m., Smurfit WestRock Recycling Center. Volunteers will help sort recyclables and collect data. Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
Saturday Spruce Up — November 14: 10 a.m.-noon, West Depot Avenue area, Knoxville. Volunteers will help remove litter in recognition of America Recycles Day and No Trash November. Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
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865 Puzzles: Enjoy puzzles and other features at KnoxTNToday.
Let’s keep talking
Where do you enjoy spending time outdoors in East Tennessee? Do you have a favorite trail, park, lake or family outdoor tradition?
Share your suggestions for future Let’s Talk: Outdoors columns at news@knoxtntoday.com.
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