The paved road to the swimming area is closed to motorized vehicles during the winter months. The area is closed for three spring weekend turkey hunts. For 2024, the area is closed April 13-14 and 20-21 and scout day 7 a.m. to noo n April 6. See hunt info. See reservation hunt info. The Bull Bluff road is closed for deer hunting one weekend in October, November, and December each year. Oak Ridge fall deer hunts for 2023 are Nov 4-5, 11-12, Dec 9-10, In addition, the area is closed the Saturday before each scheduled hunt weekend for scouting.
See trail map (2009) or or Google map/image/topo
Description: The Gallaher Bend Road (a.k.a, Bull Bluff Road) is part of the DOE reservation off of the west end of Clark Center Recreation Park. Pedestrian and bicycle access to the road was obtained by Greenways Oak Ridge in cooperation with the City of Oak Ridge and DOE. See the Oak Ridger article (May, 1997) describing the Gallaher Bend greenway. In 2007, the gravel was extended along the edge of the woods to the end of the loop. In 2019, DOE closed the wooded section of the loop at the end of the gravel.
From the west end of the pavement, start on a packed gravel road. Go around the gate. The gravel road gently rolls 2 miles through the woods before it splits into a loop. Sinkhole at 35.939585,-84.246683.
For the 4.5 mile out-and-back, the cumulative climb is 620' with some 20% grades. See elevation profile. GPS track for an 8-mile jog along the pavement to the start of woods loop and back. DOE closed woods loop section in 2019.
For more info on Oak Ridge, visit the Oak Ridge Visitors Bureau.
