Overall Route Rating
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4.8 out of 5 Rider Rating 4.8
20 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By wideglide_01_25 (5 McR Points) on Aug 17, 2011

Rider Reviews

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Mid Life Crisis
37 McR Points
July 13, 2014
Best ride EVER! We road the Devil's Triangle…
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Guest
April 30, 2013
Just returned from a beautiful Spring afternoon…
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Written Directions

Note: this route was originally referred to on McR as "" yet later, the route had taken on the formal/quasi-official name of "Devil's Triangle" (https://devilstriangletn.com/). State Route 116 in Tennessee runs from its junction with State Route 62 at its southwestern end between Wartburg and Coalfield in Morgan County, to its northeastern end at Caryville, Tennessee in Campbell County. From its southwestern terminus it heads northeast and passes through the town of Petros and past Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Continuing northeast into Anderson County, the highway then passes through remote mountainous country known for its many former coal mining villages, some of which were company towns and are now essentially ghost towns. Among them are the towns of Fork Mountain, Buffalo, Devonia, Braytown, Rosedale, and Charley's Branch. The Devonia post office which served this entire region was closed in 1975. Once the mines in these towns closed down with the resulting loss of population, the towns' schools were closed and remaining students were consolidated into the Rosedale school, which saw steadily falling enrollment and was closed in the 1990s. This section of Route 116 parallels the New River and the former line of the Tennessee Railroad. There are many abandoned underground coal mines, coal tipples, and railroad yards and sidings along this section of Route 116. Despite the end of most underground mining and the demise of the towns along this portion of the highway, a great deal of strip mining continues however. Route 116 briefly passes into Campbell County and then turns southeast back into Anderson County. From there it passes through the village of Stainville and continues southeast through some remote, sparsely populated mountains to Laurel Grove. There it turns northeast again at the junction with Frost Bottom Road, since 1982 designated as State Route 330. This section of the highway parallels Walden Ridge to the immediate southeast, and a former spur of the Norfolk Southern Railway (now closed), and passes through Briceville, Fraterville which was the site of a 1902 mine explosion, "The Wye" near the former mining camp of Beech Grove, and finally through a gap in Walden Ridge to enter Lake City.

Scenery

From gentle country road sweepers to gnarly steep switchbacks; from serene straights to Dragon like twisties with guard rails of death; from gentle pull-offs to three foot deep rock strewn gullies just inches from the pavement; from peaceful farmsteads to sections of rutted roadway right out of a horror movie.

Drive Enjoyment

Country road sweepers to gnarly steep switchbacks. Road quality is fairly good, has some patch work in a few areas.

Tourism Opportunities

Very few areas to stop to grab something cold to drink or something to eat. Best place is in Oak Ridge or in Petros before you start heading up the mountain.
 

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Guest
September 6, 2012
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
After riding over 45 years, this is by far the most technical road I've ever ridden. Enjoy the route, but take your time and evaluate everything and because all is not as it first appears. We traveled from Lake City to Petros, and the first hairpin is a real fooler. At first I could not figure out where the road went, then I figured out it was not only to my right, but above and behind me probably 25 or more degree uphill. A real challenge when I realized that second gear was probably not low enough. My daughter and I took our time, rode the whole distance with grins on our face, and hearts in our mouth on some turns. Watch out for very large dump trucks on the upper sections and gravel in the hairpins. Take it easy and enjoy the ride.
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Rwiker15
June 15, 2020
10 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Cruiser
This road is a ton of fun, I know it as the Devil's Triangle. Be careful of the extreme switchbacks and the drop off on both sides of the road. I would readily ride this again. You should also consider touring the Brushy Mountain State Pen at the end of it. Well worth your time.
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ThomSS
October 5, 2020
3633 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Slingshot
Rode it counterclockwise starting on 116 south of Ginger's Deli (close to Briceville), which by the way sells Triangle t-shirts, stickers and patches. On 116 pavement had a few spots where it was a little rough and couple spots with gravel, other than that surface was pretty good. 116 from Rocky Top to start of Triangle is a nice ride too. Rode DT twice, Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, not much traffic either day, although on Friday got stuck behind a couple of Jeep's for about 8-9 miles on 116 north of Brushy Mtn State Pen, Pushed 'em a couple times, but they would not pull over and let us pass, had many, many places to do so. Later was behind caravan of 5-6 Jeeps on 62 for a couple miles, same thing. With Windrock sitting on southern part of DT, the Jeeps act like they own the road, had no issues with side by sides. Anyhow... stopped at Brushy Mtn State Pen because the jeeps didn't, we didn't do the tour or eat or anything, pulled in cause we were tired being behind the idiots in the Jeeps. Checked it out, hit the restrooms and back on the road. Devil's Triangle is a really fun ride... loved it! Has some wicked switchbacks. I'd say eighty percent of the time we had open road in front of us, there's just not the traffic you have on further south. Pavement does look rougher riding clockwise.
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