Tyson Swasey of the International Mountain Biking Association shows his skills during the dedication ceremony for the "Devil’s Racetrack" trail at the Baker Creek Preserve Friday, June 17, 2016, in South Knoxville. The expert-level downhill course was funded by a $100,000 Bell Helmet grant awarded to the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club through an online national vote. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL)

SHARE Jessica Klondicki of Bell Helmets shows off a memento presented by Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero during the dedication ceremony for the "Devil's Racetrack" trail at the Baker Creek Preserve Friday, June 17, 2016, in South Knoxville. The expert-level downhill course was funded by a $100,000 Bell Helmet grant awarded to the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club through an online national vote. With Klondicki are AMBC President Matthew Kellogg, left, and Heather Cooper of the International Mountain Biking Association. (PAUL EFIRD/NEWS SENTINEL)

By Morgan Simmons of the Knoxville News Sentinel

A nationally-rated downhill mountain bike trail has become the crown jewel of the new Baker Creek Preserve in South Knoxville's Urban Wilderness.

Named "Devil's Racetrack," the .8-mile, professionally-designed course is open to expert-level recreation riders and racers, alike. The downhill trail is the last of eight trails built over the past year at the 100-acre Baker Creek Preserve donated to the Legacy Parks Foundation by the Wood family.

The Baker Creek Preserve is next to Doyle Middle School. The property features seven miles of multiuse and downhill mountain bike trails, a bike pump track, plus an adventure playground under construction.

The Devil's Racetrack downhill course was funded by a $100,000 Bell Helmet grant awarded to the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club through an online national vote. More than 26,000 votes were cast, with Knoxville beating out Asheville and San Francisco for the trail funding.

"This final trail puts Knoxville on the national scene as a destination for top mountain bikers and top mountain biking events," said Legacy Parks executive director Carol Evans. "The unique aspect is that it's so close to the city. Usually people have to plan all day and travel a couple of hours into the woods to find gravity mountain biking trails of this quality."

The $100,00 trail construction grant was administered by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA).

In addition to Devil's Racetrack, two multiuse mountain bike trails named "Best Medicine" and "Pappy's Way" also have officially opened at the Baker Creek Preserve. Those trails and other trails opened in the Urban Wilderness earlier this month were funded by a $200,000 Recreational Trails Program grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

Five of the eight trails at the Baker Creek Preserve are for both hiking and biking and include an easy beginner trail that is virtually flat. Three of the trails — including Devil's Racetrack — are dedicated to downhill mountain biking.

"It's rare to find the variety, diversity and quality of trail in the hear of a city like we have here in Knoxville," said Matthew Kellogg, president of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club.

"To have a virtually flat beginner trail alongside a downhill trail that features a nearly vertical 50-foot wall ride, tables, gaps and challenging rock lines makes for a unique destination."