Clockwise Hytop Metric Loop

Description: The Hytop Loop is 62 miles and has some of the most beautiful and unusual roads in the area, lightly traveled with good pavement. The loop is mostly gently rolling but includes several hills and one long climb, a 10% average grade 1.5 mile mountain at the halfway point. Most of the descending takes place near the end on a three-mile descent.
Directions to start (about 40 minutes from the Huntsville city limits):
Travel East on HWY-72 to AL-65 (~11 miles, two miles past Gurley) and turn Left/North
Travel North on AL-65 to "T" intersection with AL-146 (~18 miles)
Miles Turn  Description Leg
0.0 North  into Tennessee on AL-65 14.0
11.0 Continue  AL-65 becomes TN-97 at Tennessee state line -
14.0 Left  on Owens Lane (Watch! On fast downhill straight) 1.0
15.0 Right  on Elora Road at "T" (no sign) 1.2
16.0 Continue  Elora Road becomes Main Street in Huntland -
16.2 Rest Stop  optional, on Main Street -
16.2 Right-Right-Left  on Banks Street to Alabama Street heading East 1.3
16.7 Continue  Alabama Street becomes Beans Creek Road -
17.5 Right  on Hickory Grove Road 3.0
20.5 Left  to continue on Hickory Grove Road 1.0
21.5 Right  on Buncombe Road at "T" (no sign) 5.6
27.1 Right  on Crawford Lane 0.6
27.7 Right  on Shockley Road 0.5
28.2 Left  on Roggli Road 0.1
28.3 Right  on Farris Lane 0.7
29.0 Right  on Farris Chapel Road 1.0
30.0 Right  on TN-16 / Rowe Gap Road 25.0
30.5 Climb  the Cumberland Plateau ~ 10% grade for 1.5 miles -
32.7 Rest Stop  at "Pure" Market, on right, 0.7 mile after summit -
44.5 Continue  TN-16 becomes AL-79 at Alabama state line -
55.0 Right  on AL-146 7.0
55.0 Rest Stop  at convenience store -
58.3 Descend  the Cumberland Plateau -
62.0 Finish  at AL-65 (left turn) -