Ride the Fault Line 2025

Cycle through portions of three states - Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee - in seven days! Mostly flat routes in the Mississippi River floodplain feature enough moderate hills to keep things interesting! Start off the event with routes through southern Illinois wine country and spend one full day experiencing the Tunnel Hill rail-trail. Learn about the history of the great New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 and what the chances are for a repeat performance in the near future!

Pedal through wildlife refuges and see bald eagles nesting. Ride to and tour a Civil War battlefield and pedal along the shore of "Reelfoot", the "earthquake lake"! All the while, enjoy small town charm and hospitality. Stay your final three nights camping among the dinosaurs and myriad other exhibits at the futuristic Discovery Park of America in northwest Tennessee.

Event Details and Schedule

Check in at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois from 11 AM-4 PM on Sunday, June 8. Arrive early and you can warm-up with a short route around the area. Experience the Tunnel Hill rail-trail on Tuesday - our unique route format means you keep your vehicle with you all week, so you can bring a gravel bike for use just on the trail day if you wish. We'll finish the week with four different road routes in Tennessee and Kentucky!

Read the Rider's Guide page on the website from start to finish to answer just about any question you might have about how the tour will operate, what to bring and what to leave at home. You will be required to sign a liability waiver upon arrival before you can participate. You can review this waiver in advance by downloading a copy from the Registration page on the website. Please bring a copy of your registration confirmation with you.

Remember to bring a helmet, 2 spare tubes, sunscreen, insect repellent, 2 water bottles, raingear, and your insurance card. Vehicle parking will be provided at each of the two overnight sites and is included in your registration fee. RTFL and the overnight sites are not responsible for losses to your vehicle or contents.

RTFL and Midwest Cyclotouring, LLC reserve the unconditional right to modify the tour route or itinerary without prior notice due to changes in weather, road, river, or other conditions that could prevent the safe and/or efficient operation of the tour.