the official ride - 3rd saturday in september
The 31st annual ride is history! click on the link here to visit the ride recap page and get connected to photos from the ride and a summary of how this past year's ride went! Every year the experience is unique!
special recognition to the following law enforcement agencies for their gracious support in providing escort and traffic control. This year we enjoyed having the majority of our entire route from Cherokee, NC to WeWoka, oK escorted by our friends in 'Blue'.
Cherokee PD, Cherokee County, Polk County, Bradley County, Bridgeport PD, Colbert County, Tishomingo County, Corinth PD, Alcorn County, Tippah County, Walnut PD, Shelby County, Memphis PD, ARkansas State Patrol, Crittenden County, Searcy PD, Conway PD, Mansfield PD, McAlester PD, Lighthorse PD.
the official ride - 3rd saturday in september
This Year's special design
This year's special design, printed on all official 32nd Annual Trail of Tears commemorative motorcycle ride merchandise is intended to capture the history and spirit of the ride. the special design is produced by our own artist, arissa wheeler. to learn more about the design click here.
this year's ride info
As our planning for the 2025 32nd annual ride become available we will provide here the entire route information and schedule that will include the entire ride from Cherokee, NC to wherever we are destined to in indian territory. we will provide a downloadable image with all ride route information. we hope everyone will make the entire ride with us. start making your vacation plans now! remember, the official ride that happens on the 3rd saturday of every september is preceded by a ride to cherokee, nc on the Thursday before the ride. then we ride back to bridgeport on Friday. Saturday morning the official ride leaves from bridgeport to waterloo. Then on sunday we leave from spring park in tuscumbia for somewhere in indian country. our final destination is different each year and we are typically greeted by tribal leadership for an acknowledgement and appreciation ceremony. take in the full experience of the trail of tears.
Thursday 9/18/2025
Ride to Cherokee Nc to meet with the eastern band of the cherokee nation.
For information about riding to Cherokee, NC with other riders contact Ike Moore or Michael Hutton.
FRIDAY 9/19/2025
Ride from Cherokee, NC
An unescorted ride will be held from Cherokee, NC
Depart at 10:00 AM EDT From the Cherokee indian fairgrounds to Ross’ Landing, 160 riverfront pkwy, Chattanooga, TN.
Leaving from Chattanooga at 3:00 PM EDT and continuing on to Bridgeport. arrive at bridgeport at 3pm cdt.
For more info click here.
Friday evening September 19
Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride® Kick Off Party Downtown Bridgeport, AL.
Kids Bounce House, Food Trucks, Vendors, Concert, Fireworks.
$500 Cash giveaways Best Bike award
people’s choice 3rd place $50
2ndplace $100
1st place $200 !!
at 3PM − Bikes arrive from Cherokee Indian Reservation NC.
5PM − Opening Ceremonies
6pm - music entertainment begins
7:30 John Stone and The trailer park allstars
9:00 fireworks & 3 best bike giveways
9:30 John stone & the trailer park allstars
(for vendor information call randall gibson 256-608-9542)
If you haven't signed up for the mailing list please do that so we can keep you up to date about the events that are coming!! Sign up on the home page.
● Door Prize drawings throughout the evening (must be present to win)
For More Info on the Bridgeport Celebration click here.
Bridgeport stage
september 19-21, 2025
Starting Friday at 8:30 am, free 3 day pow wow, vendors, great food, arts and crafts, rider gear and much more.
Free live entertainment friday and saturday night
Saturday September 20
Downtown Bridgeport – Bridgeport, AL
Leave 8:00 AM CDT - Riders will start lining up in downtown Bridgeport on Alabama Street at 7 AM CDT and will leave at 8 AM CDT. The City of Bridgeport will close off the downtown streets to line up the motorcycles.
LUNCH STOP: Madison, AL
Arrive 10:30 am - Leave 12:00 PM CDT
Redstone Harley-Davidson will have food vendors on site, live music, giveaways & much more!
Waterloo, Official End of the Ride(approx. 90 mi) Arrive 2:30 PM CDT
Keep Left Lane Open for Police and EMS
for more information on the events. For Bridgeport vendor information call: Randall Gibson − 256-608-9542
RIDE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
see the ride rules here!
Partial Entertainment Schedule:
North Boat Ramp
Indian Festival 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Memorial Walk at 10:00 AM from Bridge to Waterloo Landing
Entertainment info made available when we have it.
Sunday Sept 21st
Indian Festival 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
For more info on the pow wow click here
or email townofwaterlooal@gmail.com for all the events and times!
The City of waterloo's facebook powwow event page is here.
We produce a brochure each year that provides useful information about the ride and what is special for this year. It is a good guide to know what's going on and when! If you'd like to download the brochure just click on the image below.
SUNDAY 9/21/2025 See the Allen Ward memorial ride info (below). check back here later for details on the Sunday-Tuesday ride to this years destination in Indian territory.
For more info call 678-RIDE-TOT
rides before the official ride
thursday/friday Organizer's ride from bridgeport to Cherokee and back
Billy & Pam Burns Memorial Ride - Benge Route to join 30th Annual Trail of Tears Commemorative Motorcycle Ride in Bridgeport AL
Montgomery, AL - Bridgeport Ride
Friday, September 19th 9am
assemble at 8 AM and leaving at 9:00, Harley Davidson of Montgomery 655 North Eastern Blvd Montgomery, AL 36117
11:00 AM Leaving and stopping at Roebuck Shopping Center in Birmingham and
11:30 PM - Leaving Birmingham Roebuck Shopping Center and
Stopping at DeKalb County Tourism on AL Hwy 35 in Fort Payne and
1:30 PM - Leave DeKalb County Tourism to arrive at the Bridgeport exit off HWY 72 to join the Riders from Cherokee NC at 2:45 PM & arrive in Bridgeport, AL at 3 PM.
3 PM - Bridgeport exit off HWY 72- Ride into downtown for the Kickoff Rally.
For more information contact
Dennis Johnson email alabamariderdennis@hotmail.com or call (334) 202-4389.
louis hutton memorial Ride from san antonio TX to cherokee, nc
on the monday before the trail of tears ride a group of christian fellowship riders leaves from san antonio, texas to travel across the states and arrive in cherokee, nc on the friday before the ride. on Thursday this group usually leaves from tellico plains, tn, and takes a ride up the cherohala skyway and then up through the smoky mountains on the way to cherokee, nc. These texas riders usually also take in the 'tail of the dragon' in north carolina. yeehaw!
to learn more about the louis hutton memorial ride click here.
if you are interested in joining this group in san antonio or anywhere along the route please contact michael hutton. or call 703 638 4724.
