The Stone Door Trail

Tags

Hikes, Hiking, Hiking Tennessee

Frank enjoying the views

This is a very short hike–only 1.8 miles roundtrip–but the views are worth it. It’s the perfect length to pack in a better-than-ordinary picnic lunch. The Stone Door Trail is located in South Cumberland State Park in Middle Tennessee.

This large park is comprised of nine different areas located within four counties—Grundy, Franklin, Marion and Sequatchie—and 100 square miles of south central Tennessee. The Stone Door and Savage Gulf areas contain beautiful panoramas, numerous waterfalls and rock formations. Other areas include Grundy Forest and Grundy Lakes, Foster Falls and Greeter Falls, Sewanee Natural Bridge, Buggy Top and Collin’s Gulf. Hiking, rock climbing, rappelling and caving (once they are re-opened) are among the activities available within the park. Also included within the park’s domain is Carter Cave State Natural Area, an enclosed-valley sinkhole called Lost Cove; Sewanee Natural Bridge State Natural Area, a sandstone arch overlooking Lost Cove; and Hawkins Cove State Natural Area, which was created to protect Cumberland Rosinweed, a type of sunflower that grows only the Cumberland Plateau.

Directions: From Interstate 24, take Exit 134 or 135, and turn right on U.S. 41 South. Drive 4.5 miles to the Visitor Center on the left, where you can get more information. Or continue on to TN 50, turn right and follow the highway until it ends at TN 56. Turn left and follow the road to the Ranger Station on the right.

Hours Open: The park is open for day use from 7 a.m. until sunset, unless you intend to camp in the backcountry (a permit is required). The Visitors Center is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The park is located in the Central Time Zone.

The Stone Door

The Stone Door Trail

The spectacular views from the cliffs adjacent to the Stone Door are alone worth this short-ish hike, but the Stone Door, itself, is an amazing 100-feet deep and 10-feet wide crack in the rocks atop the plateau that is one of those “can’t be missed” sights.

Caution: The trail, itself, is only moderately strenuous and the usual caution about watching your step on the rocks and roots is called for. Once you reach the Stone Door, though, be particularly careful as the cliffs fall more than 700 feet to the gorges below.

Trail Directions: From the parking area at the Stone Door Ranger Station in the Savage Gulf Trails area, follow the pathway to the trailhead to the right of the information sign and sign-in area at N 35º 15’ 8”, W 85º 44’ 51” (1).

Begin hiking along the paved trail and cross a wooden bridge at .05 mile. This area is in a sensitive plant habitat, so it is important to keep the paved trail.

At .21 mile, you will reach the overlook of Laurel Gulf at N 35º 26’ 42”, W 85º 39’ 10” (2). Laurel Creek gorge is below and the Stone Door cliffs are to your far right. Shortly after the overlook, the pavement ends and you will begin hiking on a natural path.

At .43, .61, and .69 miles, you will cross wooden bridges over intermittent creeks.

Continue hiking and at .86 mile, you will reach the junction with the Big Creek Rim Trail to your right, overlooks to your left and right, and the Stone Door to your right.

Turn right and at .88 mile cross a wooden bridge to the overlook to your left. At .92 mile, you will reach The Stone Door, which is straight ahead and down the steps at N 35º 26’ 25”, W 85º 38’ 59” (3).

1. Trailhead
2. Laurel Gulf Overlook
3. The Stone Door

 

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Ghost House Trail

Tags

Hiking, Hiking Tennessee

An interesting gravestone along the Ghost House Trail by Frank.

This short trail is worth the hike if for no other reason than the chance you might run into the ghost . . .

The Ghost House Loop Trail is in Big Ridge State Park in Tennessee.

Located in the Appalachian ridge and valley terrain of Northeastern Tennessee, Big Ridge State Park’s more than 3,500 acres is comprised of three narrow ridges and stream valley systems. Big Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge make up the two most prominent systems as they are almost completely surrounded by Norris Lake’s southern shore. Historically, Big Ridge State Park is one of five demonstration parks developed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) along with the National Park Service and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Much of the park’s architecture features the unique CCC-style local-stone architecture. Many of the park’s trails were carved out by the CCC, as well, and one can see the remains of the homes and farms that once occupied the area while hiking. More particularly, many old family cemeteries can be seen throughout the park.

Directions: From Interstate 75, take Exit 122, Tennessee 61 east for about 12 miles. The park entrance is on the left between the cities of Andersonville and Maynardville.

Hours Open: The park is open from daylight until10 p.m. in the summer, and from daylight until dark in the winter, Eastern Time. The Visitors Center is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Ghost House Loop Trail

Distance Round-Trip: 1.2miles

This trail is said to be haunted by the ghost of Maston Hutchison because odd things have occurred along it. Whether or not this is true, you will see the remains of old home foundations as well as the sunken grave of Hutchison.

Caution: This trail passes through some damp and buggy areas. Insect repellant is advised for those who want to ward off bugs.

Trail Directions: Parking for this trail is located off the group camp road. The trailhead is to the left at N 36º 14’ 49”, W 83º 55’ 29” (1). The lake is to your left as you begin this hike, crossing a wood bridge and entering the woods at .01 mile. At .04 mile, reach the junction with the Lake Trail, which continues straight ahead. Turn right to reach the beginning of the Ghost House Loop in .01 mile.

Turn left on the Ghost House loop, and at .09 and .17 mile, cross wooden bridges over intermittent streams. At .43 and .49 miles, you will cross bridges over streams. At .61 mile, a side trail to the left leads a short distance into the woods where a home site was once located. There are two moss-covered rock mounds that are the remains of foundations.

At .68 mile, reach the junction of the Big Valley Trail connector. The Big Valley Trail is 15 yards to the left. The Ghost House Loop continues to the right at N 36º 15’ 13”, W 83º 55’ 28” (2). Continue to the right and reach the Norton Cemetery to your right at .78 mile. It is here you will find the grave of Maston Hutchison. While there are no remains of the Hutchison home any more, it is his house that is said to be haunted.

Continue hiking, reaching the beginning of the Ghost House Loop at 1.19 miles or N 36º 14’ 49”, W 83º 55’ 32” (3). You will reach the trailhead at 1.24 mile, and the parking area in another .12 mile.

 

1. Trailhead
2. Big Valley Trail connector
3. Ghost House Loop beginning/end

Ghost House Loop Trail Map

Angel Falls Rapid Trail

Tags

Hiking, Hiking Tennessee

Angel Falls Rapid

I’ve added a new hike at my website. You can find more details here: Angel Falls Rapid Trail.

Angel Falls Rapid Trail, which is 3.6 miles roundtrip, is located in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, which straddles the Tennessee-Kentucky border.

From the early Native Americans who hunted the area to the more recent inhabitants who mined the land for its coal, the Big South Fork area of the Cumberland Plateau has seen a lot of history over the past 12,000 years. The Cherokees that lived in the area were pushed out by the arrival of fur trappers in the late 1700s. By 1810, the first pioneer settlers arrived to build farms and mine saltpeter. Following the Civil War, the land was mined for coal and stripped of timber before its oil and gas resources were developed.

The 125,000-acre park features waterfalls and numerous rock formations as well as its famous river. The constantly moving water that eroded the sandstone and shale that make up the top layer of the plateau caused the park’s distinct features. The limestone beneath layer beneath contains the parks oil and gas deposits. The park also features a wide variety of wildlife arranging from Black Bear and Elk to 60 species of fish and 160 species of native and migratory birds.

Directions: There are numerous ways to access the park depending on which section you wish to visit. You can reach the Bandy Creek Visitor Center (from which you can get more information) by taking US 27 north from Interstate 40, Exit 347, to Oneida. In Oneida, turn left (west) on Tennessee 297 and travel about 15 miles. The Visitors Center and Bandy Creek area is to your right after you cross the Big South Fork River. There are also Visitors Centers for the park in Rugby and Crossville (which is on Central Time).

An exposed coal seam located along the trail.

Five Mile Trail

Tags

Hikes, Hiking, Hiking Tennessee

A trailside violet.

I’ve added a new hike to my website.

The Five Mile Trail is part of a trail system in Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park in Tennessee that includes a number of loop trails within the system. There is also a 3-mile loop as well as 10-mile and 20-mile loops that course along the ridges overlooking Kentucky Lake.

The park is near commercial marinas and public boat docks and there are three boat access points available in the park at no cost. Among the fish to be caught in the lake are smallmouth, largemouth and striped bass, sauger, crappie, bream and catfish.

For a trail description, directions and more see: Five Mile Trail at my website.

 

Abrams Falls Trail

Tags

Hiking, Hiking Tennessee, Waterfalls

Abrams Falls

I have added a new hike to my website.

The Abrams Falls Trail is both one of the most popular in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sometimes seeing as many as a thousand hikers a day in peak season, and also named one of the 10 most dangerous hikes in America by Backpacker Magazine. It is the beautiful pool beneath the park’s most voluminous falls that is the real danger—29 people have died here since 1971. It is located in the Cades Cove area of the Smokies.

More about the hike can be found here at VictoriaLogue.com

Bookmarks

Tags

Hiking, Hiking Tennessee

Bookmarks for Hiking Tennessee

I’ve worked with more than a few publishers over the years, but this is the first time I’ve had a publisher create bookmarks to help advertise one of my books. Thanks, Human Kinetics!

In September, I will distribute them at local bookstores where they may be picked up for free (although hopefully I will sell a book or two).

And, if you know someplace that would like to set out a few, please let me know.