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• Trillium Gap to Brushy Mountain

  • When
    01/25/2025
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • Location
    Rainbow Falls trailhead A, Gatlinburg, GSMNP
  • Spaces left
    19

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  Brushy Mountain may not be the highest peak in the Smokies, but it offers outstanding views. Beginning at the Rainbow Falls Trail parking area, we will hike the Trillium Gap Trail 5.2 miles to the Brushy Mountain Trail and then out along the spur to Brushy Mountain itself. Along the way we will pass behind Grotto Falls, walk among old growth trees, and enjoy wonderful views. Be prepared for ice near the falls. Micro spikes are highly recommended. The hike is 11.2 miles round trip with elevation gain of 2100 ft. Rated moderately difficult. Carpool from 1510 Cracker Barrel Lane off exit 398 of I-40. Meet in the corner on the right as you enter the parking lot. Be prepared to leave at 7:00 a.m. The drive is 70 miles roundtrip. Suggested reimbursement at 7 cents /mile to the driver is $4.90 (round to $5). Or meet at the Rainbow Falls parking lot A, ready to hike at 8:30 a.m.

  Leader: Randy Mitchell

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Stinging Fork Falls Section of Cumberland Trail

  • When
    01/26/2025
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Piney Creek Cumberland Trail trailhead, 700 Shut in Gap Road, Spring City, TN, 37381

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  The date for this hike has changed!  It is now SUNDAY, January 26, 2025. All other details remain the same.

  For this section of the Cumberland Trail, we will hike from south to north, along Soak Creek and return the same way. We ascend and descend several bluff areas, and will see several waterfalls, including Stinging Fork Falls itself. The falls are part of the Stinging Fork Falls State Natural area and plunge 30 ft. in a fan shape, to the rocky creek below. Hike 11.6 miles RT. Rated difficult. Those wanting to carpool can meet at Lowes, Harriman, 1800 Roane State Hwy and be ready by 8:00 am to drive 40 minutes 27 miles to the Piney River RMA Trail head. At the trailhead parking there are several picnic tables, but NO facilities. Riders plan to pay exact change in cash to drivers, $3.78, (OK to round up to $4.00. Rate: $0.07 per mile x 54 miles RT). All hikers meet at Piney Creek TH, (700 Shut in Gap Road, Spring City, TN, 37381) and are ready to start hiking by 8:45 am.

  Leaders: Larry Johnson and Myra Moldaw

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Cumberland Trail: Grays Mountain Section (Sunday)

  • When
    02/02/2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    Lowes, 1800 Roane State Hwy, Harriman, TN

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  This recently completed section of the Cumberland Trail offers a walk along Roaring Creek then a big climb past impressive cliffs and a waterfall to the top of the Walden Ridge escarpment. We will enjoy several wonderful views of the valley and another waterfall and a lunch spot at an overlook. The trail then heads a bit downhill and crosses a creek to a junction where we will make a short climb up to a rock-climbing area and an arch then head back down to the main trail. The trail follows the side of the escarpment for several miles and past cliffs and rock formations and more views until we end up at northern trailhead. This will be a car shuttle hike with a few cars left at the northern trailhead above Dayton off Rt 30 and the others driving to Roaring Creek trailhead near Graysville to begin the hike. The total hike is about 10 mi and rated moderately difficult. We will meet before 8:00 am at Lowes parking lot (near the front) in Harriman just off I-40 at Exit 350 and carpool to Dayton. Drive 105 miles RT including the car shuttle. ($7.35 for carpool driver).

  Leader: Tim Bigelow

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Wednesday Hike: Chestnut Top

  • When
    02/05/2025
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • Location
    Chestnut Top trailhead, Townsend Wye, GSMNP

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  This hike is close to Townsend at the Y very near the entrance to the park. The trail is 8.6 miles with an ascent of 1,100 feet for the first part of the hike. You go up at the beginning of the hike going up the mountain for around 0.6 mile. The junction at 4.3 miles is School House Gap Trail. This hike is considered moderate. Carpool from Kroger 244 S Hall Road, Alcoa, meet on the side of the building near the old KARM store at 8:00a.m. Roundtrip 40 miles @ $0.07 = $2.80 to the driver (ok to round) or meet at the Wye parking lot in Townsend at 8:30 a.m.

  Leader: Thomas Welch

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Little River / Goshen Prong to Campsite #23

  • When
    02/08/2025
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • Location
    Little River trailhead, Elkmont, GSMNP

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  We will take the Little River trail for an easy 3.7 miles. Then we’ll take Goshen Prong for another easy 3.3 miles to campsite 23. Most of the hike is along old railroad grades so the cumulative elevation gain is only 1168’. A good opportunity to stretch your legs on a winter day with river and creek views. Hike is rated moderate to difficult due to its 14 mile length. Meet at Kroger in Alcoa, 244 S. Hall Rd (park at the side of the building near its SE corner) ready to leave at 7:30. Drive 60 miles RT (@7 cents/mile=$4.20) or Little River Trailhead by 8:30.

  Leaders: David Smith and Debra Barton

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Haw Ridge Park

  • When
    02/15/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Haw Ridge parking area, Oak Ridge, TN

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  Haw Ridge is an Oak Ridge City Park that occupies former TVA land on a peninsula along Melton Hill Lake. We will meet in the Haw Ridge Park paved lot on Edgemoor Rd which is 0.8 miles after exiting TN 62. Note that you will pass boat launch sites prior to Haw Ridge parking. Our route will trace the perimeter of the park along a series of rolling trails with good views of Melton Hill Lake. We will hike clockwise with the first 1.5 miles on the greenway. The total hike is just under 8 miles and should take approximately 4 hours. This is a popular area for wildlife watching. Hike: 8 miles, rated moderate. Meet in the Haw Ridge parking lot at 10:00 AM.

  Leader: Lyn Irving

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.
  

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• Easy Hike: Sharps Ridge Veterans Memorial Park

  • When
    02/15/2025
  •  
    2:00 PM
  • Location
    Independence Trail trailhead, 121 Sharps Ridge Memorial Drive, Knoxville, TN

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  We will be walking some recently completed trails in Sharps Ridge Veterans Memorial Park. These new trails show off some of the best forestland in Knox County with many large trees, and a great diversity of understory plants. We will have many great views of Knoxville through the tall leafless canopy of sourwood, black gum, oak, hickory, and maple trees. After a short walk down the road, we will start on the south slope with a short downhill on the Sharp Shin and Push Line trails to get to the Lincoln Trail. We will take the new section of the Lincoln trail to the north side of Sharps Ridge where we will connect to the Independence trail that will take us back to our starting point. This part of the hike on the new section of the Lincoln Trail and the Independence trail are entirely uphill. However, since they are adaptive mountain bike trails the grade is very gradual – 200ft elevation gain spread over nearly 3 miles. Meet at the Independence Trail trailhead, 121 Sharps Ridge Memorial Drive, at 2:00pm. Hike: about 4 miles, rated easy.

  Leader: Mac Post

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.
  

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• Wednesday Hike: Lumber Ridge

  • When
    02/19/2025
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Lumber Ridge trailhead, Tremont, GSMNP

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  This hike starts at the Tremont Institute. The trail is 8 miles with an ascent of 1,250 feet. Lunch will be eaten at Buckhorn Gap at the Meigs Mountain and Meigs Creek junction. The return trip does not have much ascent. This hike is considered moderate. Meet at the Kroger Parking lot at 8:00 am at 244 S Hall road, Alcoa (park at the side of the building near the SE corner) or be at the trail head at 8:45 am. Carpool 46 miles roundtrip at 7 cents/miles = $3.22 to the driver.

  Leader: Thomas Welch

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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• Off Trail Hike: Cat Stairs

  • When
    02/22/2025

  The Cat Stairs serve as the west and north faces of Greenbrier Pinnacle and have forever been a storied part of the Great Smokies. Seen from a vantage point like Mount LeConte, The Cat Stairs appear to be huge rock stairs serving as the ascent to the Pinnacle Ridge. Wrapping around the northwest corner of Greenbrier Pinnacle, The Cat Stairs provide endless opportunities for exploration. This excursion will begin at the Road to the Ramsey Cascade Trailhead. The trek will follow the road that the settlers once used to ascend to the Barnes Place where we will pause to pay our respects at the cemetery and homestead. At this point, the fun will begin as we ascend the steep boulder fields on our approach to the main cliffs of The Cat Stairs. After passing through the cliffs, we will catch the views that are offered before plunging down the Cable Route to the Lunch Spot for superior views and possible falcon appearances. Total trip: off-trail 5.5 mile, on-trail 0 mile, 8 hours, drive 100 miles RT. This off-trail trip is rated difficult.

  Leader: Greg Harrell

  To register, contact the leaders directly. You can find contact information in the February 2025 newsletter writeup for this hike.

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• Lost Creek Cave Falls to Virgin Falls

  • When
    02/22/2025
  •  
    9:30 AM
  • Location
    Lost Creek Falls and Cave trailhead, White’s Cave Rd, Sparta TN 38583
  • Spaces left
    25

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  The Tennessee State Natural Area’s website states that “Lost Creek State Natural Area is a diverse area situated on the western flank of the Cumberland Plateau. Its scenic highlight is the beautiful Lost Creek Falls and Cave in White County. Lost Creek Falls is geologically similar to its nearby cousin, Virgin Falls, in that the creek emerges from large spring, or collapsed cave on top, drops over the 40’ falls, and disappears underground again.” Lost Creek Falls and Cave is a short loop at the trailhead. Then we will travel 0.5 miles by car to the Rylander Cascades trailhead for the hike to Virgin Falls. Along the trail, see the namesake Rylander Cascades and hike the spur to Dry Creek Falls before continuing to Virgin Falls for lunch. After lunch, hike a loop to Sheep Cave, and a campsite on Caney Fork before returning on Rylander Cascades Trail. Total approximately 11 miles, 900 feet elevation gain. Rated Difficult. Carpooling is recommended.

  Meet at Lowes Harriman (1800 Roane State Hwy, Harriman, TN. Exit 350 off of I-40.). Plan for time to arrange the carpool, load, and to leave by 7:45 am. Drive to Lost Creek Falls and Cave Trailhead) 1 hour and 30 Minutes, one way 75 miles to the trailhead. Riders round up to pay $11.00 cash to drivers. (Calculation: RT 150 miles x $0.07/mi= $10.50). Everyone meets at Lost Creek Falls and Cave Trailhead, (White’s Cave Rd, Sparta TN 38583) ready to start hiking by 9:30 am. Finish hike by approximately 3:30 pm and return to Lowes by approximately 5:00 pm.

  Leaders: Larry Johnson and Myra Moldaw

  Leader contact information is included under Additional Information in the email you receive after registration.

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