The Trails of Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area

August 28, 2022August 29, 2022Leave a comment

Right before you hit Pickett State Park on TN-154, there’s a small pull-off trailhead nestled between fields of fall goldenrod and asters is one of the access points to Pogue Creek Canyon SNA. You’ll also find an astronomy field where you can view to night skies of this International Dark Sky Association certified area.

You’ll start this hike descending into the canyon, briefly ascending, then making the final plunge into the canyon before climbing out again as you near the final overlook. You can also access the Mesa Top Overlook from a shorter, flatter hike from the Moccasin Trailhead (which also marks Moccasin Rock trail that connects to Pickett), although, you will miss out on some pretty stellar things about this state natural area.

This hike will give you rock formations characteristic of the TN North Cumberland Plateau. You’ll pass by several rock houses and a few arches on your way to the Mesa Top Overlook, which is a great place to enjoy lunch and a view of the ‘canyon’. Make sure to take the short side trail to Circle Bar Arch and don’t miss the ‘biggest tiny arch’, Killdeer Arch. There’s also an unmarked side trail to a dripping waterfall (heavier flow when there’s rain), but be prepared to take off your backpack and squeeze through some rocks (not claustrophobic rocks, just rocks jutting out that you kinda off have to snake around). Even though the water was barely flowing, it was a cool area to explore. My favorite part about the hike was how evenly spaced all of the interest points were. There was enough to see to keep the hike engaging the whole time.

One more note: There is an actual ladder about a mile in. I had to carry Luna down and up the ladder (over one shoulder holding with one arm, so I could still grip the rungs; it was quite the sight I’m sure! 🙃) She is very great with steps, even really steep ones, but she could not do this ladder. So, if you can’t safely carry your dog down and up an 8 rung ladder, you may want to leave the pup at home for this one.

If you find yourself in the North Cumberland Plateau area or want to do multiple hikes in this area, I’d suggest doing Pogue Creek Canyon first. It truly is a cool hike with unique features, but I don’t think that it quite impresses as much as Pickett or Big South Fork. So, build up to the rock beauties and do Pogue Creek first, so you are extra impressed by the other hikes in the area.

Distance from Nashville: 2 hr 25 min

Trailhead: Near the Astronomy Field on Pickett Park Hwy (TN-154)

Trail: All of ‘em (Overlook, Upper Canyon Mesa Top)

Length of trail: I did approx. 9 miles total

Link to trail map: Pogue Creek Canyon

Camping: None (However, you can camp at Pickett State Park right down the road.)

Overview: Moderate hike with classic northern Cumberland Plateau rock formations like arches and crazy rock patterns along with an overlook with a view

Backpacking Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness :: Cumberland Trail

August 28, 2022August 29, 2022Leave a comment

Located solidly off of any interstate, Laurel-Snow is a beautiful little pocket of the gorges of Walden Ridge in the eastern Cumberland Plateau. It gets it name from 2 waterfalls in the area and is also the first National Recreation Trail designated in Tennessee. Laurel-Snow also contains a section of the Cumberland Trail, although it doesn’t yet directly connect to any other part of the the CT.

The entire area has about 11 miles of trails situation in a ‘Y’ shape. About 1.5 miles in, the trail forks. The right fork takes you to Laurel Falls and Bryan Overlook and the left fork takes to you Snow Falls and Buzzard Point. You’ll find Henderson Creek campsite near the fork and a campsite near each of the waterfalls (water sources near all sites). Doing the entire trial system in an overnight is a bit of a push, but very doable.

The trails are marked relatively well, but it’s very easy to get turned around or wander off on a fake trail, especially as you wander deeper into the area. I would highly recommend having the free Gaia GPS app, which helped us stay on track.

During the first part of the trail, you’ll find remnants of Richland Mine as you meander along Richland Creek. Even with water levels low, this waterway is stunning with its enormous boulders and trickling cascades. We veered left towards Snow Falls and soon came upon the longest metal footbridge I’ve ever crossed at 150 ft. Three connected bridges zig-zagged over the boulder-filled Richland Creek gorge. The trail gets slightly overgrown in this area, basically meaning that the poison ivy is all up on your feet and legs. Take the dirt/jeep road to get to Buzzard Point; it’s definitely worth it the 180 degree views of the gorge and Chickamauga Lake in the distance.

We camped at Morgan Creek, a peaceful site near Snow Falls. You can access the base and the top of the small fall. Because the water level of Morgan Creek was low, we got to hang out in the creek bed and take it all in.

The next morning, we retraced our steps back to the trail fork and headed then headed towards Laurel Falls. You’ll climb out of a gorge, traverse some pretty amazing rock structures and climb through a little rock tunnel, which was especially fun with a loaded pack on your back! Laurel Falls was just a trickle, but the shelf-like rock that formed it was stunning regardless of the water level. We relaxed on the car-sized boulders before heading back to the trailhead.

The only bummer about these trails is that you have to do a lot of backtracking to see everything. You end up basically doing every trial twice. Oh, and poison ivy and ticks. Lots and lots of poison ivy and seed ticks. (I may have found a tick TWO days later attached near my armpit 🤢)

There were lots of people coming to swim in the creek, so that means there was trash, especially along the first 1.5 miles. Please remember to #recreateresponsibly and #leavenotrace. PICK UP TRASH Y’ALL.

Laurel-Snow is a complete winner, just make sure you have a plan, a map and plenty of water (all things you should have for any hike anyways!)

Distance from Nashville: 2 hr 45 min

Trailhead: Pocket Wilderness Road off of Back Valley Rd near Dayton, TN

Trail: Laurel-Snow Trail

Length of trail: 3.3 miles (one way) to end of Laurel Falls Spur Trail, 4.8 miles (one way) to end of Snow Falls Spur Trail. My route was 15.5 miles, split over 2 days

Link to trail map: Laurel-Snow Section of CT

Camping: Henderson Creek (near split of trails), Morgan Creek (near Snow Falls – were I camped), Laurel Creek Campsite (near Laurel Falls)

Overview: Challenging, yet rewarding hike to 2 beautiful falls with a couple overlooks, neat-o rock structures, and a loooooong 150ft foot bridge.

Hiking to Denny Falls :: South Cumberland State Park

August 28, 2022August 29, 2022Leave a comment

Just down the road from the entrance to Foster Falls, you’ll find the Denny Cove trailhead — one of the newer additions to South Cumberland State Park. While this area is known for it’s excellent rock climbing, hikers will also enjoy the short trails to an overlook and beautiful cascading waterfall.

This roughly 3.5 mile out and back hike has a lot of what this are of Tennessee has to offer including the classic boulder-filled trail at times. (Love it or hate it, boulders abound all over this area! Time to get those ankles strong!) I’d classify this hike as solidly moderate in difficulty, accessible to most hiking levels.

At about a half mile in, the trail splits: one part take you to a nice overlook and the other takes you to the waterfall. There’s also a spur that has all of the climber access points (and doesn’t lead to the waterfall).

I truly love this waterfall and the trail immediately leading up to it. You round one corner of the trail and boom, there’s the beautiful, towering, cascading fall. The pool it spills into is pretty small so you can stand close to it and feel the gentle mist; there’s even a large rock conveniently placed so you can sit and take it all in.

If you’re checking out Foster Falls for the day, maybe head on over the Denny Cove and add a few more miles onto your hiking day.

*Photos of Denny Falls taken November 2020*

Distance from Nashville: 1 hr 45 min

Trailhead: Denny Cove, off of US Hwy 41

Trail: Denny Access Trail, Denny West, Waterfall Trails

Length of trail: 3.5 miles (out and back)

Link to trail map: Denny Cove

Camping: None. (Closest is Foster Falls, reservation required)

Overview: A relatively short, but totally worth it, moderate trek to an overlook and beautiful cascading waterfall.

A Longer Stone Door Loop :: Savage Gulf State Natural Area

June 19, 2021October 5, 2021Leave a comment

The Great Stone Door trail is a pretty well known and easy trail with a great payoff. But, driving almost 2 hours for a mile of hiking doesn’t quite make sense to me, so I made a 7 mile loop connecting the Stone Door Trail to the Big Creek Rim and Laurel Trails for a nice longer, but relatively easy hike.

The entirety of the hike is on the plateau/rim so most of this loop is flat, but not without some views of the gulf along the Big Creek Rim trail. The rest of the trail meanders through a wooded area on the plateau, making for a nice walk in the woods. The total mileage is around 7 miles, so it may be a great way to try out a longer hike without a challenge from the terrain. Taking this route, you won’t descend into the gulf, so you won’t have to navigate steep or rocky terrain, if you’re looking to avoid that.

The loop I did makes a fantastic beginner backpacking loop with a camp at Alum Gap and a side trip to Greeter Falls. (Remember, there’s no overnight parking at the Greeter Falls trailhead!) Of course there’s the always stunning views from Stone Door, but Big Creek Rim has a few great overlooks and bluff-side walking as well. The Laurel trail is probably one of the least diverse and interesting in the area, but it is full of lush ferns and greenery. And when I hike from the Stone Door trailhead, I always pop by Laurel Falls because it only add on .2 miles. (The mini loop starts right behind the ranger station.) You can also walk-in camp at Stone Door but it can get crowded and out especially on the weekends.

This loop isn’t going to blow you away compared to others in the area, but it’s nice to mix things up and try a new route. Connecting Stone Door to Big Creek Rim and Laurel trials makes for a good long-ish day hike in one of the most beautiful places in Tennessee. It’s also great to build stamina for longer hikes. You’ll clock over 7 miles of relatively flat trail, so it’s great to build up to a longer hike!

Distance from Nashville: 1hr 45 min

Trailhead: Stone Door Ranger Station (Savage Gulf North Trailhead)

Trail: Loop formed by Stone Door, Big Creek Rim, Laurel (route in red)

Link to trail map: Savage Gulf State Natural Area Trail Map (left side of map)

Length of Trail: easy 7 miles, allow 3-4 hours

Campsites: Stone Door (close to parking, walk-in) and Alum Gap (about three miles from trailhead, backcountry)

Overview: Great overlooks and geological wonders plus a little waterfall and some woods walkin’. (For a shorter hike, just do the Stone Door Trail as an out-and-back.)

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Edward’s Point :: Cumberland Trail, Tennessee River Gorge Segment

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021Leave a comment

Edward’s and Signal Points serve as the southern terminus to the Cumberland Trail and are part of the Tennessee River Gorge Segment of the trail.

I originally planned to hike Signal Point to Edward’s Point. But, that trailhead was closed. So, thankfully, there was another trailhead for a similar route right down the road, Rainbow Falls Wilderness. The parking lot for the trailhead is pretty small, so if you are hiking from this point, I suggest arriving early.

I thought this was going to be an easy hike to a beautiful view. The view was amazing but I wouldn’t rate it as ‘easy’. A portion of the trail was pretty rocky and full of boulders so be prepare your ankles. I also am glad that I brought my trekking poles because there were a few sections of ascents and descents.

Before you reach the pinnacle of the trail, Edward’s Point, you’ll pass by a small “waterfall” that is actually a small dam that created Rainbow Lake. This lake was created in the early 1900s for Signal Mountain Hotel. So, this hiking trail has been around for over 100 years.

You’ll also cross a suspension bridge over Middle Creek and see a small rock arch called Lockhart Arch. So, you get a few different features on the way.

Edward’s Point boasts a beautiful, sweeping view of the Tennessee River Gorge. There are gradual bluffs on both sides of the river that level out so that you can see far into the distance.

It was rather hot when I hiked this trail, so that contributed to me sweating way more than anticipated. Because of this, I had a less-than-desirable impression of this hike. I’m sure it would be much better in the fall/winter. (I mean, what hike ISN’T better in the fall/winter?) I’m hoping to return when the weather is cooler and hike from Signal Point to Edward’s Point.

However, this hike shouldn’t be missed. You get a gorgeous view and a few bonuses on the way there. Plus, you get to hike a section of the Cumberland Trail, which is always a welcome part of any of my hikes.

Distance from Nashville: 2 hr 15 min

Trailhead: Rainbow Lake Wilderness Trail on Ohio Ave (at the time I hiked this, Signal Mountain was closed and gated)

Trail: Rainbow Lake Trail to Cumberland Trail

Link to trial map: Signal & Edwards Points Section of Cumberland Trail

Length of trail: 4.7 miles total, out-and-back

Campsites: Lockhart’s Arch Campsite (Please note there is no overnight parking at either trailhead.)

Overview: Take a moderately strenuous hike to a beautiful view of the Tennessee River Gorge passing by a dam waterfall, stone arch and suspension bridge at the southern terminus of the Cumberland Trail.

Hiking Tour of Fall Creek Falls State Park

March 17, 2021March 17, 20212 Comments

I avoided Fall Creek Falls State Park for years. I went once maybe 5 years ago on my way home from another hike. I got confused by the map and all the semi-interconnected short trails and ended up just doing the Woodland Trail and seeing just Fall Creek Falls from the overlook near the parking lot.

The popularity, especially in these times, has deterred me from returning. I always opted for something “more rugged” or “less popular”. Against all of the type 4 in me, I returned to the largest state park in Tennessee yesterday. And let me just say, what took me so long to get back??

Many people drive to the different sections and do some hiking at each landmark. But, I say why drive when you can hike to them all? I decided to see how long it would take to hike to all of the iconic spots: Cane Creek Falls and Cascades, Fall Creek Falls, Piney Creek Falls, both suspension bridges and Milliken’s Overlook. And yes, it can be done! It will end up being about an 11 mile hike with both easy and difficult sections, but I HIGHLY recommend this route.

I started at the nature center and attempted the Cable Trail first. Even though Luna is quite the adventure dog, there was a spot we couldn’t get safely down together. (She did amazing maneuvering the steep slopes until we got to the problem spot halfway down though!) So, we’ll return another time with a hiking pal so I can actually get all the way down. Then, we hiked all around the nature center which has accesses to Cane Creek Falls and Cascades. Be sure to make it all the way down the steps behind the nature center for the full cascades experience.

Then, we crossed the suspension bridge that connects this area to Fall Creek Falls via the Woodland Trail and ventured down to the bottom of the falls. We got absolutely soaked in the powerful mist from the falls and it was therapeutic. After returning to the top, we headed towards the parking area at the falls and found the Overnight Trail (also called the Lower Loop Trail) which takes you to Milliken’s Overlook (via a side trail) and Piney Creek Falls. The Lower Loop Trail is completely flat and just a bit hard to see the trail. It is marked with white trail markers, but all the fallen leaves made the trail almost indistinguishable from the other land. I didn’t have trouble following it, but I also use the Gaia GPS app, which I check frequently to make sure I am on the trail.

After viewing Cane Creek Gulf, return to the Lower Loop Trail and follow it to Piney Creek Falls. After seeing the falls from the overlook, continue on just a bit farther along the white trail until you reach the other large suspension bridge. I turned around here and returned to the Nature Center via the Overnight (Lower Loop). I thought there may be a way to the bottom of Piney Creek Falls, but I’m not sure that’s the case and I had to start making my way back.

The whole adventure ended up being just a bit over 11 miles and you get to see all the highlights. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this hike.

I kept seeing the same people at all these spots. They had driven to each and I had hiked the whole way. 😂

So, don’t think that just because this is the most visited and one of the largest recreation areas in the state that it doesn’t pack a punch. I’m sure it’s crowded on weekends, but going during the week in the winter (even though it was pretty warm fro February) was perfect.

The two long trails (Lower Loop and Upper Loop) have backcountry campsites. This would be a great way to experience camping in this state park without staying at the HUGE campground. There’s just so much more to this state park than I previously thought. They have added new land and trails in the past few years, so there’s just so much to do at Fall Creek Falls State Park besides see Fall Creek Falls from the overlook (which is honestly what I thought for the longest time! 🙈)

Distance from Nashville: 2 hours

Trailhead: Nature Center near Cane Creek Falls off of Village Camp Rd.

Trails: Cable, Overlook, Woodland and Lower Loop Trails (see my route below)

Link to trail map: Falls Creek Falls State Park

Length of hike: 11.2 miles

Type of hike: Mixed/Out-and-back

Camping: 4 backcountry sites scattered throughout lower and upper loop trails plus tons of front country campground sites.

Overview: See multiple waterfalls (from above and below), a few overlooks and a couple suspension bridges as you traverse the most popular spots of Fall Creek Falls by foot.

Hidden Passage Loop :: Pickett CCC Memorial State Park

March 9, 2021March 15, 2021Leave a comment

Somehow I’ve never been to Pickett State Park and, wow, have I been missing out.

Like a lil sis to Big South Fork, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park is part of the Upper Cumberland Plateau region. She has within her sections of the Sheltowee Trace NRT and (one of) the John Muir Trail. She is a stunner, let me tell you! Sometimes I’m hesitant to drive 2.5 hours to a trail I’ve never been to that I really don’t see a ton about. But, I am over the moon that I didn’t bail on this loop.

This area was initially developed by the CCC, hence the ‘CCC Memorial’ part of the state park name. Because of this, there is a CCC Museum on the premises.

Thompson Overlook, about halfway through the trail

Actually, Hidden Passage has a “hidden” surprise around almost every bend of the trail. It’s such a wildly diverse trail and it will keep you enthralled the entire time. There’s so many rock houses, around 8 total and each one is stunning and somehow looks different from each other. There’s creeks, waterfalls, ridgetop views, parts of the trail that are open and feel above the treeline and also kind of look like the southwest.

The actual Hidden Passage is less than a mile, a beautiful, small stone arch. Right before this geological feature, you’ll find Crystal Falls, , which is a beautiful double tiered fall.

After passing these two highlights, you’ll meander along the “top” of a gorge that have both tree-lined and open parts that make you feel like you’re somewhere else far beyond Tennessee. And, don’t forget about the multiple rock houses. You’ll see these dispersed throughout the trail. The first one is right near the beginning of the trail, which also happens to be the largest. Some of them have mini waterfalls coming over them and some are covered with Cumberland Sandwort. (Delicate plant found ONLY in shaded rock houses on the Cumberland Plateau in NE Tennessee and SE Kentucky! Please stay on the trails and boardwalks to protect these fragile guys!) Another feature that is dispersed throughout the trail are rhododendrons, which I always think of as a ‘Smoky Mountain’ thing but they are all over the Cumberland Plateau too.

There is an option to add on the Double Falls trail, which will increase the total mileage by about 1.5 miles. I attempted this trail, but it had just rained and the trail was partially covered by a rushing creek and I didn’t particularly want to have soaking wet feet for the rest of the hike. (Also, I didn’t bring extra socks. Rookie mistake!) I made it a little more than halfway, then turned around. There’s also a nice campsite down this trail as well with water readily available from this creek.

If you’re not up for the full loop, you can do a 1.5 mile out and back to Crystal Falls and see the “Hidden Passage” as well as a huge rock house. Then, you can also do a couple shorter trails in Pickett like the Natural Bridge and Rock House trails.

Pickett CCC Memorial State Park should be on everyone’s list, whether a brand new or seasoned hiker. There’s a variety of trails depending on what you’re up for and each showcases a unique part of this area.

Get on up to the part of the state. I know I spend a lot of time in the South Cumberland region but I’m excited to explore more of the northern part. There’s tons of amazing things in the area.

Quick note: there has been bear activity reported in this area. Please be as safe as possible and know how to handle wildlife encounters. I like to clap often, bang my trekking poles and shout “HEY BEAR” frequently to make my presence known. You can also get a bear bell for, like, $3 at REI!

Trail: Hidden Passage Trail

Length: ~ 8 miles (~ 10 miles if you do the Double Falls Trail)

Distance from Nashville: 2 hours 30 minutes

Trailhead: Hidden Passage Trailhead on Pickett Park Highway (State Rte 154)

Link to trail map: Pickett CCC Memorial State Park Map

Brief Overview: Meander along diverse landscapes and flora in this underrated state park in the North Cumberland Plateau. You’ll see waterfalls, creeks, sweeping views and jaw-dropping rock houses.

Ozone Falls State Natural Area

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020Leave a comment

Yes, Ozone Falls in stunning but it’s not really much of a “hike”. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that, but it lends itself to crowds because of it’s beauty and proximity to the highway. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check it out; it’s truly stunning.

There are two short trails: Fall Creek Rim Trail and Plunge Pool Trail. The Rim Trail takes you on a short loop along the creek that feeds Ozone Falls, takes you through a small patch of oak forest and to the lip of the falls. The Plunge Pool Trail follows the highway then turns sharply down to the left right before the metal road barrier. This is the trail that takes you to the base of the falls where you can wander all around the falls and the pool including going behind the falls (always a personal favorite).

The rim trail is rated as easy and the plunge trail, while short, is quite steep and requires some careful footing over a very rocky and boulders path. But, I like to work for my views!

Kind of similar to Virgin Falls, Ozone Falls plunges many feet then Fall Creek disappears into the ground, then re-emerges downstream. Also! Ozone Falls was selected for filming scenes of the live action Jungle Book.

As is classic in Cumberland Plateau hikes, there are HUGE boulders in creek and such interesting rock structures like the amphitheater that the falls is situated in and a small cave nicknamed ‘The Gambler’s Den’.

So, if you are in the area, or just driving through, Ozone Falls is a great place to stop and enjoy some Tennessee beauty. Just PLEASE remember to recreate responsibly and leave no trace, especially at high volume areas. Let’s keep nature wild and beautiful for generations to come.

View from the top of the falls into the amphitheater

This tiny creek creates the powerful fall that is Ozone!

Trail down to the plunge pool near the ‘Gambler’s Den’

Plunge Pool trail is a sharp left down the rocky path from this spot.

Distance from Nashville: 1 hour 55 min

Trailhead: Ozone Falls State Natural Area, right on the side of TN-1 near Crab Orchard, TN (parking on both sides of the highway

Link to trail map: Ozone Falls Designated State Natural Area

Length of hike: A little more than 1 mile

Brief Overview: View a stunning fall from the top and the plunge pool in a quick hike near I-40.

Window Cliffs :: Window Cliffs State Natural Area

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020Leave a comment

Window Cliffs has been on “to hike” list for some time. But a combination of dogs not being allowed, the multiple creek crossings and hearing that it “wasn’t that great of a trail” gave me pause about hiking this approximately 6 mile trail near Burgess Falls.

So, perhaps my expectation were set low, but Window Cliffs completely surprised me. It was, quite simply, a delightful hike.

So, let’s start off with perhaps the most daunting thing about this hike: the NINE creek crossings of the winding Cane Creek. I went during a relatively dry period and the deepest creek crossing was about knee-high and a couple were completely dry. Just like most trails in the Cumberland Plateau area, water levels are highest in the late winter (Jan-March), so that might not be an ideal time to hike this trail. (Also, I’m sure the water is freezing, so probably not the most pleasant experience.) All that to say, don’t be deterred by the creek crossings in the summer and fall, they are totally doable. (Please note that when water levels are high, the trail may close without notice. If it’s just rained, I would call ahead to check the status of the trail.)

I’d recommend hiking in Chacos or Tevas or something comparable so you don’t even have to worry about wet socks and shoes. The terrain is not particularly rocky or root-y so hiking sandals worked perfect for me. There’s cables at every creek crossing but I’d also highly recommend trekking poles for balance and stability.

Let’s talk about the highlight of this trail. There’s a waterfall, cedar groves (low key one of my favorite nature things), spots that felt like Smoky Mountain Balds, the creek crossings, and the namesake limestone cliffs. There was always something different around the bend and kept my attention the entire time. Also, the first (downhill) and last half mile (uphill) are pretty dang steep, but the rest of the trail is relatively level. So, just be prepared for a challenging last half mile!

The view from the top of the cliffs was more stunning that I thought it was going to be. You can’t really see the ‘windows’ from the top, but there’s what I’ll call an ‘underlook’ (because you are looking up to the view) where you can see the windows in the limestone.

As another bonus, there’s two rare plants – at least in the TN area – in this area: plains muhly and northern white cedar. Plains muhly has only 2 known locations in TN and looks like spindly desert grass that grows in rocky or sandy areas. Northern white cedars are also not common in the south and prefer to grow in rocky places. Just something for everyone here at Window Cliffs, folks.

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and hike an A+ trail in Tennessee that’s surprisingly close to Nashville.

The creek crossings are numbered. This was one of the dry ones.

Distance from Nashville: 1 hour 10 min

Trailhead: Window Cliffs State Natural Area (8400 Cane Creek Rd Baxter, TN), Be aware that trail may close without notice when water levels are high.

Link to trail map: Window Cliffs SNA Trail Map

Length of hike: 5.5 miles, out-and-back

Brief overview: Cedar groves, waterfalls, creek crossings, and some cliffs with a view, this hike will keep you on your toes with beauty and diversity.

Mossy Ridge Trail :: Percy Warner Park

October 9, 2020October 9, 20202 Comments

I was looking through my posts on here and realized that I’ve never done one on the Mossy Ridge Trail. In all the times I’ve hiked it, I just never did a full write-up on it. And this trail definitely deserves it.

Percy Warner Park and it’s sister park, Edwin Warner are probably the most popular parks in Davidson County. Although, Radnor might give it a run for its money, Warner Parks have extensive trails both paved and natural and dogs are allowed on any of the park’s trails.

Mossy Ridge, also the ‘red trail’, is my personal favorite in the park. The Mossy Ridge alone is a perfect 4.5 miles. But, you have to access it via connectors so it is typically 5-6 miles depending on where you start.

This trail packs over 1,000 feet of elevation gain to get that heart pumping. Much of the trail is a steady balance of undulating uphills and downhills. It’s definitely a nice little challenge, even if you are in good hiking shape. But, it’s also a great trail close to home that can help you build stamina for those longer hikes, more difficult hikes that you may be training for.

You don’t hike “to a destination” but the whole trail is filled with the best trees, hilly views, the tiniest cascading waterfall and, of course, moss! Every time I hike it, I seem to love it more.

You can access Mossy Ridge from almost any trailhead in the park. The Deep Well Trailhead, off of Hwy 100 is probably the most popular place to start. You can also access it via the Cane Connector Trail at Vaughn’s Gap, also off of Hwy 100. For the shortest distance, start at the Chickering Trailhead off of Chickering Road. Where you’ll meet up with the trail after about .15 miles. You can also access it via the Gaucho Road Trailhead where a trailhead connector meets up with the Cane Connector Trail.

No matter how you slice it, the Mossy Ridge is a must do in Nashville!

Distance from Nashville: 20 min

Trailhead: Choose your own adventure (read above). I usually start at Vaughn’s Gap. But there’s about 4 different places you can start: Deep Well, Vaughn’s Gap, Chickering Road and Gaucho Road

Trail: Mossy Ridge (Red Trail)

Link to trail map: Percy Warner Parks Map

Length of hike: 4.5-6 miles depending on trailhead

Brief overview: Steady and challenging elevation changes, mossy ridges, so many trees, a small cascading waterfall in a perfect hike close to home.

She Hikes Tennessee

Gettin' folks outdoors one hike at a time

Category: Moderate

The Trails of Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area

Backpacking Laurel-Snow Pocket Wilderness :: Cumberland Trail

Hiking to Denny Falls :: South Cumberland State Park

A Longer Stone Door Loop :: Savage Gulf State Natural Area

Edward’s Point :: Cumberland Trail, Tennessee River Gorge Segment

Hiking Tour of Fall Creek Falls State Park

Hidden Passage Loop :: Pickett CCC Memorial State Park

Ozone Falls State Natural Area

Window Cliffs :: Window Cliffs State Natural Area

Mossy Ridge Trail :: Percy Warner Park