Natural Bridge via Snoopers Rock

Saturday, December 7 – Natural Bridge via Snoopers Rock Hike.  Prentice Cooper State Forest, Marion County west of Chattanooga.  6.2 miles out and back plus optional 1.4 miles out and back to Blowing Wind Falls on the Ritchie Hollow Trail.  Moderate: ups and downs. Joint hike with the Murfreesboro Chapter.  This hike visits two scenic features and a short side trip to a beautiful waterfall.  We will first visit Snoopers Rock, a large, wide-open outcrop overlooking the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River as it cuts a 1,000-foot-deep swath through the Cumberland Plateau.   Raccoon Mountain is on the far side of the river.   Then we will hike a section of the Pot Point Loop clockwise to the Natural Bridge. Along the way we will enjoy views of the Tennessee River.  A spur on the left leads to an outcrop where we can see the opening of Natural Bridge.  Then we will walk atop the Natural Bridge and hike down to the base of the Natural Bridge using steep accesses found on both ends of the stone span. On our way back we can take the Ritchie Hollow Trail to visit Blowing Wind Falls.  Bring water and lunch and hiking sticks.  Please register with Joan Hartvigsen, jhartvigs@comcast.net or 931-636-2914.  We will meet at 8:00 am CST at the Snoopers Rock Trailhead inside Prentice Cooper State Forest.  The trailhead is about 6.4 miles past the entrance to Prentice Cooper State Forest.