Tellico Lake – Sinking Creek Trail

Sinking Creek Trail, Tellico Lake. About 5 miles. Moderate. Bring your sweetheart, or perhaps, find one! The hike will start at the Coytee Trailhead parking lot. It features several bridges including an 85 foot steel and concrete bridge erected by TVA in 2011, and elevated 15 feet above Coytee Cove adjacent to Coytee Trailhead. The trail has some ups and downs, but nothing too hard. It follows the lake. We may encounter some remnants of an old car. The Sinking Creek Trail extends south where we will start from the Coytee Trail Head to the Sinking Creek Trailhead where we cross the road to another short section connecting to Carpenters Grade Road (where our shuttle is parked). We will do a shuttle from Coytee Trailhead for transportation to come back to Coytee. If you are able to take I-75 to the Lenoir City Exit for tailgating (exit 81) you will be going SE on Hwy 321, turn left at the stop light just past the hospital. At the next cross street you will see and meet at the Walmart nearest the Murphy Gas Station at 9:30. Then you should travel to Hwy 95 on the right and be at the trailhead by 9:45. Follow signs to Coytee Trailhead,. We hope to settle and be ready to hike at 10:00. Map is available here: http://tellicowater.org/ and select East Lakeshore Trail Maps to meet at Coytee Trailhead off Axley Chapel Road where we will actually do Sinking Creek. Also be prepared for cold weather, water, and snacks. We will most likely decide as a group if you would like to have supper on the way back through Lenoir City (traditionally Gondolier Restaurant). I am coming from Maryville, so I will be going Hwy 411 S, and anyone who wants to carpool from there, let me know. Please register contacting Karen Towle at 865-254-2044 or delicadeze@aol.com.