West Lookout Tower Trail to Bird Mountain Trail

6.9 mile loop, moderate. Our hike starts at the Lookout Tower trailhead at the far end of Big Cove Campground in Frozen Head State Park. This wide trail ascends gradually up the south flank of Bird Mountain until it reaches one of Bird Mountain’s distinct ridges. Here we make a sharp left onto the easier stretch of Bird Mountain Trail and walk along the top of the ridge. This stretch is also part of the Cumberland Trail. Along the way we will ramble about in Castle Rock, which lives up to its name. It’s a castle and it’s a rock. Shortly after Castle
Rock, we’ll take a sharp left to head down the mountain and roll back to where we started. Going down this fairly steep descent will make everyone glad that we took the loop counterclockwise. Meet at the Durham Street parking lot (ball fields) off Dayton Pike in Soddy-Daisy at 8.30 am ET. Please register with hike leader Tom McElhone, 805-208-4654 or sarmija@yahoo.com.