Perimeter Trail – 4.7 miles Moderate; Lakes of Bowie Loop Trail – 2.5 miles Easy
Dr. Evangeline Bowie purchased 722 acres of barren and eroded land in the 1950s. She worked to improve the land management, digging lakes, creating a hydrology system, and planting of over 500,000 trees. The park was deeded to the city of Fairview in 1992, with the nature Center opening in 2003.
Meet at Big Lots parking area, Riverside Drive, Clarksville. Depart 8am CT. Drive 50 miles to the Trailhead. Contact Hike Leader: Jan Hodgson (931) 220-4140
The park is named for red cedar trees found throughout the area. The trees reminded early American settlers of the famed Biblical cedar forests that thrived across Mount Lebanon in what is now the Mediterranean area.
Meet at I-24 Park and Ride. We will depart at 7a.m. CT and drive 72 miles to the Trailhead.
6-1/2 miles Moderately strenuous for terrain and length.
This less often hiked out-and-back trail is in the northern sector of Fall Creek Falls State Park. It winds through the forest past a large cave entrance to small but beautiful falls. With luck we’ll see some early spring wildflowers. Bring snacks, water, and a lunch. We’ll likely encounter muddy sections so plan accordingly. Register with Mark for updates
Join us on a hike in the Cumberland Mountains. We will park at the West Lookout Tower trailhead. We will follow the Lookout Tower trail about 2.85 miles to the intersection with the Bird Mountain trail/Cumberland Mountain trail gaining about 1050 feet. We will then follow the Bird Mountain trail for about 4.25 miles to where we first started on the Lookout Tower trail, gaining about 250 feet in the first mile then losing 1400 feet. Along the way we will pass Castle Rock. The total hiking distance is about 7.1 miles. The hike difficulty is rated as moderate. The distances and elevation changes are estimates from the park map. We will meet in Oak Ridge at the Books-A-Million parking, lot nearest Illinois Ave. for carpooling, leaving at 9 am. Books-A-Million is located at 310 South Illinois Ave. If you prefer you can meet us at the Park headquarters. We will leave the Park headquarters at 10 am and drive to the trailhead. We recommend that riders in a carpool pay the driver as requested. The weather is variable; we recommend hiking poles, shoes to wear to and from the hike plus sturdy hiking shoes, other weather appropriate clothing, a snack, a drink and a camera. After the hike plan on stopping on the way back for a meal and refreshments. For specific information about the hike please call Tom at 865-588-5622 and leave a message or send an email to cressler@retiree.utk.edu before February 17th..
Join us for an easy to moderate 5 + mile hike in Tennessee’s newest state park, designated, as such in September 2013. This Park is on former farmland and includes the Kelly Bend peninsula along the French Board River. Habitats include wooded hills, an intermittent stream and several fields being restored to Native warm-season grasses. More than 180 species of birds have been sighted in this park. The views are great, you can see the Smokey Mountains and Mt. LeConte. The hike is mostly easy with rolling hills. Let’s meet at 10:00 am et in the parking lot of the Cracker Barrell at Straw Plans Pike exit off 1-40 east. We should arrive at the trailhead at 10:30 am et if you prefer to meet there. Due to the unpredictable weather conditions, please pre-register with Rosie 865.985.9144 or rosemary_L@hotmail.com