Full Day Hike

Saturday, December 21 — Cumberland Trail: part of Soddy Creek Gorge Section (North) near Soddy Daisy, about 7 miles, moderately strenuous due to rocks and hiking into and out of gorges. Optional shorter hike, about 5 miles, moderate, exiting by the climbers’ parking lot. Short shuttle. Our hike will begin at the Little Soddy trailhead on Hotwater Road. We will walk down and up gorges created by Little Soddy Creek, Deep Creek, and Big Soddy Creek, with nice bridges at all creek crossings. Eventually, we will descend to the bottom of the plateau, cross the new bridge over Board Camp Creek, and walk along Big Soddy Creek to the parking lot. 

Check the weather forecast within a day of the hike, as earlier forecasts can change dramatically. Choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring snacks and/or lunch along with more water than you think you need; use insect repellent, hiking poles, sunscreen, and rain jacket as needed.

Meet at 8:30 ET at Big Soddy Creek Gulf parking lot, 11721 Back Valley Road, Soddy-Daisy. Register with the hike leader (required for all Scenic City hikes): Tammy Hendrick, (315) 949-8187. Carpool cost: $2.00.

Saturday, December 14 — Signal Mountain trails, up to three options: (1) long hike of 8-10 miles, moderate; (2) medium hike of around 4-5 miles, easy/moderate; (3) short 2.2-mile hike, 348’ el. gain, easy. A short shuttle is required for the medium hike. We will all start at the Rainbow Lake trailhead on Ohio Avenue and hike to Rainbow Lake and Bee Branch Loop Trail. Those wanting the short 2.2-mile hike can stay on Bee Branch Loop, circling back to Rainbow Lake and up to the Ohio Ave parking lot. The rest of the hikers will branch off Bee Branch Trail onto Orange Trail, followed by Orange-Yellow Trail heading north toward Edwards Point Road. A shuttle car can be parked on this road for medium hikers. Long hikers will continue onto the Yellow Trail and meander back via several trails to Rainbow Lake and the Ohio St. parking lot. 

Check the weather forecast within a day of the hike, as earlier forecasts can change dramatically. Choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring snacks and/or lunch along with more water than you think you need; use insect repellent, hiking poles, sunscreen, and rain jacket as needed.

Parking is limited at the trailhead, so please meet at 8:30 am ET for carpooling at Food City on Signal Mountain Road, in the near back corner of the parking lot. https://bit.ly/3pk0suY  Register with the hike leader (required for all Scenic City hikes): Betsy Darken, (423) 718-2060. Carpool: $2.00.

https://tennesseetrails.org/event/19994/

Saturday, December 7 — Cumberland Trail near Chattanooga, Pot Point Loop, 11.7 miles, difficult due to distance. This trail in Prentice Cooper State Forest marks the southern end of the Cumberland Trail. We will go along the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River, where this beautiful river cuts a gorge through the Cumberland Plateau. We will enjoy the panoramic view from Snooper’s Rock, walk on top of the Natural Bridge and check out views from Ransom Hollow and Pot Point, which was named after a rough section of the Tennessee River called the Pot, back in the days when the river was free-flowing and rambunctious. We will also pass McNabb Gulf and Hemlock Branch backcountry campsites. No naps allowed! 

Check the weather forecast within a day of the hike, as earlier forecasts can change dramatically. Choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring snacks and/or lunch along with more water than you think you need; use insect repellent, hiking poles, sunscreen, and rain jacket as needed.

The trailhead is near the parking lot for Snooper’s Rock. For carpooling/caravanning, meet at 8:30 am ET at Food City on Signal Mountain Road, in the near back corner of the parking lot. https://bit.ly/3pk0suY Register with the hike leader (required for all Scenic City hikes): Joan Hartvigsen, 931-636-2914 or jhartvig@comcast.net. Carpool cost: $2.00.

Saturday, November 30 — Daddy’s Creek Section of the Cumberland Trail, near Crab Orchard TN, 7.2-7.5 miles, about 1,100’ el. gain, moderate. We will hike this trail south to north, from Hebbertsburg Road to East Keyes Road. This requires a short shuttle. The trail bobbles in, around, and up and down gorges carved out by streams in this bumpy part of the Cumberland Plateau. Actually, the CP has evolved into the Crab Orchard Mountains in this area, with the plateau transitioning to mountainous terrain. We’ll see lots of sandstone boulders, bluffs, and rockhouses.  All this sandstone traces back to “the vast Appalachian sea,” according to the write-up for this trail on the Cumberland Trail Conference website. There is also a pleasant stretch of our trail right along Daddy’s Creek. Check the weather forecast within a day of the hike, as earlier forecasts can change dramatically. Choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring snacks and/or lunch along with more water than you think you need; use insect repellent, hiking poles, sunscreen, and rain jacket as needed. For carpooling/ caravanning, meet at the Durham Street parking lot (ball fields) off Dayton Pike in Soddy-Daisy at 8.30 am ET. https://bit.ly/3Qjdc0S  Register with the hike leader (required for all Scenic City hikes): Tom McElhone, 805-208-4654 or sarmitta@yahoo.com.  Carpool: $6.00.