Tuesday, February 20 — Greenway Farm in Hixson TN, 4.7 miles, easy. We will combine the paved and graveled main trail with the dirt trail that borders North Chickamauga Creek. Check the weather forecast and choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring water, snacks and/or lunch; gather up hiking poles, rain jacket, and sunscreen as needed. Meet at the parking lot at Greenway Farm, 3008 Hamill Road, which is about 1.6 miles NE of the intersection of Hamill Road and Highway 153. Please register with hike leader Ginny Kidd by texting her at (423)304-3799.
Saturday, February 17 — Cumberland trail: Retro-Hughes Road to Leggett Road, with a shuttle. Longer option: 8-9 miles, moderate, about 1000’ el. gain. Shorter option: 5.4 miles, moderate. We all start at the Retro-Hughes trailhead of the CT, traverse through a lovely pine forest, climb up a wooden ladder, and descend rock stairs into the impressive Rock Creek gorge. After we cross an 80-foot bridge, we take the upper Rock Creek loop up the ridge to a T intersection. Here, hikers taking the shorter option turn left to hike a short distance to the Upper Leggett trailhead and their shuttle vehicle. Hikers taking the longer option turn right, take a spur trail to a fine lookout, then continue on the Rock Creek trail out to the lower Leggett trailhead. Check the weather forecast and choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring water, snacks and/or lunch; gather up hiking poles, rain jacket, and sunscreen as needed. For carpooling/caravanning, meet at 8.30 am ET at the Durham Street parking lot (ball fields) off Dayton Pike in Soddy-Daisy. https://bit.ly/3Qjdc0S Please register with Tammy Hendrick at 315-949-8187. Carpool cost: $3.00.
Tuesday, February 13 — Goforth Creek Trail and Scenic Spur Trail, 4 miles or so, moderate, out-and-back. Goforth Creek is a crazy little whitewater creek that jumps over huge boulders before it settles down for 50 feet and flows quietly into the Ocoee River. We’ll walk along this creek for a little way to admire the waters leaping over, around, and through the boulders. Then we’ll drive to the Scenic Spur trailhead and hike on a beautiful trail that takes us to an impressive waterfall, known by some as Rainbow Falls. The trail follows Rock Creek, which is making a determined exit off Chilhowee Mountain after jumping down Benton Falls and carving its way through a number of cliffs. We will pass scads of rhododendron bushes and look up at impressive cliffs guarding the northern edge of this narrow valley. There are a couple of creek crossings, so be sure to bring your water shoes. Check the weather forecast and choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring water, snacks and/or lunch; bring water shoes; gather up hiking poles, rain jacket, and sunscreen as needed. For carpooling/caravanning, meet at 8:30 am ET in parking area near the gas station at Food City in Ooltewah, right (east) off I-75 exit 11. https://bit.ly/3dwmbxnPlease register with hike leader Tom McElhone, 805-208-4654 or sarmitta@yahoo.com. Carpool cost: $4.00.
Tuesday, February 6 — South Cumberland State Park: Foster Falls to Small Wilds Campground, 5 miles out-and-back, flat, easy to moderate. On this hike we will enjoy two overlooks of Foster Falls and many cool overlooks of Fiery Gizzard Cove. Check the weather forecast and choose appropriate layers; wear hiking shoes or boots; bring water, snacks and/or lunch; gather up hiking poles, rain jacket, and sunscreen as needed. Meeting time is 9:15 am ET at the Foster Falls/Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead, 498 Foster Falls Road, Sequatchie, TN. For carpooling/caravanning from Chattanooga, meet at 8:30 am ET at the parking lot just after LaQuinta Inn, right (north) off I-24 Exit 175. https://bit.ly/3QITAD4 Register with Joan Hartvigsen, jhartvigs@comcast.net or 931-636-2914. Carpool cost: $3.00.
The trail is well constructed on natural turf. The entire hike is in pretty woods. There are a couple of creek crossings that can be a small challenge. Trekking poles are recommended. Meet at I24 Exit Park and Ride location. Sign in at 7:45 CT. We will drive 31 miles to the trailhead. Contact: Hike Leader – Jan Hodgson 931-220-4140
Joint hike with Upper Cumberland Chapter. Short Hike (5 miles total) from Overlook Park to Cowpens loop trail, easy 2.3 miles. On to Stillhouse park overlook and loop trail via Scenic North loop trail. Long Hike: Above trails plus 1.5 miles on Rhododendron trail, considered difficult, to Bridge Creek falls. Then another easy trail to Bridge creek overlook. Meet hike leader, Sheila, at Overlook Park trailhead on Falls Road at 8:30. We’ll eat lunch at the Long Road Cafe in Mayland. Depart 8:00 am CT from the outer parking lot of Harbor Freight, 145 Highland Square, Crossville, TN. Carpool cost is $3. Bring lunch, snacks, (electrolytes) water, bug spray and sunscreen. Persons 18 and over, members and non-members welcome. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Led by Cove resident Sheila Miller, 931-260-6065.