Tuesday, September 19 — Savage Gulf Day Loop Trail, Easy, 4.1 miles, lollipop loop. A walk through the woods on top of the plateau along with a trip down to beautiful Savage Falls. 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 Please register with hike leader Will Latham, (704) 365-8889. Carpool cost $3.00.
Tuesday, September 12 — Rainbow Lake Loop on Signal Mountain. Easy, about 3½ to 4 miles. This is an old favorite! We’ll take Rainbow Lake Trail, Bee Branch loop, and the Orange Trail up Middle Creek for half a mile or so. Due to limited parking at the trailhead, 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 Please register with hike leader Dave Graham, 423-315-7886. Carpool cost $1.00.
Tuesday, September 5 — Johnston Woods Trail, 3.9 miles, easy. It is exciting to discover this previously unknown trail that is very close to our Ooltewah Food City carpool location! It gets a high rating on AllTrails. Please meet in Food City Ooltewah parking area near its gas station, right off I-75 exit 11, at 8:30 am ET. https://bit.ly/3dwmbxn Please register with hike leader Will Latham, (704) 365-8889. Carpool cost $1.00.
Tuesday, August 29 — Chilhowee Mountain and Benton Falls, 5.2 miles, easy, loop. On Chilhowee Mountain, we’ll start by circumnavigating McKamy Lake, a short and easy stroll around what might also be called a large pond. Or perhaps a big mud hole, depending on the whims of the powers-that-be. Then we proceed one and a half miles through the woods to Benton Falls. Reaching the falls involves a steep but short paved descent into the small gulch formed by Rock Creek. We will return via parts of the Slick Rock trails, which include some good views. Be sure to bring insect repellant, water, and snacks. For carpooling/ caravanning, meet in parking area near the gas station at Food City in Ooltewah, right off I-75 exit 11, at 7:30 am ET. https://bit.ly/3dwmbxn Please register with hike leader Tom McElhone, 805-208-4654 or sarmitta@yahoo.com. Carpool cost $4.00.
Tuesday, August 22 — Durham Mine Trails to Fuggett Branch, around 5 miles, moderate, mostly a loop. We will take a gentle walk along Chalkeye Trail to get to E Fuggett Trail and down to the creek, passing rickety cliffs and investigating ruins from the mining era. Then we’ll get back to the top first via W Fuggett trail, checking out slag heaps disguised as wooded ridges, and then left up a steeper but well-kept trail. The latter gives us a good view of a very black slag heap that seems to be gradually sliding into a creek. At the top, we’ll turn left on Dinky Trail, then veer onto Plug Trail to get back on Chalkeye Trail and our cars. For carpooling/caravanning, meet at 7:30 am ET at Food City in St. Elmo, in the corner of the parking lot straight ahead off TN Ave. https://bit.ly/3C3Um9L Please register with hike leader Betsy Darken, (423) 718-2060. Carpool cost $2.00.
Tuesday, August 15 — Mabbitt Springs Trail, 4.9 miles, 500’ elevation gain, easy/moderate, out-and-back. This trail on Signal Mountain mostly follows Little Falling Water Creek to the top of Falling Water Falls and a spectacular view. We’ll be in the shade most of the time and, if there has been rain recently, we’ll be walking along a pretty babbling brook. For carpooling/caravanning, meet at Food City on Signal Mountain Road, in the near back corner of the parking lot, at 7:30 am ET. https://bit.ly/3pk0suY Please register with hike leader Dave Graham, 423-315-7886. Carpool cost $1.00.