Fall 2020 All the news that’s “fit” to print! Visit www.outdoorknoxville.com for listings of Outside of Knoxville local/regional/state wide trails and maps! A lot has changed since our last newsletter! Most group and community Norris State Park and outdoor events have been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19, but the Norris Watershed pandemic just emphasizes the importance of living a fit and fun lifestyle. Lots of trails and usually a lot of So let’s hit the trails less traveled for some safe social distancing and fresh shade in the summer here. The gravel air! These are hikes that usually have less traffic, but still boast interesting Song Bird Trail across from the Lenoir sites and some great views. Museum is a nice, flat, gravel path that is about two miles long if you do Knoxville’s “Urban to the water on the Alcoa side. It is a the whole loop. Across the street at Wilderness” popular mountain bike area, so if you’re the museum there are maps of that There are about 10 spaces to park hiking be on alert for bikers and keep area. off Burnett Creek (near Island Home). your dog on a leash, but the trails in the I like to hike on the cliff trail behind Hike a few miles back towards Ijams back are not overly used. the museum. You can make it a loop Nature Center on several trails to hike to the observation point then including the main Dozier Trail. You Concord Trails - and the back down Grist Mill Trail for a lovely, can also go back across Burnett new Concord Trails three-mile hike. towards Sevierville Pike and do a Concord Trails are located off After ¾ of a mile or so there is an trail that leads to a little pond and Northshore next to the Par Three golf intersection. If you keep straight/right Anderson School. course and tennis courts, and close to it dead ends in a little bit. I take a left A new parking area and trail head in Lakeside Tavern. There are plenty of and head back up the hill, and then at the back of I.C. King Park off Maryville parking spaces. You can do a big loop the top there is a sign directing you to Pike gives you an option to avoid the on the trails (I go counter clockwise) the overlook. It is a short climb to the very busy Alcoa Highway that’s on the and end up halfway on the hike closer overlook but the views are great. You other side. I.C. King has a dog park and to the lake/river section (where the can make it a loop by coming back plenty of places to leave your car. A big water is on your right side) and keep down from the overlook and instead map shows you some different trails hiking back to the starting point. of going right, keep straight and it can you can hike and some lead you back There are also some newer trails loop you back through the trail along further out Northshore past the a power line and ends up back at the Forks of the River- Knox County roundabout. Just past the bridge Museum. there are parking places on the left. A greenway leads from there to “The Cove,” or you can hike back towards the bridge, cross it and then enter some nice, shady trails. You can make a two-mile loop and more. IC King Park - Knox County Song Bird Trail - Norris State Park All the news that’s “fit” to print! Fall 2020 Big Ridge State Trails in the Smokies Park This park is not too far Kephart Prong Trail from Norris and it also has This is an easy hike that starts off some nice trails and plenty Newfound Gap Road 441 and is 4.2 of parking. You can rent miles out and back. Start by crossing kayaks there, too. There is a lovely bridge and stream. Within a way to do about a three- the first half mile you will pass by an mile loop that takes you old chimney and other relics left from over a little bridge, which when this area was a CCC Camp back takes you over the water. in the 1930’s. It’s not too strenuous, Cross some other log bridges and either. The ranger office Big Ridge State Park at 2.1 miles you’ll come to Kephart’s has maps. Shelter, which is your turn around for 4.2 miles. If you keep going it turns into Scenic Wild Obed Natural Grassy Branch Trail and then Dry Sluice Area and Frozen Head Trail leading up to the AT and Charlie’s State Park Bunion for 12.5 miles out and back. These two places are close to For a loop hike you can park a car Wartburg, TN. Frozen Head gets a lot at this trailhead, travel in another car of hikers but also has several different back to Newfound Gap and hike out trails you can access. The most towards Charlie’s Bunion, taking a popular is an easy hike to Debord & right on Sweat Heiffer Trail two miles Emory Gap Falls. South/North Mac to Kephart Prong Trail. Finish back at trails are nice as you can make it into a the first car for about a 7.5 mile hike. seven-mile loop. Newfound Gap parking is crowded, Scenic Wild Obed Natural Area just especially on the weekends. I would past Wartburg will probably have few Debord Falls - Frozen Head State Park do it midweek and start out early. folks on the trails. The office is right Nemo Trail is also a nice trail that on the town square in Wartburg with is below Wartburg. It is out and back maps and info. Lilly Bluff Trail to Point three to four miles, total. Trail can be a nice, short one-mile hike, or do the whole thing for a 4.5 mile hike. For more information on this hike, visit https://home.nps.gov/obed. Kephart Shelter - Smokies From the Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg you’ll drive 21.8 miles south on Newfound Gap Road to reach the trailhead which will be on your left. There are some spots on the side of the road on the right side Nemo Bridge and Lilly Bluff - of the road as well. Overlook at Lily Bluff Trail Scenic Wild Obed Get maps of area trails and parks at www.outdoorknoxville.com and www.tnstateparks.com and remember… Life is more fun when you’re fit! All the news that’s “fit” to print! Fall 2020 West Prong Trail Bonus hikes Spruce Flats Falls This is an out and back trail close This trail is popular on the to Great Smoky Mountains Institue off the grid! weekends, but if you do your West at Tremont, featuring a lovely picnic Prong hike and want to add on OR spot at the turn around (a campsite). Injun Creek Trail if you go maybe later in afternoon it From the Townsend “Y” intersection, Injun Creek Trail is not listed in might not be too crowded. This site is drive west on Laurel Creek Road the official Smokies hiking trail guide not listed in the “brown book” but is towards Cades Cove. Roughly two- (known as “the brown book”), but a nice trail that starts out behind the tenths of a mile from the “Y,” turn left it’s a nice, easy in-and-out hike to the Tremont dorms. Look for a sign that to proceed towards the Great Smoky remains of an old train engine that says, “Buckeye Trail” and follow it one Mountains Institute at Tremont. Drive fell into a creek in the early 1900’s mile up to a majestic waterfall. another two miles and turn right into (no casualties). The trail starts near a the parking area for the West Prong ranger station about a mile from the Looking for more? Trail, located just before reaching the park’s Greenbrier entrance. Institute. Look for an intersection about a Cumberland Gap Historical The Trail starts in the back of the mile in. You can turn right if you want National Park and Big South Fork parking area. Go uphill and look for to make a side trip to a cemetery. National Park also have lots of trails a side trail off the West Prong that After another ¾ of a mile back on the that usually are not as crowded as the takes you to an old cemetery that main trail, you’ll pass campsite 32. Smokies. For information and maps, is interesting. Climb up the side of Stay left on Grapeyard Ridge visit www.nps.gov/cuga and www. Fodderstack Mountain, then you will Trail and it will come to a turn. The nps.gov/biso. start going downhill and can hear the old engine is to the left, down in the West Prong stream. water. This is a pretty easy hike and There are a few small stream kids often enjoy it. Out and back is crossings, then at 2.3 miles you 3.5-4 miles. come to a large campsite with plenty of places to enjoy a picnic lunch. I often turn around here OR you can continue uphill about half a mile or more to the intersection of Bote Mountain where you can make it a little over five-mile hike. Grapeyard Ridge Trail - Smokies Piney Falls at Cumberland Plateau A few other favorites… Tellico Plains area - Consauga Falls and Coker Creek waterfall Spring City area - Stinging Fork Falls and Piney Falls Natural Area Erwin, TN - Sills Branch Falls and Pine Ridge Falls West-Prong - Smokies Tellico/Loudon area - East Lakeshore trail system 8300-5187.