Chattanooga Hiking Meetup

Piney River Scenic Hike (8 miles)

February 16 · 9:00 AM

PINEY RIVER

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL HIKE ! !

Meeting Time: 9am EST

Meeting Location: main parking lot at Piney River (see directions below)

(in Spring City, TN)

Hiking Distance: approximately 8.5 miles

Travel time from Chattanooga: approximately 1 hour

Hike Rating: moderate

Due to this hike being approximately 8.5 miles one way, we will be doing it as a shuttle. We will first meet at the parking lot at the base of the mountain, as you enter the park area. We will then shuttle in fewer cars to our trailhead. Below is a link with a good map and some good information about this hike. Check it out.

http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/piney_river.html

Our journey will start at the parking lot nearest the Duskin Creek Bridge, and will follow alongside the Piney River until we come to the parking lot at the far right of the map (where we will have left some of the cars). We will cross several bridges, see interesting rock formations, and enjoy some wonderful scenery. If you read the description of the trail on the link, we will actually be doing it in reverse, so when it refers to the start being all uphill, they will actually be descents for us at the end.

There may be one section of the trail where we will have to cross over some rocks where there is the possibility that water may be flowing down the side of the mountain, depending on the water levels. It was a little wet the last time that I was there, so I just want to be sure that you are aware in advance. This segment is near the end of the hike.

Directions: Take US 27 North until TN 68 North at the overpass. Then take TN 68 for approximately 1.8 miles to Shut-In Gap Road. At Shut-In Gap Road, turn left. The parking area will be approximately 1.4 miles on the right. If you use a gps, you can key in "shut in gap road, spring city, tn". There is not a specific address, but it is not hard to find.

Carpooling from Chattanooga:

Please meet at the Walmart in Soddy-Daisy by 8am.

9334 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN

Hike Leader Contact Information

Ryan Maddux 423 - 240 - 2239

Please be sure to dress appropriately according to seasonal temperatures/weather. If the weather is cold, be sure to dress in layers.

No-Shows: As with all Meetup's, please be polite -- if you are a YES RSVP, please show up. If you can't make it, please change your YES to a NO as soon as possible. Please don't be a "no-show!"

WEATHER: As with all outdoor events, if it's raining/stormy or very poor trail conditions, we may have to cancel. If the weather is questionable, please check this event page before you leave home.

Please make every effort to arrive early or on time

so that you do not hold up the group.

Join or login to comment.

Ryan Maddux

Just a little heads up after we meet at the bottom to shuttle up to the top and the same when we're done to go get our vehicles the road the trailhead is on is pretty rough and i can only hold myself and 3 more in my jeep so i want everybody to be aware of this before taking their vehicles out there. 4 wheele drive is not needed though just rocky and lots of little mud holes.

0 · February 12
- Michael Seeber
  
  Ryan, Piney Creek was a wonderful hike. Thanks for leading it! That little vine that you were wondering about, that I ripped apart, was a Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata. It gets a pretty vase shaped flower on it in April or May, orange on the outside, yellow on the inside. It gets a long peapod like fruit on it, June-Sept, 10 to 20 cm long. It is called Crossvine because, if you cut across the stem, there is a cross in it. Grows up trees to 30 meters. Rabbits and deer eat it and the Ruby throated hummingbird enjoys hummingbird enjoys its nectar. Thanks again!
  
  1 · February 18
- Colleen
  
  Thanks for sharing this, Michael...so glad to know it wasn't poison ivy!!!
  
  0 · February 18
Laura Gilligan

Awesome time and pictures are gorgeous!

0 · February 17
Colleen

Thank you! Ryan and All!

0 · February 16
Deborah Webb

Even better the second time. I love this trail and my hiking company was great.

0 · February 16
Alex_G

Outstanding hike! Thanks for leading us Ryan, and great conversations with old and new friends!

0 · February 16
Scott Piotrowski

Very nice hike. Great to see old friends and meet some new ones. Thanks again to Ryan for leading these great hikes.

0 · February 16
Barbara P. McCollum

Beautiful hike. Great hike for photographers! Ryan is a great leader!

0 · February 16
"Stu" (Robert Stewart)

Great hike today! Always nice to see new faces on the trail.

0 · February 16
Barbara P. McCollum

I've love to carpool as well. Will be driving from Rome, GA and can meet in Chattanooga and would be willing to drive if trailhead doesn't require 4-wheel drive.

0 · February 10
- View all 10 replies
- Deborah Webb
  
  I don't recall anything about the trailhead... we did an end to end with cars parked at each end last year and there was a clean plentiful parking lot at least one of the trailheads.
  
  0 · February 10
- Barbara P. McCollum
  
  Deborah, why don't you suggest a carpool site? I will be driving I-75 north to I-24 west and then US Highway 27 north.
  
  0 · February 10
- Vivian
  
  Hey guys...do you want to meet at the carpool location, I'm going to try this long hike.
  
  0 · February 10
- Heather
  
  I'm interested in carpooling too. I live in Ringgold, can meet in Chattanooga and split the cost of gas.
  
  0 · February 10
- Barbara P. McCollum
  
  Okay I'll be at the Wal Mart in Soddy Daisy at suggested time unless we decide on something different.
  
  0 · February 10
- Barbara P. McCollum
  
  Heather, I sent you an email message.
  
  0 · February 11
- Vivian
  
  Hey Barbara and Heather....wanted to try this hike but got called in to do tax work this Saturday. You all have a blast for me too!!
  
  0 · February 14
- Barbara P. McCollum
  
  We will miss you, Vivian.
  
  0 · February 15
- Deborah Webb
  
  I am still planning to meet at Walmart for carpool at 8am. Are we still doing that?
  
  0 · February 15
- Barbara P. McCollum
  
  Yes will be at Wal Mart at 8:00 a.m.
  
  0 · February 15
Karen McCarthy

I had to go out of town. Enjoy!

0 · February 15
Scott Piotrowski

I will be at the carpool, but sounds like I do not want to take my car up the trail for the shuttle process.

0 · February 15
- Barbara P. McCollum
  
  Scott, Heather and I will be at the carpool site in Soddy Daisy at 8:00 a.m. I will email you with contact, car info so we can be sure to meet up!
  
  0 · February 15
Vivian

Sorry have to bow out, got called in to do tax work this Saturday.

0 · February 14
Laura Gilligan

If I leave the Mojo Burrito end of RedBank at 8:00 will I be there by 9:00?

0 · February 12
Deborah Webb

I'd like to carpool if possible. I am happy to contribute gas money.

0 · February 9
Deborah Webb

I LOVE this trail!

0 · February 9