- Burch Reserve Trail Evening HikeBurch Reserve Trailhead, Nashville, TN
Looking to get in better shape for backpacking? Missing the Backpacker Meetup group but don't have time for a trip? Then join us for a 3.0 mile hike in Edwin Warner Park!
This moderate hike typically takes about an hour with the pace set by the group. No one is left behind.
Alltrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/burch-reserve-trail?sh=rwslffWater, snacks, and appropriate layers for the weather are recommended.
We will start from the parking lot of the Burch Reserve Trail. This park is easy to access at the intersection of Highway 100 and Old Hickory Boulevard and offers paved parking. Please give yourself enough time to find parking and get to the trailhead – we will start promptly to respect everyone's time. Message me if you're running late!
I will keep an eye on the weather and may cancel for rain, thunderstorms, or windy conditions.
Dogs are not allowed on the Burch Reserve Trail, so please leave them at home.
- Mossy Ridge Trail Evening Hike at Percy Warner ParkDeep Well Trailhead - Warner Park, Nashville, TN
Looking to get in better shape for backpacking? Missing the Backpacker Meetup group but don't have time for a trip? Then join us for a 5.0 mile loop through Percy Warner Park!
We'll meet at the Deep Well Trail Head at 6:00 pm and spend the next 2+ hours on this moderate trail with frequent elevation gain (it can be challenging, depending on your fitness level). The pace is set by the group and no one is left behind.
Headlamps/lights are required for this hike. Water, snacks, and appropriate layers for the weather are recommended. I will keep an eye on the weather and may cancel for rain, thunderstorms, or windy conditions.
Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/mossy-ridge-trail
Please give yourself enough time to find parking and get to the trailhead – we will start promptly to respect everyone's time. Message me if you're running late!
Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash.
- Burch Reserve Trail Evening HikeBurch Reserve Trailhead, Nashville, TN
Looking to get in better shape for backpacking? Missing the Backpacker Meetup group but don't have time for a trip? Then join us for a 3.0 mile hike in Edwin Warner Park!
This moderate hike typically takes about an hour with the pace set by the group. No one is left behind.
Alltrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/burch-reserve-trail?sh=rwslffWater, snacks, and appropriate layers for the weather are recommended.
We will start from the parking lot of the Burch Reserve Trail. This park is easy to access at the intersection of Highway 100 and Old Hickory Boulevard and offers paved parking. Please give yourself enough time to find parking and get to the trailhead – we will start promptly to respect everyone's time. Message me if you're running late!
I will keep an eye on the weather and may cancel for rain, thunderstorms, or windy conditions.
Dogs are not allowed on the Burch Reserve Trail, so please leave them at home.
- Smoky Mountains - Deep Creek/Clingmans Dome/Noland DivideDeep Creek Trail Trailhead, Bryson City, NC
Overview
Let's explore the Deep Creek and Noland Divide area of the Smoky Mountains. This will be a four day trip. We'll spend the first two days making our way up to the Appalachian Trail and the last two days descending.Friday: We'll meet at the Deep Creek Campground hiker parking area at around noon and start on the Deep Creek Trail. At our first trail intersection we'll turn right onto the Indian Creek Trail and then left on the loop trail. The trail climbs the southern end of Sunkota Ridge where we'll turn right on the Sunkota Ridge Trail. We'll trace Sunkota Ridge all the way to a four way intersection at Martins Gap. After turning left onto the Martins Gap trail, we'll descend all the way back to the Deep Creek Trail. From here it's a very easy walk to campsite 55. (8.5 miles)
Saturday: Saturday is a day for climbing. We'll continue on the Deep Creek Trail until turning onto the Fork Ridge Trail. From here the climb is a little steeper. Our ascent on the Fork Ridge Trail finishes at Clingmans Dome Road. We'll cross the Road and hop on the AT and then the Sugarland Mountain Trail. The Mount Collins Shelter is about a half mile down the trail. (9 miles)
Sunday: On Sunday we'll head back to the AT and start climbing toward Clingmans Dome. Weather permitting we can stop for pictures at the observation platform. We'll then head south on the Forney Ridge Trail and take in the views again from Andrews Bald. We'll leave the bald and continue downhill until reaching the Springhouse Branch Trail. A left turn here will take us down toward Noland Creek. We'll turn left on the Noland Creek Trail and after a couple miles we'll arrive at campsite 63. (13.5 miles)
Monday: We'll want to wake early on Monday to give ourselves as much time for the return drive as possible. We'll continue our slow ascent on the Noland Creek Trail. The trail makes an abrupt turn away from the creek and the climb is more steep, but we'll soon reach Sassafras Gap. At the gap we'll turn right on the Noland Divide Trail. The trail follows a ridgeline almost all the way back to the Deep Creek Campground. Once close to the campground, we can take the Deep Creek Horse trail a half mile to the hiker parking area.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-november-3-2023-3bf29f3?u=i&sh=u4gemu
Permits are required for parking and reservations are required for each campsite. You are responsible for both though we may carpooling. At this point all sites still have space available. I will keep an eye on this and close the event if any of the sites reach capacity.
https://smokiespermits.nps.gov/index.cfm?BCPermitTypeID=1
This trip is for experienced backpackers familiar with the distance and elevation gain involved. This will be a "go at your own pace" hike, so come prepared with a map and an understanding of the route.
If I haven't hiked with you previously, please send me a Meetup message with your phone number and a good time to call when you rsvp for this trip.
- Cumberland Trail-Pot Point Loop via Ritchie Hollow Trail17805 River Canyon Rd, Chattanooga, TN
*EXPERIENCED BACKPACKERS ONLY*
If you are interested in this hike, please join the wait-list and send me a direct message ASAP. This trip will have a limited number of spots so please RSVP with integrity. Cancelling last minute will keep someone else from attending.Join me for a 17 mile hike on the Cumberland Trail's Pot Point Loop trail at Prentice Cooper WMA!
-Sunday, 5/19: We will meet at the Ritchie Hollow Trail parking lot at 11 am CT and hike in approximately 9 miles and camp at McNabb Gulf Camp.
(2.7 miles on the RHT and 6.1 miles on the Pot Point Loop.)
-Monday, 5/20: We will complete the loop and descend the Ritchie Hollow Trail totaling approximately 8 miles.
(5.1 miles on the Pot Point Loop and 2.7 miles on the RHT.)The Ritchie Hollow Trail begins at the base of Suck Creek Mountain and climbs 1,200 ft of elevation over 2.7 miles where we will connect with Pot Point. On this climb we will encounter 3 creek crossings and will see a beautiful 30 ft waterfall called Blowing Wind Falls. This climb is considered Difficult.
Pot Point Loop offers several views of Raccoon Mountain and a natural arch. The highlight of this hike will be Snoopers Rock Overlook which will give us an expansive 180 degree view of the Tennessee River Gorge.Specs/Maps:
-Total Elevation Gain for this hike will be about 2,500 ft. (This is almost the elevation gain climbing Mt. LeConte in the Smokys.)
-Please make sure you have a copy or downloaded copy of these trail maps!
-No privies but plenty of water sources! Bring your trowel, TP and water filter.
To access the Ritchie Hollow trail, park at the gravel parking lot across from the Pot Point Cabin at 17805 River Canyon Rd, Chattanooga, TN, 37405 and access the trailhead just above the parking lot.AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/pot-point-loop
Avenza: https://store.avenza.com/products/the-cumberland-trail-prentice-cooper-tennessee-state-parks-map
Ritchie Hollow Trail map: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/543e7367e4b0f38ea790072b/t/5bf57efa6d2a7333a510b2d0/1542815497174/RH_TrailMap_Update2018.jpgNot open