Two for the Road - Twin Arches Loop & Angel Falls Overlook in Big South Fork
Details
HIKE STATS:
Meeting Time: 7:00 AM
Meeting Place: Kroger Hermitage
Estimated Drive Time: 3 hours
Hike Leader: David Patterson
250 Hiking Rewards Points (http://www.hikingrewards.com/about)
This is going to be double hike Saturday! We are going to hike two of the most popular trails in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. Of course, you can hike one or both trails. We will determine who wants to only hike Twin Arches and who wants to "double down" before we leave Nashville so we can car pool appropriately.
Twin Arches Loop
Distance: approximately 6.3 miles
Estimated Hike Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
One of the most popular hikes in the BSFNRA, the Twin Arches Loop offers the largest natural bridge complex in the State of Tennessee. There are very few natural bridges in the world as large if both arches are taken as a single landscape feature. These arches are unmistakeably twins, they are located within a ridge that is a major drainage divide. The larger north arch has a clearance 70 feet and a span of 135 feet; the south arch has a clearance of 51 feet and a span of 93 feet.
Angel Falls Overlook
Distance: 5.8 miles round trip
Estimated Hike Time: 2-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
After we complete the Twin Arches Loop we shuttle to the Leatherwood Ford Trailhead and hike to the Angel Falls Overlook. We will follow the John Muir Trail 1.9 miles to Fall Branch and then begin our ascent. The next 1 mile is more difficult as we climb by a series of switchbacks to the ridge. This is one of the most scenic trails in the BSFNRA and gives us fantastic view of the gorge and river.
Directions:
See Google Link below