Norris Dam State Park: High Point/White Pine Loop (Blog Hike #234)

Trails: Lakeside, High Point, Red Hill, White Pine, and Raccoon Run Trails

Hike Location: Norris Dam State Park

Geographic Location: east of Rocky Top, TN (36.22600, -84.08889)

Length: 5.1 miles

Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: March 2008, January 2015

Overview: A semi-loop exploring the backcountry east and south of Norris Lake.

Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/norris-dam
Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=382213
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In northern Tennessee, take I-75 to US 441 (exit 128).  Exit and go south on US 441.  Before reaching the dam, stop at the park office located in the West Area of the park to pick up a trail map (unlike at some other parks, you may need it here at Norris Dam).  Continue south on US 441, stop at the overlook for a fabulous view of the dam, then continue across the dam.  Park in the parking area on the left immediately beyond the dam.

The hike: Located approximately 30 miles north of Knoxville, Norris Dam and the adjoining Norris Lake is the northernmost lake created under the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).  Constructed between 1933 and 1936, Norris Dam is named for Senator George Norris of Nebraska, the author of the legislation that created TVA.  This dam was the first of the TVA dams to be completed.

Norris Dam

            The dam project was designed to fulfill both economic and recreation needs in northern Tennessee.  In addition to providing jobs for construction workers, the dam generated electric power from water flowing through the dam and continues to do so today.  Two visitor centers on the east side of the dam, one operated by the TVA and one by the state of Tennessee, chronicle the dam’s function and history.

On the recreation side, three areas along the lake, namely Cove Lake, Big Ridge, and Norris Dam, were set aside as an experiment on managing public land for recreation purposes.  Considering these areas today comprise cores of the Tennessee state park system, this experiment has been an unqualified success.  Indeed, the 4038 acres now comprising Norris Dam State Park contain two campgrounds, numerous lake access points for boating and fishing, various picnic facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and over 15 miles of trails.

The trails at the park can be divided into three sections.  Trails west of the dam are anchored by the 4 mile Marine Railway Loop and the 2.7 mile Andrews Ridge Trail.  Three trails totaling 8.1 miles located downstream from the dam are managed by the TVA.  This hike will explore the state park trails located east of the dam, the area in which the park was originally developed.  The trail system east of the dam is extensive, and hence many routes are possible.  The route suggested here is not the longest possible route, but it offers reasonable length while still giving a good flavor of the hiking opportunities to be had in this beautiful section of the park.

Trailhead: Lakeside Trail

            The trail begins at an information board located between the campground road and the dam.  The gravel trail curves gently right as it cuts into the steep hillside with the sparkling lake downhill to your left and the campground road uphill to the right.  At 0.3 miles where a side trail heads left down to the lake, stay right to maintain a fairly level contour.

At 0.4 miles, you will reach a small shelter with a single bench and the junction with the Christmas Fern Trail, which heads uphill to the right.  The Christmas Fern Trail leads 0.25 steep uphill miles to the campground and then another 0.25 steep downhill miles to rejoin our trail.  You can save yourself the steep climbing and get better views of the lake by staying on the Lakeside Trail, which angles left at this intersection.

In another 0.2 miles and just past a particularly difficult to navigate windfall, the Lakeside Trail ends at a T-intersection with the Christmas Fern Trail, which goes right, and the Tall Timber Trail, which goes straight.  You should continue straight on the Tall Timber Trail which, as its name suggests, heads into some nice mature forest just above the lake. 

Hiking the Tall Timber Trail

            0.8 miles into the hike, the trail begins to climb moderately, makes a single steep switchback, and then ends by intersecting the campground road near cabin 10.  For a short and easy hike, one could turn right here and walk back to the trailhead along the campground road.  For more lake views and nice forest, turn left here, walk around the vehicle gate beside the cabin and begin a long moderate climb with only one steep section toward High Point, so named because it is the highest hill in this area.

Leaving the campground area

            At 0.9 miles, intersect the Camp Sam Trail, a two-track dirt trail that heads downhill to the right and uphill to the left.  Turn left to continue ascending High Point.  Also, notice the “no bikes” sign here, as it will help you find this intersection on your return route.  After another 0.4 miles of gradual climbing, you will reach the signed summit of High Point.  At 1460 feet above sea level, you are nearly 440 feet above the lake, which can still be seen below you and to the left.

High Point also marks a major trail intersection and the beginning of the loop portion of this hike.  The Camp Sam Trail ends, and the High Point trail goes right and straight, downhill in both cases.  You could go either way, but to save the nicest trail for last, this description will turn left and use the right trail as the return route.  For the next 0.6 miles the trail descends moderately through mature hardwood forest.  The trails in this part of the park are two-track dirt trails that are also open to horses and mountain bikes, though the presence of these larger users is not easy to detect.  Plans exist to extend the hiker-only Lakeside Trail to this portion of the park, so hopefully future hikers will not have to share the trail with horses and bikers.

Hiking the High Point Trail

            Just past 2 miles, the High Point Trail intersects the Red Hill Trail, another two track dirt trail open to various users.  Continuing straight ahead on the High Point Trail would take you to the Lakeside Loop (not to be confused with the Lakeside Trail you traveled earlier), noteworthy for its nice lake views and for its hiker-only status.  The Lakeside Loop comprises an 8.7 miles roundtrip and requires more time than I had to spend on this trip.  To continue on our loop, turn right to begin the Red Hill Trail.

The Red Hill Trail heads gradually downhill for 0.4 uneventful miles to its intersection with the Raccoon Run Trail, which exits to the right.  Turn right and walk around another vehicle gate to begin the Raccoon Run Trail, another two-track dirt trail.  Our section of the Raccoon Run Trail will consist of a 0.25 mile descent toward the trail’s namesake.  This descent begins gradually but becomes much steeper as you approach the bottom.

At the bottom of the hill, where the Raccoon Run Trail makes a sharp left turn, the White Pine Trail, the next leg of our loop, exits to the right.  A large wooden post marks this intersection.  Before beginning the White Pine Trail, make a visit to the pond located 100 feet south of this intersection.  Not only does this pond offer good wildlife viewing opportunities, but some rocks sitting by the water’s edge make nice benches for a rest just past the midpoint of this hike.

Pond on Raccoon Run Trail

            After observing the pond, begin the White Pine Trail, a single-track dirt trail which ascends through the upper reaches of Raccoon Run, heading back toward the summit of High Point.  Despite the trail’s name, pine trees are notably absent along this trail, but a nice hardwood forest more than stands in the gap.  As the trail curves left to leave the Raccoon Run ravine, the hardest climbing is now over, and only some moderate climbing remains for you to intersect the High Point Trail about 0.2 miles south of High Point.  Turn right on the High Point Trail.

Deer in forest along trail

            Ignore the Longmire Trail, which exits left heading for the Clinch River and the TVA Aquatic Biology Lab, and continue straight, climbing moderately on the High Point Trail.  3.5 miles into the hike, you will once again arrive at High Point, this time to complete the loop portion of the hike.  To return to your car, turn left on the Camp Sam Trail and retrace your steps 1.6 miles first to the cabin area and then along the Lakeshore Trail.  Keep your eyes open on the return trip: on my return trip I passed a group of 8 young deer who were feeding in the forest and allowed me to come within 10 feet, making for some great pictures.  All too soon you will be back at the Norris Dam parking area and the end of the hike.