Roan Mountain State Park: Moonshiners Run Trail (Blog Hike #1066)

Trail: Moonshiners Run Trail
Hike Location: Roan Mountain State Park
Geographic Location: south of Roan Mountain, TN (36.16661, -82.09411)
Length: 2 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: An out-and-back along the Doe River.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/roan-mountain
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981643
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 19, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the town of Roan Mountain, drive SR 143 south 4 miles to the entrance for Roan Mountain State Park's cabin area on the left.  Turn left to enter the cabin area, then turn left again to reach the overflow parking lot for the cabin area.  Park in the overflow lot.

The hike: For my general comments on Roan Mountain State Park, see the previous hike.  While the previous hike led to an old ridgetop iron mine, this hike explores the rhododendron-filled riverside corridor along the Doe River.  The riverside area is nice any time of year, but it is especially nice in June when the rhododendron blooms, thus immersing you in a sea of pink flowers.

Cabin area trailhead

            From the overflow parking lot, walk a few feet back out to the cabin area access road and then look uphill to the right for the start of the Turkey Trot and Moonshiners Run Trails.  A wooden sign marks this trailhead.  The single-track dirt trail treads around a small ravine before it forks.  As indicated by a sign, the Turkey Trot Trail, which was closed due to storm damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene on my visit, exits right.  Thus, you want to angle left to stay on the Moonshiners Run Trail.

Doe River

            Marked with yellow shield-shaped plastic markers, the Moonshiners Run Trail descends gradually to reach the bank of the Doe River for the first time.  The forest is dominated by sycamore, beech, and maple trees with some birch, and the riverside areas have a dense thicket of rhododendron in the understory.  Some debris from recent flash flooding needs to be negotiated, but overall the going is pretty easy.  Only traffic noise from SR 143 across the river detracts from the setting.

Approaching old concrete block foundation

            Near 0.4 miles, you pass an old concrete block foundation of unknown origin.  Next the trail undulates somewhat as it goes toward and away from the river, but the fact that you are heading downstream guarantees more down than up.  The rhododendron in this part of the hike is especially thick, and I wished I was hiking here in June when it blooms.

Rhododendron thicket

Destroyed footbridge

            1 mile into the hike, you reach the lower end of the Moonshiners Run Trail where it intersects the Forest Road Trail.  The Forest Road Trail was closed on my visit, and the reason why was obvious: the trail's wooden footbridge over the Doe River had been destroyed by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.  Normally you can continue straight to form a loop with the Turkey Trot Trail or turn left to head for the Visitor Center and the Peg Leg Mine Trail, but my only option due to the trail closures was to turn around and retrace my steps on the Moonshiners Run Trail.  1 mile of heading back upstream returned me to the park's cabin area to complete the hike.

Roan Mountain State Park: Peg Leg Mine Trail (Blog Hike #1065)

Trail: Peg Leg Mine Trail
Hike Location: Roan Mountain State Park
Geographic Location: south of Roan Mountain, TN (36.17622, -82.07905)
Length: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: A loop hike to the old Peg Leg Iron Mine.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/roan-mountain
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981642
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 19, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the town of Roan Mountain, drive SR 143 south 2 miles to the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center on the left.  Park in the lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Tucked in the Doe River valley deep in the rugged mountains of east Tennessee, Roan Mountain State Park protects 2006 acres on the north side of its namesake mountain.  The park is most famous as a gateway to the Roan Highlands, a series of mountaintop balds that stand on the Tennessee/North Carolina border.  In fact, this area's famous balds are located in adjacent Pisgah National Forest, not in the state park.  The origins of the mountain's name and hence the park's name are uncertain, but one unsubstantiated story links the name to a horse with a roan coat pattern that was owned by Daniel Boone.

            Roan Mountain State Park offers many amenities including a 107-site developed campground, 30 cabins, a modern conference center, and 3 picnic pavilions.  The park also features the Miller Farmstead, where 3 generations of Millers lived and farmed for over 90 years.  Yet most of the park remains in its natural state, and the rhododendron that carpets the understory seems to turn the forest pink when it blooms in June.

            For hikers, the park offers 10 trails totaling over 12.5 miles, and difficulty ranges from easy streamside strolls to rugged mountain treks.  When I came here in mid-March 2025, some of the park's trails were still closed due to damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene the previous fall.  Normally the 2 trails I hiked at this park, the Peg Leg Mine Trail and the Moonshiners Run Trail, can be connected into a single hike by hiking the Forest Road Trail, but the Forest Road Trail was closed on my visit.  Thus, I did 2 separate hikes on 2 separate trails at this park.  The Peg Leg Mine Trail is featured in this hike, while the Moonshiners Run Trail is the subject of the next hike.

Trailhead at Visitor Center

            The Visitor Center contains some interesting exhibits about the area's mining history that are worth browsing before or after your hike.  The Peg Leg Mine was an iron mine, and the Visitor Center area features a reconstructed water flume.  Water was used to power a 500-pound hammer, which was used to crush the raw iron ore into smaller pieces, thus preparing it for rail transport to North Carolina.  Head north out of the Visitor Center area with the Doe River to your left to begin a clockwise journey around the Peg Leg Mine Trail.  This trail is marked with blue shield-shaped plastic markers.

Trail along Doe River

            The initial segment of trail had recently been re-routed on my visit due to damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene.  The forest features a nice mixture of pine, beech, and maple trees, and rhododendron crowds the understory along the river.  Soon the trail curves right to begin its climb to the old Peg Leg Mine.  The single-track dirt trail gains about 250 feet of elevation over 0.3 miles, so the climb is short but somewhat steep.  Just before reaching the top of the finger ridge, the trail levels out to embark on a sidehill course.

Spur trail to old mine

            At 0.5 miles, you reach the signed spur trail to the old mine, which exits right.  Turn right and descend the narrow, winding path down some wooden stairs to reach the old mine entrance.  Opening around 1870, the Peg Leg Mine is the oldest of several old iron mines in the area.  The mine was owned by General John T. Wilder, a Union Civil War general who came here via New York and Indiana.  Today the mine opening remains, but so do some pits miners dug as test holes and some boulders discarded by miners.  Entering the mine is a stupid proposition, but taking some time to think about the work here and the people who did it is not.

Peg Leg iron mine

            Back on the main trail, you cross a small finger ridge before beginning a steep descent that marks the hardest part of this hike.  The rockiness and steepness of the descent make for tricky footing and confirm that you are in the Tennessee mountains.  At 0.9 miles, the trail switches back to the right as you reach the bottom of the hill.  The balance of the hike is a flat riverside course as you head downstream on a narrow trail with the river to your left and the steep hillside to your right.  At 1.1 miles, you return to the Visitor Center, thus finishing the hike.

Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park: Patriots Path (Blog Hike #1064)

Trail: Patriots Path
Hike Location: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
Geographic Location: Elizabethton, TN (36.34391, -82.25286)
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: An out-and-back past reconstructed Fort Watauga to where the Overmountain Men crossed the Watauga River.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/sycamore-shoals
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981565
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 3, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: In Johnson City, take I-26 to US 321 (exit 24).  Exit and go north on US 321.  Drive US 321 north 5.9 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, and park in the large blacktop lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: It was September 25, 1780 when the hardscrabble Overmountain Men gathered at the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River in present-day eastern Tennessee.  The Overmountain Men had helped the American Patriots in earlier Revolutionary War battles, and consequently British military leaders had threatened them with loss of land and life if they failed to lay down arms.  Given the campaign the British were waging in the upstate Carolinas at that time, the threat was not an idle threat.  Rather than lay down arms, the Overmountain Men marched over the mountains to Kings Mountain, South Carolina where they joined the Patriots in the Battle of Kings Mountain.  A victory for the Patriots, that battle proved to be the turning point in the Revolutionary War.

            Today the site in eastern Tennessee where the Overmountain Men gathered to begin their over-mountain march is preserved as Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park.  Established in 1975, this rather young park offers a fascinating mix of scenery and history.  The park features reconstructed Fort Watauga, the grounds of which constituted the Overmountain Men's basecamp.  The park also offers a nice Visitor Center and Museum that tells the story of the Overmountain Men and of the Cherokee and settlers that lived here.

            Hikers can explore the reconstructed fort and the natural areas on the park's 2 hiking trails, one of which was closed on my visit.  This hike uses the one trail that was open on my visit: the short and easy out-and-back Patriots Path.  The Patriots Path passes both the reconstructed fort and the scenic and historic Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River.  I came here on a damp chilly morning in early March, but I had a fantastic and inspiring hike.

Trailhead for the Patriots Path

            There are a couple of ways you could do this hike, but I chose to hike to Sycamore Shoals first and then see reconstructed Fort Watauga on my return route.  To execute such a plan, walk right/northeast of the Visitor Center and Museum, then turn left to parallel the park road and find the signed start of the Patriots Path.  A simple wooden sign and a white shield-shaped plastic trail marker mark the trailhead.  Numbered posts indicate the existence of an interpretive guide for this trail, but I did not see one at the Visitor Center.

Hiking the Patriots Path

            The Patriots Path is paved with finely crushed gravel.  At first it continues to parallel the park road, but soon the road curves right and the trail continues straight to enter the woods.  At 0.2 miles, the trail forks.  The Patriots Path continues straight, but to add a little more distance I turned right to leave the gravel and hike a short dirt trail.  This dirt trail forms a short loop through young forest, and it provides your first look at the Watauga River, which is wide and calm at this point.

Watauga River

            At 0.35 miles, you rejoin the gravel Patriots Path, now heading south through a narrow strip of woods with the river on your right.  Near 0.5 miles, you pass the historic point where the Overmountain Men crossed the river to reach their gathering point for their march over the mountains to South Carolina.  Imagine wading across this river with your rifle and provisions, anxious about the forthcoming march through the wilderness and the British troops you will fight in South Carolina.

Historic river crossing

            Just south of the historic river crossing, the trail forks to form a loop.  To save the riverside section for last, I turned left and used the trail going right as my return route, thus hiking the short loop clockwise.  The first/south arm of the loop is the worst part of this hike: it stays close to noisy US 321 and an industrial area.

Sycamore Shoals

            0.9 miles into the hike, you return to the Watauga River and reach Sycamore Shoals.  While not really a cascade, an island in the river forces the water over some rocks, and the shoals produce pleasant visual and audio scenery.  Continuing upstream from the shoals, the riverside scenery continues, and I did some nice wildlife viewing that included some Canada geese, mallards, and bufflehead in the river.  

Reconstructed Fort Watauga

            Just shy of 1 mile, you close the loop.  Retrace your steps along the gravel trail, then turn right at 1.25 miles to enter reconstructed Fort Watauga.  The reconstructed wooden fort features buildings that have been furnished to demonstrate frontier life in the 1700's, and walking around the fort is a wonderfully inspiring educational experience.  After touring the fort, head east to climb the stairs to the back door of the Visitor Center and complete the hike.

Frozen Head State Park: Debord Falls and Emory Gap Falls (Blog Hike #1063)

Trails: Panther Branch and Emory Gap Trails
Hike Location: Frozen Head State Park
Geographic Location: east of Wartburg, TN (36.13641, -84.48775)
Length: 2.6 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: An out-and-back past 2 nice waterfalls.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/frozen-head
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981425
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 5, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of SR 62 and US 27 in Wartburg, take SR 62 east 1.5 miles to Flat Fork Road and a brown sign for Frozen Head State Park.  Turn left on Flat Fork Rd.  Flat Fork Rd. becomes the park road at the park entrance.  Continue to follow the main park road past the Visitor Center and over a one lane bridge to its end at the Panther Branch Trailhead, which has a large blacktop parking lot that will hold about 25 cars.  Park in this lot.

The hike: For my general comments on Frozen Head State Park, see my previous hike on the park's Judge Branch Trail, which is described elsewhere in this Trail Journal.  The hike described here heads up Panther Branch, and it is the most popular short hike in this large park because it leads to 2 scenic waterfalls: Debord Falls and Emory Gap Falls.  Even better, the trail stays near Panther Branch or its tributary Emory Gap Branch most of the time.  Thus, although this hike gains about 450 feet of elevation, it does so on easy and moderate grades.

Panther Branch Trailhead

            At the rear of the parking lot, pick up the Panther Branch Trail as it heads up through the ravine of its namesake creek.  A large sign with a park closing time marks this trailhead, and the Panther Branch Trail is marked with blue trail markers.  Broadleaf trees including some sweetgums dominate this forest, but a few pine trees grow along the trail.

Panther Branch

            The wide two-track dirt trail climbs gradually with the creek 20-30 feet downhill to the right.  Careful observation will lead you to conclude that this trail is an old road: the stone walls used for footbridge supports today are much larger than would be required for a footbridge and hence are probably from a former road bridge.  Just past 0.5 miles, you reach the signed spur trail for Debord Falls, which exits right.  Only a couple hundred feet later, you descend some steps and arrive at the base of Debord Falls, where a viewing area gives a great view of the waterfall.  Debord Falls is a common 10-foot ledge-type waterfall with a large plunge pool, and it adds some extra scenery to this creekside hike.

Debord Falls

            Back on the main trail, continue upstream to reach a trail intersection at 0.9 miles.  The Panther Branch Trail exits right and leads to some backcountry campsites and eventually to the trail that leads to the top of Frozen Head Mountain.  This hike angles left to leave the Panther Branch Trail and begin the Emory Gap Trail, still following the old dirt road but now with white trail markers.

Hiking on the old road

            Just past 1 mile, the old dirt road seems to end, and a pair of switchbacks lifts you higher up the hillside.  The switchbacks are steeper and rockier than the old road, but taking your time with careful stepping will get you up the switchbacks.  At 1.35 miles, you reach the base of Emory Gap Falls.

Emory Gap Falls

            Emory Gap Falls is taller and much less standard than Debord Falls: a single drop of about 10 feet is followed by a myriad of cascades through a boulder field.  Also, finding a good spot to view and photograph this waterfall can be a challenge due to the boulders.  The Emory Gap Trail ends at Emory Gap Falls, so after enjoying the waterfall your only option is to turn around and retrace your steps to the parking lot to complete the hike.

Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park: Gee Creek Campground Loop (Blog Hike #1062)

Trail: Gee Creek Campground Loop
Hike Location: Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park
Geographic Location: south of Etowah, TN (35.23775, -84.55063)
Length: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2025
Overview: A lollipop loop around Gee Creek Campground and along the Hiwassee River.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/hiwassee-ocoee
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=981312
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming May 26, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Etowah, take US 411 south 6.4 miles to Spring Creek Road and turn left on Spring Creek Rd.  Drive Spring Creek Rd. east 0.8 miles to the park office on the right.  Park in the large blacktop parking lot beside the park office.

The hike: Early European explorers wrote of 2 major rivers that flowed west out of the mountains and into the great valley in present-day southeast Tennessee.  The first river was a quaint river that can be crossed almost anywhere almost anytime.  The second river was a raging beast of a river that can be crossed almost nowhere and almost none of the time.  Today we call the quaint river the Ocoee River, and we call the beastly river the Hiwassee River.

            A few miles up the Hiwassee River from the confluence of these 2 rivers lies a park named for both rivers: Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park.  At present the park is located only on the Hiwassee River, but future plans call for adding acreage and splitting this park into 2 parks, one along each river.  The present site is surrounded on 3 sides by Cherokee National Forest, and it features only the Gee Creek Campground with 47 developed sites, Hiwassee River access, and the short hiking trail described here.  While definitely not the best trail in this area, the Gee Creek Campground Loop offers good Hiwassee River views, and it makes a nice add-on if you are camping here or hiking in nearby Cherokee National Forest.

Fort Marr blockhouse

            You can start the trail from either the campground or the park office.  I was not camping here, so I started at the park office.  Beside the park office stands an interesting historical landmark: the Fort Marr Blockhouse.  Fort Marr was built in 1814 to protect the area from the British during the War of 1812, but it soon became the center for military operations to remove Cherokee people from Tennessee to Oklahoma.  The fort was abandoned in 1838, and the blockhouse was moved twice to reach this location, which is about 15 miles from the original fort.  This blockhouse is this region's only remnant of any fort from that era.

Trailhead at park office

            After viewing the blockhouse, walk east across the parking lot to find where the single-track dirt trail enters the woods.  A small wooden sign that says "Loop Trail" marks this trailhead.  The trail heads east through young forest with a dense shrubby understory.  Plenty of sweet gum trees live in this forest, as do some old dying red cedars.  This land is persistently flat, and the total elevation gain on this hike is less than 100 feet.

Trail splits to form loop

            At only 0.1 miles, the trail forks to form its loop around Gee Creek Campground.  I angled left and used the trail going right as my return route, thus hiking the loop clockwise.  The trail continues its southeast course, and just past 0.2 miles it crosses the campground entrance road.  The section of the trail north of the campground passes through a wetland area with a ditch, and a few minor wet areas will need to be negotiated if it has rained recently.  I did some good bird viewing here that included some cardinals and a woodpecker.

Hiking north of the campground

            Just shy of 0.5 miles, the trail crosses the ditch on a footbridge and heads around the east end of the campground.  Although the campground is fairly close on the right, dense woods keeps the campground out of your field of vision most of the time.  Just past 0.6 miles, the Hiwassee River comes into view on the left for the first time.  The river was high and raging on my visit due to recent rains, but the water was still remarkably clear.

Hiwassee River

            The riverside segment is the most scenic part of this hike.  At 0.9 miles, you cross over a riverside bluff and pass the park's boat ramp.  The southwest corner of the loop was somewhat overgrown on my visit, and I had to negotiate several blowdowns across the trail.  Look for the white plastic shield-like trail markers to make sure you are still on the trail.

Primitive campground

            Just past 1 mile, you come out at the park's primitive campground.  Angle right to walk along the gravel primitive campground road and then look to the left to find the continuation of the trail.  A few hundred feet later, you close the loop.  Angle left to return to the park office and complete the hike.

Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park: Flint Creek Battle Site (Blog Hike #1010)

Trails: Rocky Fork and Flint Creek Trails
Hike Location: Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Erwin, TN (36.04858, -82.55713)
Length: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2024
Overview: A creekside out-and-back to a 1789 battle site.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/rocky-fork
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=958955
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: In eastern Tennessee, take I-26 to US 19W (exit 43).  Exit and go south on US 19W.  Drive US 19W south 1.1 miles to SR 352.  Continue straight to head west on SR 352.  Drive SR 352 southwest 4.8 miles to Rocky Fork Road and turn right on Rocky Fork Rd.; there is a sign for the park at this intersection.  Drive narrow and winding but paved Rocky Fork Rd. 0.9 miles to the gravel road that accesses the trailhead parking lot on the left.  Park in the gravel trailhead parking lot.  There is room for only about 15 cars here, and this lot can fill on nice weather weekends.

The hike: Established only in 2013, Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park is one of Tennessee's newest state parks.  The park is tucked deep in the east Tennessee mountains south of Johnson City, and it protects 2256 acres of classic mountain terrain.  The park was originally named just Rocky Fork State Park after the stream that drains the main part of the park, but in 2019 the name was lengthened to honor the state's former governor and long-serving Senator.

            Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park has very much a rustic wilderness feel with limited amenities.  Indeed, the park offers only fishing in Rocky Fork and 19 miles of trails, most of which are open only to hikers.  Many excellent hiking routes are possible, but I came here on my way to a business appointment in Knoxville.  Thus, I had to keep my hike short, so I chose to do this park's shortest and easiest hike that still leads to a destination of interest.  That destination of interest is the historic Flint Creek Battle Site, and I had a nice hike on a sunny early afternoon in late March.

Main trailhead

            From the rear of the parking lot, head west on the wide gravel trail that parallels Rocky Fork with the creek flowing against you on the left.  Marked with red plastic trail markers, this trail is called the Rocky Fork Trail, and it serves as a common entrance trail for most of the park's trail system.  The forest is a mixed broadleaf forest, but a dense layer of rhododendron populates the understory along the creek.  Some small cascades and waterfalls in Rocky Fork entertain you as you climb gradually.

Cascades in Rocky Fork

            After 0.6 miles of gradual climbing, the trail forks.  Both options look like continuations of the old road you have been hiking on, but they lead to two very different destinations.  The White Oak Flats Trail exits right to climb out of this ravine and eventually leads to adjacent Cherokee National Forest.  You want to turn left to begin the Flint Creek Trail, which is marked with green trail markers.

Hiking along Rocky Fork

            0.8 miles into the hike, the trail curves left to cross Rocky Fork on an excellent footbridge.  Rocky Fork is a classic clear water Appalachian stream, and the bridge gives a nice view from high above the stream.  Just after crossing the bridge, look to the left for what looks like an old homesite.

Old homesite

            Next you pass through a wet area to reach the Flint Creek Battle site, which is marked only with a small wooden sign.  Sometimes called the Flint Creek Massacre, the "battle" occurred in January 1789 when John Sevier led his militia to attack a group of Chickamauga that was camped here for the winter.  The attack was in retaliation to Chickamauga attacks on white settlements, but the surprise attack was brutal: 145 Chickamauga died, and the camp was destroyed.  Today only an open meadow sits here, so take some time to ponder the solemn history of this site.

Flint Creek Battle Site

            The Flint Creek Trail continues past the battle site, but I chose to turn around here and retrace my steps to the trailhead to complete my hike.  Continuing up the Flint Creek Trail and turning left on the Flint Mountain Trail would form a 7.7 mile loop with about 1400 feet of elevation gain.  Alternatively, the Whitehouse Cliffs Trail starts at the same parking lot and leads steeply uphill for 1 mile to a fantastic overlook of the entire Rocky Fork ravine.

Warriors' Path State Park: Overlook Trail (Blog Hike #982)

Trail: Overlook Trail
Hike Location: Warriors' Path State Park
Geographic Location: south of Kingsport, TN (36.49052, -82.47716)
Length: 0.7 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2023
Overview: A short lollipop loop to an overlook above the Holston River.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/warriors-path
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=950132
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: In northeast Tennessee, take I-81 to SR 36 (exit 59).  Exit and go north on SR 36.  Drive SR 36 north 1.3 miles to Hemlock Road and turn right on Hemlock Rd.  Drive Hemlock Rd. east 1.6 miles to the state park entrance on the right.  Turn softly right to enter the park.  Drive the main park road 1.1 miles to the boat ramp parking lot and the adjacent parking lot for the Cliffside Disc Golf Course and the Overlook Trail.  Park here.

The hike: Consisting of 950 acres in the northeast tip of Tennessee, Warriors' Path State Park occupies a scenic area along Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir on the South Fork Holston River.  Fort Patrick Henry Dam was built in the early 1950's by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for purposes of hydroelectric power generation and water flow regulation.  The park's land was acquired from the TVA by the State of Tennessee in 1952.  The park is named for its proximity to the Cherokee Great War and Trading Path, an ancient road that went through this area.

            The park has many fantastic amenities including a 90-site developed campground, an 18 hole golf course, 2 18 hole disc golf courses, a marina on the reservoir, athletic fields, and several hiking trails.  The Overlook Trail described here is one of the park's shorter trails, but it may be the park's most scenic trail.  As its name suggests, the Overlook Trail leads to a scenic overlook high above the South Fork Holston River, and few trails in east Tennessee match this trail's effort to reward ratio.

Overlook Trail trailhead

            Start at the rear of the parking area, where a metal vehicle gate and wooden sign that says "Overlook Trail" mark the trailhead.  Marked with new red paint blazes and older light green paint blazes, the Overlook Trail heads south as it climbs gradually on single track dirt trail; the wider path going right is the first hole on this park's Cliffside Disc Golf Course.  The forest here is a nice mix of deciduous trees that includes maple, oak, hickory, and sweet gum.

Climbing on the Overlook Trail

            After 0.3 miles of gradual climbing, you reach the intersection that forms the Overlook Trail's short loop.  To go directly to the overlook, turn left and hike the loop clockwise.  Scrambling down a short rocky area brings you to the overlook.  This viewpoint looks southeast over the wide South Fork Holston River with the I-81 river bridge visible to the right.  This viewpoint is indeed this hike's and this park's best overlook, so take a few minutes to enjoy the view.

Main overlook

            Past the overlook, the trail descends a steep rocky area to cross what appears to be an old dirt road.  Another disc golf hole follows the old road to the right through what looks like a hill cut.  The Overlook Trail climbs more gradually than it descended and curves right to pass 2 more holes on the disc golf course before closing the loop.  A left turn takes you back down the entrance trail to the parking area to complete the hike.

Fort Loudoun State Historic Park (Blog Hike #932)

Trails: Ridge Top, Meadow Loop, and Paved Trails
Hike Location: Fort Loudoun State Historic Park
Geographic Location: southeast of Loudon, TN (35.59676, -84.20345)
Length: 4 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2023
Overview: A semiloop featuring reconstructed 1756 Fort Loudoun.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/fort-loudoun
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=932587
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video:

Directions to the trailhead: South of Knoxville, take I-75 to SR 72 (exit 72).  Exit and go east on SR 72.  Drive SR 72 east 15.6 miles to US 411 and turn left on US 411.  Drive US 411 north 2.4 miles to SR 360 and turn right on SR 360.  Drive SR 360 east 0.9 miles to the signed park entrance and turn left to enter the park.  Drive the main park road its entire length to the Park Office/Museum, and park in the parking lot in front of the Park Office/Museum.

The hike: Though located in the middle of the United States today, in the mid 1700's the Tennessee River valley comprised the borderlands for two colonial powers.  The French-dominated Mississippi River valley lay to the west, and the British-dominated Atlantic coast lay to the east.  When the French and Indian War broke out in 1754, the British became concerned about local Cherokee allying with the French, which would threaten British settlements and trade in South Carolina.  To counter this threat, in 1756 the British built Fort Loudoun on the south bank of the Little Tennessee River a few miles south of present-day Knoxville.  The fort was named for the Earl of Loudoun, the commander of British forces in North America at that time.

            The short-lived fort failed in its main objective.  After hostilities between the Cherokee and English settlers broke out, 16 Cherokee leaders were captured and then executed.  In retaliation, the Cherokee sieged the fort in March of 1760 and forced its surrender.  The site remained dormant until the Works Progress Administration reconstructed the fort in the 1930's, and the fort was moved and reconstructed above the level of newly-filled Lake Tellico in 1979.  The state park was established in 1977.

            Today the reconstructed fort is a popular destination for school groups and tourists, and the fort occupies a scenic site on Lake Tellico.  An excellent museum describes the fort's history, and the park offers fishing on Lake Tellico, a picnic area, and several hiking trails.  The hike described here takes you to the reconstructed fort but also forms a substantial loop through the park's natural areas, thus exploring all the park has to offer.

Reconstructed Fort Loudoun

            Because the reconstructed fort is this park's main attraction, I recommend heading there first.  Walk down the asphalt trail that goes around the Park Office/Museum and arrive at the fort in 0.25 miles.  The reconstructed wooden fort occupies a scenic location with Lake Tellico and the Smoky Mountains in the background.  Costumed interpreters describe activities in some of the buildings.

Start of trail through picnic area

            After touring the fort, retrace your steps to the park office, and then turn left to begin the asphalt trail through the picnic area.  The redbuds were just starting to bloom when I came here on a seasonally warm morning in late March, and they added some light pink color to the lakeside picnic area.  0.6 miles into the hike, you reach the park's main trailhead at the southwest end of the picnic area.  Continue southwest to begin the dirt Ridge Top Trail.

Picnic area trailhead

            Marked with red plastic shields, the Ridge Top Trail undulates moderately with the lake downhill to the left and the park entrance road uphill to the right.  The forest here is a mixture of pine and broadleaf trees, and some large beech trees live in this area.  The nearby lake makes this park an above average birding destination, and I saw woodpeckers, blackbirds, juncos, and other common birds during my hike here.

Intersecting the Meadow Loop Trail

            1.1 miles into the hike (or 0.5 miles from the main trailhead), you reach an intersection with the Meadow Loop Trail.  The option going right allows you to short-cut this loop, so you should turn left to hike the longest loop.  A very nice section of sidehill trail comes next, and this area features some of the nicest and quietest forest on this hike.

Intersecting the Lost Shoe Spur Trail

            At 1.45 miles and 1.75 miles, the Lost Shoe Spur Trail leaves and reenters from the left.  Turn right both times to follow the blue plastic shields of the Meadow Loop Trail.  This section of trail passes through a dense area of pines that appears to be an old pine planting, so the forest scenery is different from what you saw earlier.

Hiking through the meadow

            Next you descend a small ridge, exit the forest, and enter the meadow.  This meadow is a fantastic tallgrass prairie, and I suspect it comes alive with flowers in late summer.  After winding through the prairie, you reach a secondary trailhead on the park road at 2.4 miles.  Cross the road to continue the Meadow Loop Trail.

Crossing the park entrance road

            Now back in the mixed pine/broadleaf forest, the next segment of trail winds along the shore of Lake Tellico.  Some decent views across a narrow arm of the lake emerge, and more good birding can be done here.  At 2.9 miles, the trail curves right and climbs steeply away from the lake.  The climb is short-lived, but you gain about 140 feet of elevation over that short span.

Intersecting the Ridge Top Trail

            At 3.25 miles, you reach another intersection with the Ridge Top Trail.  Turn left to leave the Meadow Loop Trail and head northeast on the Ridge Top Trail.  Now surrounded by young forest with red cedar trees, soon you learn why this trail is called the Ridge Top Trail: a fantastic view emerges east toward the Smoky Mountains.  A bench encourages you to sit, rest, and admire the view.

View east toward Smoky Mountains

            Continuing northeast, quickly you roll off the end of the finger ridge to intersect a seldom-used asphalt park road.  Another information kiosk stands here.  Turn right and walk the park road 0.25 miles back to the Park Office/Museum parking lot to complete the hike.