American Travel Journal: Obed Wild and Scenic River

My first visit to the Obed Wild and Scenic River was a day trip in early June, 2012. The ranger on duty at the visitor center in Wartburg, Tennessee, answered all my questions about hiking in the park, including directions to the parking area for Point Trail. She told me that there are places where it is not easy to know which way to go at what seem to be trail junctions. One turn that was very easy to miss follows a false trail along the base of a rock bluff instead of on top of the bluff. While the trail is blazed with white paint on the trees, sometimes the blazes aren't as visible as I would like near the junctions. The parking area for Lilly Bluff is about a twenty minute drive from the visitor center. There were only three other vehicles there when I arrived. Four trails start from the parking area. To the left is the 0.2 mile Boulder Trail that weaves through large sandstone boulders on the other side of the road. To the right of the parking area is a formal trailhead with regulations, a map and this quote from John Muir: "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." This is the trailhead for the Lilly Bluff Overlook Trail, the Bridge Trail, and the Point Trail. A wide gravel walkway extends about a quarter mile into the forest leading to a boardwalk area overlooking Clear Creek. This is marked as being 0.3 miles one-way. There are two large benches with stone wind breaks along this trail. There are sturdy handrails on the boardwalk, but it is not an area for rambunctious children or anyone with acrophobia. There are several benches built into the boardwalk. However, there is no shade at the overlook.

Visitor Center

Lilly Bluff Overlook Trail

Sturdy bench

Lilly Bluff Overlook Boardwalk

Boardwalk on the Bluff

Vista from the Bluff

Relax and Sit a While

Clear Creek

The other two trails branch off from the Overlook trail just before the boardwalk starts. The first is the Point Trail and the second is the Bridge Trail down into the gorge. I chose to hike the Point Trail. Compared to the Overlook Trail, this is often just a faint path through the forest requiring single-file hiking. However, I did not see another person on the entire Point Trail, so single-file does not seem to be an issue. The trail has several creek crossings, but only the first one has a bridge. The other creeks did not have any water flowing and had rocks piled up to make a pathway. When I got to the bluff, I missed the two arrows pointing to the right that are so obvious in one of the pictures. However, I recalled the advice of the ranger and headed right anyway.

Footbridge

Side-hill Footpath

White Rhododendron Flower

Trail

Approaching the bluff

False Trail

This Way? Really? Yes, indeed

As the trail approaches the point, there are views to the left of Clear Creek and to the right of the Obed River. Near the end of the trail, there is a sandstone arch. It overlooks the Obed River gorge.

Obed River Gorge

Sandstone Arch

Side path to Clear Creek overlook

Clear Creek

End of the Trail

To return to Wartburg from the overlook requires re-crossing Clear Creek on the Lilly Bridge. On either side of the bridge, there is a small parking area on the right side of the road. The Bridge Trail ends at the western end of the bridge, while a set of concrete stairs descends from the eastern parking area down to the creek. This is a very picturesque area during the late spring. I wonder how it looks with white water in late winter.