North Chickamauga Creek Gorge - Cumberland Trail State Park

I had the opportunity to hike another part of the Cumberland Trail in early November 2013.  This section is near Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee along a gorge carved into Walden's Ridge by North Chickamauga Creek.  When completed, the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park will span approximately 300 miles between Cumberland Gap National Historic Park at the Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky border in the north to Prentice Cooper State Forest west of Chattanooga in the south.

The single-lane road to the parking area has several large potholes

Portions of the road were covered in leaves

The only parking "rule" is not to block someone else in

This gate blocks vehicles from the trail

A sturdy kiosk provides trail information

Although missing a bench on one side, an old concrete picnic table is just off the trail

The initial trail is wide, but has several rocks that could be tripping points

The trail descends to a pool on North Chickamauga Creek

Looking downstream from the pool

Out of the forest and in the sunshine

The trail quickly heads back into the woods

Instead of crossing the creek on the wide track, head to the right...

...up the single-track rock stairs

The trail continues climbing along the hillside...

...before dropping back down to cross Hogskin Branch

Hogskin Branch was just a trickle after a dry October

Foliage along the trail

Foliage above the trail

More steps

After a switchback, the trail continues to climb

Ascending from the single track on the left, the trail finally reaches an old mining road and another switchback

Although there are several rocks embedded in the trail, this is much easier hiking

The trail passes beside a small rock shelter

The trail surface is less than optimal as it continues to climb

The trail passes between concrete foundations for the old coal tipple

The trail skirts a large slab of rock that seems to have slid down the hill

Side trails invite exploration of the area around the abandoned mine

More slabs of rock litter the forest floor

This is all I could find of Upper Strip Mine Falls

Although the trail continues for nearly another three miles, I did not have time to hike the entire trail before dark.  I decided to turn back at this point just over one mile from the gate and about 500 feet higher.  The late afternoon sunlight illuminated the upper reaches of the gulch while the creek was already in shadow.

A small pool below Strip Mine Falls

The 1700 foot crest of Flipper Bend is visible through the trees

Instead of descending along the lower Hogskin Branch loop, I continued straight on the old mining road.  This led to another crossing of Hogskin Branch as it meanders through a rock fall along the side of the trail.

Hogskin Creek on the upper loop of the trail

The old road is littered with rocks...

...and downed trees

The reward for the extra hiking is incredible views like this

The trail continues along the base of a bluff...

...before descending down the hill on a single track

After rejoining the lower trail, a glance back reveals a sign and blaze I didn't notice while walking along the wide lower road.

Another view of the gulch from the parking area

There are no fees associated with hiking on the Cumberland Trail.

The Cumberland Trail Conference website is http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/.
The state park website is http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/cumberland-trail.