American Travel Journal: Obed National Wild and Scenic River

Monday, July 13, 2020

Bridge Trail and Lilly Bluff Overlook - Obed National Wild and Scenic River

In late April 2018, I had the opportunity to spend some time hiking with my daughter. We chose to hike the Bridge Trail in Obed National Wild and Scenic River as she had not been there before. To reach the trailhead from the visitor center parking lot in Wartburg, Tennessee, turn left onto Court Street, drive a block then turn left onto North Kingston Street, and then drive two blocks to US 27 and TN62. Turn left to be heading north on US 27 and west on TN 62. Drive 2.7 miles before turning left one more time to remain on TN 62. Drive 4.3 miles west on TN 62 passing through the community of Lancing before turning left for a final time onto Ridge Road. Drive 3.2 miles on Ridge Road and cross the bridge over Clear Creek. Immediately on the right is a paved and striped parking area for pull-in parking off of the road for over a dozen vehicles. Additional parking is available on the other side of the creek for another eight vehicles. The drive from the visitor center should take less than 20 minutes.

After parking, walk back down toward the bridge before crossing the road to the trailhead. The Bridge Trail climbs about 200 feet in a ½ mile distance from the western end of Lilly Bridge to the top of Lilly Bluff. Just a few steps into the hike, a well-marked side trail diverts to the right to the rock climbing area. Keep left at this trail junction heading toward Lilly Bluff.

Sign for the side trail to the climbing area

The Bridge Trail is to the left with the climbing area to the right

Lower Melton Mill Falls

The relatively level trail continues parallel to, but out of sight of, Clear Creek for a short distance before beginning to climb toward the top of the bluff. At the first switchback to the right, a social trail departs to the left. Turn left at this point to go Lower Melton Mill Falls. The trail quickly fades, so pay close attention to your surroundings to find your return route to the main trail. To reach the falls, just head toward the sound of falling water crashing on rocks.

Social path to the left while the Bridge Trail remains on the rocks to the right

First view of the cascade and waterfall

Overcast skies

Direct sunshine

Closeup of the cascade

Overcast from another perspective

Sunny from another perspective

Back on the Bridge Trail at another switchback

Following the base of the bluff

Upper Melton Mill Falls

Side trail to Upper Melton Mill Falls veers down to the left

Obstructed view from near the end of the trail

A better view, but still obstructed

About as good as it got

Overcast and wispy

A final look

Returning to the Bridge Trail where we'll turn left and continue climbing

Unstable formation or collapse from long ago?

More stairs below a break in the canopy

Lilly Bluff

At the top of Lilly Bluff, the Bridge Trail terminates into the Overlook Trail. Turning left leads to the Point Trail and the Lilly Bluff parking area, but turning right quickly leads to a boardwalk and a pair of overlooks.

Beginning of the boardwalk

Fragile lichen protected by using the boardwalk

View of Clear Creek looking downstream

View of Lilly Bridge about 200 feet (60 m) below

Evergreens seemingly rooted in solid rock

Note how close the southern overlook is to the edge of the bluff

Rapids on Clear Creek

Clear Creek Gorge

Bluff and hill downstream
(hilltop approximately 400 feet above Clear Creek)

Northern overlook

Descending the Bridge Trail

Entrance to Obed National Wild and Scenic River is free.

The park website is https://www.nps.gov/obed/index.htm.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Rock Creek to Alley Ford - Cumberland Trail State Park and Obed National Wild and Scenic River

In late May 2016, I returned to the Nemo area of Obed National Wild & Scenic River to hike "south" on the Cumberland Trail to Alley Ford and return. This five mile round trip hike actually heads northeast above the Emory River before heading west along the Obed River. This section of the trail crosses into the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area and continues for a total of 14 miles to the Daddys Creek trailhead. The overall trail is rated as very difficult, but except for the spur trail to Alley Ford, I would consider the short segment I hiked as a moderate trail. To access the trailhead from Wartburg, head west on Spring Street and continue south as it becomes Catoosa Road. Continue on Catoosa Road for about 5.5 miles and cross the Emory River on the new bridge. Shortly after crossing the river, turn down the single lane gravel road on the right to the Rock Creek Campground. Park in the paved lot at campsite #1 and walk down the paved road toward the other campsites to find the trailhead on the left. If you don't want to drive down and up a steep one-lane gravel road with the chance of meeting another vehicle, park at the paved hiker lot at the Nemo picnic area on the Wartburg side of the river. Then walk across the old bridge and along the shoulder of Catoosa Road before descending the gravel road to the campground trailhead.