Thursday, March 19 – Cumberland Cove – Monterey. 5-6 miles rated moderate to strenuous. Cumberland Cove is a restricted community comprising of 8,000 acres. We will start the hike at Overlook Park and hike the Cowpens trail for 2.5 miles. The hike ends up on a big rock with views of the creek. Then the most strenuous part of the hike is down one mile to see Devils Creek Falls. Then back to where the hike started for a .5-mile hike to a short overlook. Then on to the North loop to a creek crossing and along beautiful bluffs stopping along the way to see Preachers Rock. This loop trail will go to Stillhouse for a beautiful overlook. At the end of the hike, we can take a 10-minute car ride to Eagles Flight to see a special overlook that is a photo op area of all the locals. Lunch is optional to eat at the Long Road Café down the road. To get to the Overlook Park trailhead the address is 770 Falls Road in Monterey. When you get to the mailbox, travel straight right into the parking lot. Bring water, snacks, and hiking poles are recommended. You must register because this hike is on private property. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Saturday, March 21 – Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary – 545 Beech Creek Road South, Brentwood. 3 miles rated moderate to strenuous. Meet in the Georgetown Square Kroger parking lot (1776 W. Northfield Blvd, Murfreesboro) in time to leave at 8:45am CST. The drive to Owl’s Hill is about an hour, and carpooling is encouraged. When we arrive, we’ll get an introduction to the property from a staff member, then hike a combination of these trails (going counterclockwise): Sharp Creek, Haircut, Hilltop, Loblolly, and South Ridge for about 3 miles. Most of these are moderate, but South Ridge is rated strenuous due to a steep climb up to the ridge for an elevation gain of almost 300 ft. We can stop along the way for lunch or eat at picnic tables when we get back to the visitor center. Be sure to wear good hiking boots/shoes, bring hiking poles if you use them, water, snacks, and lunch. Owl’s Hill has a $5 day use fee but you can pay in advance. Pets are not permitted at the Sanctuary. Owl’s Hill experienced a lot of tree damage during the January winter storm. There is a possibility that this hike gets cancelled if the clean-up efforts are still ongoing. For more information or to sign up, contact Katy Ginanni, rpcvlibrarian@yahoo.com or 828-226-6837. She will also have a link for online check in.
Saturday, March 28 – Trail Maintenance – Barfield Crescent Park. 8:00am – 10:30am. We will meet at the Wilderness Station. Join us for a trail assessment and minor maintenance in the Barfield Backcountry! We’ll be checking trail markers, benches and bridges making note of needed repairs. Volunteers should anticipate hiking 3-5 miles. Volunteers also need to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a water bottle. If you hike with poles, bring those too! Six slots for this event are being reserved for members of the Tennessee Trails Association. To sign up for a slot please register through Outdoor Murfreesboro. The password is TennesseeTrailsAssociation. Contact Lynn Rosser lynnmacrosser@gmail for any questions. Any slots not filled by the TTA by March 14 will be made available to the general public.
APRIL 2026
Saturday, April 11 - Marcella Vivrette Smith Park – Brentwood. All Trails. About 4 miles rated moderate. We will meet at the parking lot at 9am CST. We will do the trails clockwise. First, we will visit Enid’s Eyrie Point via the Red Trail which has one section that is very steep and opens up to a nice, level scenic overlook area. We will then continue along the Blue Trail that consists of uphill and flat sections. Then we will take the Green Trail and then the crossover trail to the Black Trail which can be a little rocky at points. We then rejoin the Blue Trail back to the beginning. Bring water and snacks and lunch. For more information or to sign up, contact Anna Lina Buckley at 318-210-1251 or annalinabuckley@gmail.com.
Tuesday, April 14 – Chapter Meeting – 7:00pm. Barfield Crescent Park Wilderness Station. Allison Davidson, Wellness and Fitness Coordinator with the City of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation will present a CPR demonstration and talk.
Thursday, April 16 – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area - Rock Creek Loop. 7.5 miles rated moderately strenuous for terrain, elevation change and length. Joint hike with the Highland Rim and Nashville chapters. Mark Hubbard will lead us on a wildflower hike to see a wide variety of beautiful spring wildflowers. We’ll travel at a pace that allows us to appreciate the natural beauty around us. The trail descends to the rocky, mossy banks of Massey Branch and Rock Creek, passing below bluffs and along the remains of the Stearns logging railway. Wear sturdy boots, bring snacks, lunch and plenty of water. Hiking poles are recommended. For carpool information from Murfreesboro contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com. Register with Mark for hike details and updates at 615-669-3221 or midtn@tnhiker.net.
Saturday, April 18 – Collins Gulf to Horsepound Falls – Savage Gulf State Park. 5 miles rated moderate. Meet at Collins Gulf trailhead at 9:30am. Setting out from Collins West Trailhead, this trail heads downhill, passing West Collins Campground and Suter Falls. Continuing its descent, the route winds its way to the beautiful Horsepound Falls, which is fed by Collins River. The trail is rocky and can get slippery in wet conditions. Wildflowers should be in bloom adding vibrant splashes of color to the surroundings. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931-580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com.
Sunday, April 26 - Flat Rock Cedar Glades Wildflowers – Murfreesboro. 4 miles rated easy to moderate. Joint event with the Highland Rim and Nashville chapters. Middle Tennessee cedar glades and barrens feature wooded sections, meadows, and contrasting rocky areas. We can expect to see over 30 wildflower species, some rare, and many of which are specifically adapted to the unique habitat. We’ll hike at a pace that allows us to appreciate what we’re seeing. Our routes will be relatively flat with only gradual inclines. Some trail segments are rugged, and some may be wet or muddy so choose your footwear accordingly. Afterwards we’ll have lunch at Carmen’s Taqueria in Murfreesboro. Meet in the Flat Rock parking lot at 8:30 AM CDT. Register with Mark Hubbard for details and updates at 615-669-3221 or midtn@tnhiker.net. Tuesday-Friday, April 28-May 1 – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area camping and hiking. Joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. Four tent campsites have been reserved in the Blue Heron Campground near Stearns, Kentucky. Hikes may include the Blue Heron Loop (6.6 miles), Catawba Overlook (3.2 miles), Dick Gap Falls (4.6 miles) and Yamacraw Bridge to Negro Creek (6.0 miles). There’s also the option of hiking in the Yahoo Falls area (9.9 miles). There will be a potluck dinner Tuesday evening and dinner either Wednesday or Thursday in a Stearns restaurant. Participants are responsible for other meals and snacks. For more information contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com. – THIS EVENT IS FULL, BUT YOU CAN SIGN UP ON THE WAITING LIST.
MAY 2026
JUNE 2026
Tuesday-Thursday, June 2-June 4 – Great Smoky Mountains Camping and Hiking Event. Balsam Mountain Campground. Hemphill Bald, Caldwell Fork, and Rough Fork Trails Loop Hike on June 3, 13.7 miles loop, 2,240 feet elevation gain. Moderate. This loop route offers grand views from Hemphill Bald and penetrates old-growth forest. Flat Creek Trail hike on June 4, 2.6 miles one way with a shuttle, 570 feet elevation gain. Joint event with the Murfreesboro Chapter. Register early with Joan Hartvigsen at jhartvigs@comcast.net or 931-636-2914 to secure your spot in beautiful Balsam Mountain Campground. Balsam Mountain Campground is located near Cherokee, NC off the Blue Ridge Parkway in a rare spruce-fir forest. At 5,310 ft., the campground is the highest in the park and offers cool summers.
Tuesday-Friday, June 16-19, 2026 – Camping, Kayaking, Hiking Event. Joint outing with the Murfreesboro Chapter. Rattler Ford Group Campground in Nantahala National Forest, near Robbinsville, NC. Kayaking Santeetlah Lake and Fontana Lake. We will visit Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, and Huckleberry Knob and Hooper Bald on the Cherohala Skyway. The wild azaleas bloom in June. Reserve your spot in the campsite by contacting Joan Hartvigsen, jhartvigs@comcast.net or 931-636-2914.
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