Tuesday, July 8 – Chapter Meeting – 7:00 pm. Barfield Crescent Park Wilderness Station. Chapter member Jay Brain will share his adventures of 2024 and 2025 trips to Arizona. Presentation will include Indian Cliff Dwellings at Montezuma’s Castle and Montezuma’s Well. In Sedona he hiked the West Fork of Oak Creek, Fay Canyon, Doe Mountain, Palatki Heritage Site, Long Canyon, Cathedral Rock, Honanki Heritage Site, and Loy Canyon Trail.
Wednesday, July 9 - Cumberland Trail - Ozone Falls Section. Crab Orchard. 7.0 miles rated strenuous for length. Joint hike with the Nashville chapter. We will begin this hike of the Grassy Cove Segment of the Cumberland Trail from the top of Black Mountain south to Ozone Falls. There are beautiful mountaintop views from Black Mountain and then a spectacular waterfall at the end at Ozone Falls. This trail has a descending grade with switchbacks and rock steps leading up from the falls. We’ll meet at the Ozone Falls trailhead and shuttle to Black Mountain and a carpool from Murfreesboro can be arranged. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Saturday, July 12 – Henry Horton State Park – South Horton Trail System. 7.0 miles rated easy to moderate. We will meet at the Henry Horton State Park Trap, Skeet and Archery Range parking lot at 8:00 am. This is an easy to moderate natural surface multi-use loop trail through the woods. The trail is slightly rocky in a few areas and the use of trekking poles may be helpful. Dogs are allowed on the trail but must be on a leash. Opportunity to carpool from Murfreesboro. After the hike, there’s the option to visit the Duck River Outdoor Expo. There will be a variety of interactive exhibits, and presentations to learn about local wildlife, conservation efforts, and sustainable outdoor practices. For more information or to sign up, contact Anna Lina Buckley at 318-210-1251 or annalinabuckley@gmail.com.
Friday, July 18 - Elk River Float - Winchester. Tims Ford Dam Tailwater to Farris Creek Bridge, 8 miles with easy put-in and take-out. Joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. Meet at 8:00 am CDT at the put-in on the Elk River just downstream from Tims Ford Dam. Turn into the parking lot for “River Recreation” access off Hwy 50 east of the Elk River Bridge and west of the turn for Tims Ford Dam Lake access. A shuttle will be arranged for the take-out at 2292 Farris Creek Bridge Road. Bring water, snacks and lunch and a personal flotation device (PFD) is required. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Saturday, July 26 – Barren Fork and Collins River Paddle. McMinnville. Joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. The Barren Fork River is a tributary of the Collins River. We will meet at 8:30 am CDT and paddle about 6 miles from the Barren Fork River Dam at Pepper Branch Park (120 Old Morrison Road) and take out at the former VFW building on Highway 70S in McMinnville. We will have to shuttle vehicles to the VFW building. Pack snacks, lunch and plenty of water. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
AUGUST 2025
Tuesday, August 12 – Chapter Meeting – 7:00 pm. Barfield Crescent Park Wilderness Station. Nancy Juodenas of the Nashville chapter will have a presentation on her 3-month journey through Alaska and Canada with fellow travelers Amy Sutton and Wendy Fish. Visits to National Parks included Voyageurs, Isle Royale, Denali, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias, Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, and so much more. Amazing photography by Wendy Fish is featured throughout the presentation.
Saturday, August 9 – Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens. Murfreesboro. 3.6 miles rated moderate. Joint hike with the Columbia/Franklin chapter. Flat Rock is one of Tennessee’s largest intact cedar glades preserves and is home to some very rare plants. This loop trail is relatively flat with an elevation gain of 167 feet. The trail goes along cedar woods, grassy glades and passes a sinkhole where a creek flows into it and disappears underground. Bring water, snacks and bug spray. We will meet at the trailhead at 9:00 am CDT at 2423 Factory Road in Murfreesboro. Plan to enjoy lunch with us at a local restaurant. For more information or to sign up contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Thursday, August 14 – Walls of Jericho. Bear Hollow Mountain Wildlife Management Area on the west side of Winchester. 7.5 miles rated challenging due to rocky terrain and elevation changes. Joint outing with the Highland Rim chapter. A short vehicle shuttle is necessary. This gorge straddles the Tennessee-Alabama state line. We’ll hike the beautiful but lightly traveled trail from the Tennessee trailhead down into the Hurricane Creek watershed. We will cross Turkey Creek on a foot log bridge past Clark Cemetery, and a primitive hiker campsite. From there we will hike beside Turkey Creek alongside a bluff line to reach the beautiful, natural walled amphitheater. The return trip will be ascending switchbacks to the trailhead in Alabama. Bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. Hiking poles are recommended for this hike. We will meet at the Tennessee side trailhead at 9:00 am CDT. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Saturday, August 16 – Buggytop Trail to Lost Cove Cave and Peter Cave. 4.5 miles rated moderate. We will hike to Peter Cave first and then to the Lost Cove Cave. The Lost Cove Cave is one of the plateau’s most impressive cave entrances. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. We will meet at the Buggytop trailhead at 9:00 am CDT. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931-580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com.
Thursday, August 28 – Woods Reservoir Paddle. Joint activity with the Highland Rim chapter. Woods Reservoir is an impoundment of the Elk River, and the Elk River Dam was completed in 1952 by the U.S. Air Force for Arnold Engineering Development Center. Meet at 9:00 am CDT at the put-in at the Manchester Beach Boat Ramp, Coffee County Recreation Area. Please note: the street sign at the Old Brick Church Road intersection reads Checking Station Road. We will put in on beautiful Brumlow Creek and paddle to Elder Island, where several species of waterfowl nest. We will then follow the southern shoreline toward Elk River Dam and the Wildlife Management Area. We will see The University of Tennessee Space Institute on our way back. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
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