Thursday, December 25 — Head of the Crow State Park - Sherwood Day Loop and Pack Hollow Trail. Total mileage is 6.4 miles rated moderate. Enjoy Christmas morning hiking in Tennessee’s newest state park. This is a beautiful forest with overlooks into Lost Cove, bluffs and a natural bridge. Pack Hollow Trail is a new 2.8 mile out and back trail that offers awesome views. Bring water, lunch and hiking poles are recommended. Directions to trailhead: Take Exit 134 off Interstate 24 and turn left toward Sewanee for 3.1 miles. Turn left on Hwy 156 and continue for 8.5 miles. Turn right on Old CCC Road and continue 2 miles to the parking area located at the end of the road. Meet at the trailhead at 10:00 CT. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931- 580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com
Saturday, December 27— Cumberland Mountain State Park – Pioneer Trail. 5 miles rated moderate. The Pioneer Trail is a popular trail that goes along the banks of Byrd Creek and offers beautiful views of Byrd Lake. Hikers should be prepared for uneven terrain, roots and rocks. Bring snacks, plenty of water, and lunch. Meet at 10:00 am CT in the parking lot behind the restaurant. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931-580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com
JANUARY 2026
Thursday, January 1 — New Year’s Day Hike – Long Hunter State Park. Bryant Grove Trail. 8.0 miles rated moderate. Joint event with the Highland Rim and Nashville chapters. The adage is what you do on the first day of the year, you will continue to do all year long. The Bryant Grove Trail is an “out and back” flat, winding trail connecting the Couchville Lake area to the Bryant Grove Recreation Area and follows the shoreline of Percy Priest Lake. The trail crosses a wooden bridge above Bryant Grove Creek, where heron might be seen wading and feeding. If you don’t want to hike the entire 8 miles, there is a turn-around point halfway or a car shuttle can be set up to hike 4.0 miles. All chapters are invited to attend. We will meet at 9:30 am at the kiosk near the playground in the Couchville Lake area. We will enjoy lunch in the Bryant Grove Recreation Area. Bring lunch, water, and snacks. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615- 714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com .
Saturday, January 3 – Mossy Ridge Trail – Percy Warner Park, 50 Vaughn Rd, Nashville, TN 37221 9am CST. We will hike this 5.1 mile loop that is considered a moderately challenging route. The trail includes several steep sections and gradual inclines. The terrain is rocky along some portions. Wear proper footwear. Bring plenty of water and some snacks. Bad weather will postpone this hike. Please register to have current information. Directions to Chickering Road Entrance to Mossy Ridge: West on Old Hickory Rd from I-65 to
Chickering Rd. Turn right (North) onto Chickering Rd. Turn at the first road on the left that enters the park. Parking area is on your right. Restrooms available at trailhead. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931-580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com.
Saturday, January 10 – Honey Creek Loop – Big South Fork NRA 9am EST. We will hike the 5.7 mile loop that is considered strenuous and quite a challenge. Meet at the parking area before reaching the end of the road at the overlook. We will see waterfalls, rockhouses, and crawl through a couple of the rocky areas. We will have some rock hopping on the loop. I plan to do this hike in the counterclockwise direction. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Wear appropriate footwear for the terrain. Hiking poles are recommended. Bad weather will postpone this hike. Please register to have current information. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931-580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 13 – No chapter meeting this month. Next meeting is Tuesday, February 10, 7:00pm CST.
Thursday, January 15 – Short Springs State Natural Area. Tullahoma. 5 miles rated moderate. We’ll hike to Machine Falls, Adams Falls, Busby Falls and Laurel Bluff Loop Trails. We will start on the Busby Falls trail crossing Bobo Creek and follow the Laurel Bluff loop. Then back to the bridge and continue on the Busby Falls trail. After visiting Machine Falls, we will hike tor Adams Falls and head back to the trailhead on the Machine Falls trail. We will start at 9:00 am. Bring water, snacks, and lunch. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Saturday, January 17 – Fiery Gizzard trail to Ravens Point – South Cumberland State Park 9am CST. We will hike 9.8 miles out and back beginning at the Grundy Forest Day Loop and ascend via the Dog Hole trail instead of the rocky boulder garden. We will descend via the Dog Hole trail as well. This trail is rated strenuous. You will see rock formations, cascading streams, panoramic overlook, and waterfalls. Wear appropriate
footwear. Bring water, snacks, lunch. Hiking poles are recommended. Bad weather will postpone this hike. Please register to have current information. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931-580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com.
Saturday, January 24 – Bearwaller Gap. Carthage. 6 miles rated moderate to difficult. This hike goes along the shoreline of Cordell Hull Lake passing waterfalls, old home sites and rocky overlooks. We’ll start at the Defeated Creek campground area and hike to the Tater Knob Overlook. Bring water, snacks and lunch. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Friday, January 30 – Marcella Vivrette Smith Park – Brentwood. Blue and Red Trail. 3.5 miles rated moderate. We will meet at the parking lot at 10am CST. We will do the trails clockwise, we will visit Enid’s Eyrie Point via the Red Trail and experience wooded areas and scenic vistas. Bring water and snacks. For more information or to sign up, contact Anna Lina Buckley at 318-210-1251 or annalinabuckley@gmail.com.
APRIL 2026
Tuesday-Friday, April 28-May 1. Big South Fork Camping and Hiking. Blue Heron and Yahoo Falls Area. Stearns, Kentucky. Four tent campsites have been reserved in the Blue Heron Campground for this joint event with the Murfreesboro and Highland Rim chapters. We will explore the Blue Heron Mining Community, Bear Creek and Yamacraw Bridge area. Also a trip to the Yahoo Falls Scenic Area which has the tallest waterfall in Kentucky. The Sheltowee Trace passes through this northern end of the park to head south into Tennessee. Expect to see an abundance of wildflowers and the best river gorge overlooks in the Big South Fork area. Register early because this trip will fill up. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
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