Saturday, June 21 - Cumberland Caverns Discovery Walking Tour; Apple Brandy Trail Forest Hike McMinnville. We will combine a Discovery Walking Tour inside Cumberland Caverns and a 2.5-mile hike on the nearby Apple Brandy Trail on Caldwell Mountain. This is a joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. We will meet at the 10:00 am CDT at Cumberland Caverns located at 1437 Cumberland Caverns Road in McMinnville. The guided 90-minute, 1.5-mile Discovery Walking Tour focuses on the Natural Science of Cumberland Caverns. The Historic Volcano Room features the famous chandelier from Loews Metropolitan Theater in New York. The tour is rated as moderately strenuous due to uneven rock steps and sometimes slippery walking surface, but handrails are available. After the cave tour, we take time to eat a picnic lunch and then take a short walk to the trailhead of the Apple Brandy Trail. This well-maintained moderate 2.5-mile loop will take us through a forested landscape with dry streams, karst features, and wildflowers. Trail shoes or boots are recommended and bring water and a picnic lunch. There is a group discount fee of $23 per person for the Cavern tour. Payment by check must be received by Sunday, May 11. This outing is limited to the first 20 people who sign up. Please contact Margie Schumacher at 352-442-8949 or rs2msps@yahoo.com to reserve your spot. Send a check payable to “TTA Highland Rim Chapter”; and mail to Jim Barritt, 528 Charlie Russell Road, Shelbyville, TN, 37160.
Thursday, June 26 – Duck River Paddle - Columbia. 5.8 miles on easy class one water with a few swift sections and shoals, 3 to 4 hours. Joint event with the Highland Rim Chapter. We will meet at the TWRA Boat Launch Access on Sowell Mill Pike (Leftwich Bridge) and set up a shuttle for our takeout at Howard Bridge Road. Our paddle passes through a section of the Duck River that is surrounded mostly by undeveloped State Natural Areas including Cheek’s Bend where we can view the entrance to a cave on the bluffs above us. The Duck River is the most biodiverse river in the country and is home to a rare and endangered aquatic life as well as several species of rare plants. Depending on water levels there may be some walking/dragging through shoals. Bring lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen, and your personal flotation device. We will meet at Leftwich Bridge TWRA Boat Access off Sowell Mill Pike in Columbia. 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.
Friday, June 27 – Chapter Picnic Our annual picnic will be held on Friday, June 13th, 6:00 pm at Jay Brain's backyard. His address is 2915 Canterbury Court, Murfreesboro. BBQ is on the menu and drinks will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share and invite your family and friends. Please RSVP to Lynn at lynnmacrosser@gmail.com or 570-877-2150.S
JULY 2025
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.
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