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.
FEBRUARY 2026
Saturday, February 7 – Savage Day Loop Trail – Savage Gulf State Park. 4.2 miles rated moderate. We will start at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead Ranger Station at 9:00am CST. The loop is all on the plateau top and gives hikers a great variety of features. Visit Savage Falls from two different vantages; Rattlesnake Point Overlook. Bring lunch, water, and snacks. There will be a carpool option from Murfreesboro. For more information or to sign up, contact Anna Lina Buckley at 318-210-1251 or annalinabuckley@gmail.com.
Saturday, February 7 – Cumberland River Wilderness Trail. Located near Granville. 6 miles rated challenging due to rocky terrain and elevation gain of 1560 feet. Joint hike with the Highland Rim chapter. This out and back trail leaves from the Holleman Bend Campground off Highway 53. A shuttle will be necessary to hike from the campground to Big Branch Road. This hike goes along the shoreline of the Cumberland River and has steep ups and downs with views from bluffs and a waterfall along the way. This will be an exploratory hike for the adventurer on this seldom used trail, but we will take our time and hiking poles are recommended. Bring lunch, water and wear sturdy hiking boots. We will meet at the Holleman Bend Campground at 9:00 am CT. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Tuesday, February 10 – Chapter Meeting – 7:00pm. Barfield Crescent Park Wilderness Station. Jane Powell, a Certified Tennessee State Naturalist, from Boro Birders will present BirdEd for beginner birders.
Thursday, February 12 – 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. 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, February 14 – Sewanee Loop – 6.5 to 7 miles rated moderate. Meet at Lake Cheston parking lot off Cosby Lane in Sewanee, TN at 9:00am CST. We will hike on the Cheston Trail to the Perimeter Trail to Memorial Cross, take Tennessee Williams trail (visit Apostles Chapel) to University Avenue, (visit All Saints Chapel), take Abbo’s Alley (visit the Labyrinth) to South Carolina Ave, to Clara’s Point Rd, back on the Cheston Trail to the parking lot. Wear good hiking shoes, bring water, snacks and hiking poles. Option for lunch at Shenanigans after the hike. For more information or to sign up, contact Joe Campbell at 903-237-9581 or rjoecampbell@icloud.com.
Thursday, February 19 - Twin Forks Trail – Murfreesboro. 8 miles rated moderate. We will hike a segment of the 20-mile trail that goes along the banks of the East Fork and West Fork Stones River near Murfreesboro. We will hike from the Murfreesboro Greenway trailhead on Central Valley Road to the East Fork Recreation Area. This is an excellent time of the year to hike this trail because we will be able to see river bluffs and bottomlands in this part of Rutherford County. This is also a horse trail, so if it rains the day before, the hike will be postponed because the trail will be extremely muddy. Wear sturdy boots, bring snacks, lunch and plenty of water. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Saturday, February 21 – Stone Door Loop – Savage Gulf State Park. 6.8 miles rated moderate. Meet at Stone Door trailhead at the end of Stone Door Road off Hwy 56 near Beersheba Springs, TN at 9:00am CST. We will hike the Stone Door Loop to the Stone Door overlook, follow the Big Creek Rim Trail to Alum Gap and the Laurel Trail back to the trailhead. Wear hiking good shoes, bring water, snacks and hiking poles. We will stop for lunch/snacks at the Alum Gap Campsite. For more information or to sign up, contact Joe Campbell at 903- 237-9581 or rjoecampbell@icloud.com.
Saturday, February 28 – John Ruth’s Breakfast & Hike – Cedars of Lebanon State Park. 5 miles rated easy. Meet at John Ruth’s Campsite 91 for breakfast at 9:00 am CT and the hike begins at 10:30 am CT. We will hike the Hidden Springs Trail. Come just for the hike if you want or just breakfast. For those coming for breakfast, please RSVP to John Ruth by Monday, February 23. Text 615-485-6185 or email johnruth@comcast.net. Please register to have current information. For more information or to sign up, contact John Ruth.
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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