Tuesday-Friday, April 28-May 1 – Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area campingand hiking. Joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. Four tent campsites have been reserved inthe 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 toNegro 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 aStearns restaurant. Participants are responsible for other meals and snacks. For more informationcontact 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
Saturday, May 9 – Savage Gulf State Park – Stone Door to Greeter Falls. Total mileage is approximately 7.5 miles rated moderate to strenuous. We will meet at Savage Gulf West Trailhead (Greeter Falls Trailhead) at 9:00am CT to set up a shuttle and then drive to the Savage Gulf North Trailhead Ranger Station (Stone Door Ranger Station) to begin the hike. The hike will start on the Stone Door Trail where we will see views of Laurel Creek gorge from the Laurel Gulf Overlook and the Great Stone Door Overlook. We will then take the Big Creek Gulf Trail by steeply descending through the Stone Door passageway to the gorge below. This trail joins an old logging road. We will take the 0.8 mile round trip spur trail to Ranger Falls and sink of Ranger Creek. At about the 4.5 mile mark we will take the Greeter Falls Trail where we will have more great views from Big Bluff Overlook and walk across Boardtree Creek via a suspension bridge. Then we will join the Greeter Falls Loop Trail that includes views of Boardtree Falls, Lower and Upper Greeter Falls and the site of the Greeter Homeplace which was occupied in the 1800s and early 1900s and make our way back to the parking lot. Bring lunch, sturdy shoes and hiking poles. For more information or to sign up, contact Cheryl Smith at 931-580-0862 or mimicheryl67@gmail.com.
Tuesday, May 12 – Chapter Meeting – 7:00pm. Barfield Crescent Park Wilderness Station. We will plan future hikes and events. If there are any hikes that you think would be great for the group, please come ready with those suggestions.
Thursday, May 14 – Head of the Crow State Park – Sherwood Forest Day Loop and Pack Hollow Trail. Total mileage is 6.4 miles rated moderate. This hike offers great overlooks into Lost Cove and a natural bridge. Pack Hollow Trail is a new out and back trail that offers awesome views. The trailhead address is 2036 Old CCC Road, Sewanee. Directions to trailhead: Take Exit 134 off Interstate 24, drive 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. After the hike we will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Brind water, snacks and a hiking pole is recommended. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615- 714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 17 – Tennessee River Gorge Paddle, Sullivan’s Landing boat ramp to Bennett Lake boat ramp, 7.2 miles in Marion County. Joint event with the Highland Rim Chapter. The Tennessee River Gorge, known as the “Grand Canyon of Tennessee”, is a 26-mile-long river canyon carved through the Cumberland Plateau near Chattanooga. We will explore Nickajack Lake, the reservoir that backs up the Tennessee River. We will also pass the “Graves of Nickajack Lake” rising from the waters in Mullens Cove. The headstones mark the graves of Henry and Zilpha Long and their great grandson, buried in this spot in the 1800’s. We will then pass several islands on our way to the Bennett Lake boat ramp. We will meet at 8:00 am CT at Sullivan’s Landing boat ramp to arrange a vehicle shuttle to our takeout at the Bennett Lake boat ramp. Directions to Sullivan’s Landing boat ramp: take Interstate 24 East to Exit 161 and turn left onto SR-156. In one mile turn right onto US-41. Travel 8.9 miles on US-41, then turn left into Sullivan’s Landing boat ramp parking lot. Bring plenty of water, lunch, snacks and sunscreen. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Saturday, May 23 – Head of the Crow State Park – Buggytop Trail and Natural Bridge. Sewanee. 4.5 miles rated moderate. We will hike to Lost Cove Cave on the Buggytop trail. This is one of the plateau’s most impressive cave entrances. The mouth of the cave is carved out of a 150-foot cliff. After hiking the Buggytop Trail, we will stop at the Sewanee Natural Bridge to see the largest known natural bridge in this area. Bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. For more information or to sign up, contact Sara Pollard at 615-714-3610 or sarabpollard@gmail.com.
Tuesday-Friday, June 16-19 – Camping, kayaking, and hiking. Joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. Camping at the Rattler Ford Group Campground in the Nantahala National Forest, near Robbinsville, North Carolina and kayaking Santeetlah Lake and Fontana Lake. We will visit Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, Huckleberry Knob and Hooper Bald on the Cherohala Skyway. The Cherohala Skyway is a scenic highway in Tennessee and North Carolina. The wild azaleas bloom in June. Reserve your spot in the campsite by contacting Joan Hartvigsen at 931-636-2914 or jhartvigs@comcast.net.
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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