Savage Gulf Backpack - Michael

Location: South Cumberland Recreation Area Savage Gulf State Natural Area had 12 TTA Backpack crew and weather was perfect all 3 days. Total mileage over three days was 27.2 miles.

Hike started at Savage Gulf Ranger Station for a 7-mile hike that will take us through the Savage Day Loop, Savage Falls and South Rim trails to the Stagecoach Road backcountry campsite. Set up camp and enjoyed storytelling and camping and map reading skills.

Saturday we hiked the 14-mile loop starting down Stagecoach Road into Savage Gulf to Sawmill Camp to the Collins Gulf Trail. Hike along the river and Schwoon Spring and Fall Creek Sink along the way to Horsepound Falls. Had lunch and explore the area and continue up the trail to Suter Falls following switch backs and some rock hopping that follows the bluff along the Gulf. We then hiked just below Collins West to an area called the boulder field for a few miles to the boulder crossing over the Collins River. We crossed a cable bridge and up the bluff to Collins East and take the Collins Rim trail about 6 miles back to our campsite.

Sunday, we packed up camp and start our 7-mile hike back down South Rim to the Savage Gulf Ranger Station.

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