Hey everybody!
Mile for mile, I think the Cumberland Trail has as much to offer as any other trail in the area. This hike is for the 11 mile section that stretches from Lafollette to Cove Lake State Park. My initial inclination is to start from Cove Lake State Park, hike out to the Lafollette end of the trail (there is a shelter at that end with plenty of hanging options around), and hike back the next day.
We will travel past many large, nice rock formations. We will be able to stop and enjoy Eagle Bluff, as well as Devil's Racetrack and many other overlooks. Close to the Cove Lake side of the trail we will be able to gaze upon the triple waterfalls created when TDOT put in the interstate, and wonder at the bright red color of the water and the red stains in the rock of the falls. Sorry...I could go on ad-nauseum about the trail but it would be better for you to just experience it.
The trail is a moderate trail, and is overgrown and poorly marked in places. However, Tennessee State Parks has a GPS trail for Garmins that helps and you always know generally where you are (because you have Lafollette on one side and Royal Blue State Wilderness area on the other side). We will actually spend most of the trip hiking along the border of Royal Blue.
Looking forward to it...hope to hear from all you Tennesseans soon (all you outsiders can come as long as you don't make fun of our accent or our banjos).
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