Cumberland County Hiking Marathon Trail Descriptions

Transcription

1 Cumberland County Hiking Marathon Trail Descriptions 8/16/2018 Welcome to the 2018 Cumberland County Hiking Marathon. As you hike these trails you will enjoy a wide variety of terrain and geographical features. We hope this marathon takes you places that you would not normally go and that you have positive experiences along the way. We hope you enjoy hiking these trails but please stay on the trail when hiking and respect private property in residential communities. Carry plenty of water at all times, use bug spray and watch your step it is easy to twist an ankle on rocks and tree roots. ets are permitted on all trails but please pick up after your dog if it fouls the trail-bed. Fairfield Glade Trails 1. Overlook Trail (1.9 miles) GS: , This is a hiker favorite and annual standard. The trail has been extensively rerouted since the 2016 Hiking Marathon to eliminate grassy roads and a logging road from the route. Driving Directions: From the eavine Road/Stonehenge 4-way stop, take eavine going east for half a mile. Turn right onto Westchester drive. After 3.0 miles, just after passing Dorchester Golf Club, turn left onto Windsor Road. Take the second right onto Wimberley Road then immediately turn left onto the gravel road. This road ends at the Overlook parking area and trailhead. After parking your vehicle and enjoying the views from the overlook enter the trail on the left. This trail is a lollipop layout...hike the short stem, then go around the lollipop loop in either direction, particularly enjoying the section along Daddy s Creek. 1

2 2. Glastowbury Trail (1.0 miles) GS: , This is a new trail that begins at the boat ramp at Lake Glastowbury. It is not the easiest trailhead to find! Driving Directions: From St George take Manchester Road then turn left onto Lafayette Lane. Just before entering the condo complex, turn right onto Hunterwood Lane (Signed to the boat-launch). Turn left to the boatlaunch and park at the trailhead. This 1.0 mile trail offers some nice views across the lake but most of the trail is a woodland walk. We recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. 2

3 3. Seven Bridges Trail (2.0 miles) GS: , This is a hiker favorite. Druid Hills Snead Westchester Lake View 0.25 miles From the eavine Road/Stonehenge 4-way stop, take eavine going east for half a mile. Turn right onto Westchester drive. In 0.7 miles the Methodist Church will be on the left. The Seven Bridges trailhead is located at the north end of the Methodist Church parking lot on Westchester. The church has given permission for hikers to park in their north parking lot. After parking, cross Westchester to the start of the trail. This is a lollipop loop. The first section of the trail is along a grassy road then it turns into the forest for a delightful hike through a variety of terrain. Key Snead Lake Sherwood Lake View aved Roads Gravel Roads Hiking Trail 2.0 miles round trip from the church parking lot Creek St George St George lace Lake Glastowbury Westchester Methodist Church St George Driving Directions Head east along eavine Road for 0.5 miles. Turn right on to Westchester. Head south for 0.7 miles and pull into the first parking lot of the Methodist Church where trail parking is permitted. Cross the road to the trail head. Enjoy the seven bridges that had to be constructed along this trail. If you stay alert you may spot the owl nest box that was placed near the trail. 3

4 4. Stonehenge Trail (3.0 miles) GS: , Driving Directions: From the eavine Road/Stonehenge 4-way stop, take Stonehenge north for 0.5 miles and turn left into the parking lot on the corner of Kingsboro. This is a 1.5 mile hike to the Golf Club, 3.0 miles in all. Take care as the trail passes close to two golf tees. ay attention and follow the white stick makers to stay on the trail. Stop at the snack bar at Heatherhurst Golf Club and have a coke at the halfway point. There are restrooms in the clubhouse. The highest point of the trail is around the Lynhurst area. Consequently it is a steady uphill climb which ever end of the trail you start from. 4

5 5. Amherst Trail (2.0 miles) GS: , Driving Directions: From the eavine 4- way stop take eavine Road towards Crossville. Shortly after passing Food City turn left on to St George. About one mile after passing Lake St George look for the trail sign on the left at Castlebar Lane - a grassy road. There is limited parking on the grassy road. This is a 2.0 mile, easy, trail with very little change in elevation. Although most of the trail is on grassy roads there are some sections along paved roads. Most roads are unsigned so follow the trail posts and signs. Lake St George Lakeshire Meadowview Kingsdown St George Albermarle Lane Amherst Chiswick Blackburn Key Amherst Trail aved Roads Gravel/Grass Roads arking on grassy road Golf Course Fairway Albermarle Circle Snead Amherst Lane Wycliffe Lane Scale 0.25 mile 0.25 mile 0.5 mile Cambridge Lane Castlebar Lane Directions Snead Lake Sherwood From the eavine 4-way stop take eavine Road towards Crossville. Shortly after passing Food City turn left on to St George. About one mile after passing Lake St George look for the trail sign on the left at Castlebar Lane - a grassy road. ark on the grassy road. Most roads are unsigned so follow the trail posts and signs. Because the trees along the trail are so young it cannot be "blazed" in the conventional way of nailing small colored rectangles to tree trunks. Instead small painted marker posts are used. This is a good, easy, flat trail for the half marathoners. 5

6 6. aved Central Spine (1.6 miles) Trailhead Coordinates GS: , ark at the Fairfield Glade Cumberland Medical Center Wellness Center on Stonehenge park close to the road, away from the buildings. The paved path begins close to the Community Conference Center. Turn left at the top of the steps. At the main trail turn right, pass Mirror Lake and continue through the tunnel. Some way after passing the driving range, turn left to the mini-golf. Take the opportunity to detour through the Art Guild and to walk the sculpture trail and admire the artwork before returning back to the main trail and back to the Wellness Center and your car. If needed there are restrooms below the library just beyond mini-golf. 6

7 Cumberland County Trails 7. Soldier s Beach Trail, Meadow ark (1.7 miles) GS: , First Crossville trail and annual standard. 1.7 Mile loop near Meadow ark Lake Driving Directions: To get to Meadow ark take Lantana Road, Highway 101, south out of Crossville. After about 3.5 miles, go straight through the lights where Highway 282 turns off for Lake Tansi. The road narrows from four lanes down to two lanes. After another mile turn right on to City Lake Road. There is a large Meadow ark sign on the corner. The trail-head parking is about half a mile on the left but you might want to follow City Lake Road to where it dead-ends at the park marina and office. Enjoy the views across the lake, and maybe use the restrooms at the campsite. Feel free to stop in the office and say Hi to Marlene otter the park manager, then drive back up the entrance road 0.6 miles to the trail-head parking lot which will now be on the right hand side of the road. It is recommended that you follow the signs and hike this 1.7-mile trail in a counter-clockwise direction. It is a very pretty trail with not many uphill sections to be negotiated and many views across the lake. The trail does pass close to the lakeshore so children do need to be supervised. Note: This is called Soldier s Beach Trail because, during World War 2, German risoners of War from a camp in Crossville were used to build a recreational facility here for US Soldier s families. Although it does not mention Soldier s Beach you can learn more about the OW camp in this magazine article: 7

8 Route 127 Main Street 8/16/ lantation Trail (2.8 miles) GS: , Driving Directions: Head out of Crossville on Route 70N, West Avenue, after 1.5 miles from the Kroger s laza, turn right into the Obed River ark. Start at the 2nd parking lot on your left. The paved trail starts at the left side of the parking lot. Go past the yellow barrier with the No motorized Vehicles sign. Key lantation Trail 0.9 m aved Trail 0.5 m Scale 0.25 miles Charleston lantation Follow paved trail along Obed River for 1/2 mile to the old collapsed dam. Turn left off the paved trail on to the lantation dirt trail. The lantation Trail goes 0.9 of a mile along the Little Obed River. The trail ends in a small loop and you then return along the trail to the paved path in the Obed River ark. Turn right on the paved path back to the parking lot. West Avenue West Avenue Old Dam Obed River Trailhead arking Obed River Chuckles Obed River ark County Fairgrounds Little Obed River Lowes Dog ark Little Obed River Route 127 Main Street Ruby Tuesday Old Jamestown Highway 8

9 9. Woodlawn Loop (1.2 miles) GS: , Driving Directions: From the I-40 highway take Genesis Road towards Crossville. Take the third road on the right, which is Woodlawn Road. roceed for about half a mile then turn left onto Wyatt Court, opposite the Lighthouse Baptist Church. The road passes between a couple of industrial buildings and becomes a gravel road. Continue a short distance after passing through the gateway and pull into the trailhead parking area. Obed Court Trailhead Wyatt Court arkside lace Little Obed River Double Crossing Little Obed River Woodlawn Loop 7/26/17 Far oint ick up the trail as it enters the woods and follow the figure-of-eight route through the woods catching glimpses of a cow-pasture and the Little Obed River along the way. 9

10 10. St Raphael Church Meditation Trail (1.0 miles) GS: , The street address is 1038 Sparta Hwy, Crossville, TN. lease do not hike this trail on a Sunday morning as the parking lot will be full with the congregation s cars. Knights Way Riverchase Riverview Court Driving Directions: Head out of Crossville along Sparta Highway, Route 70. After three quarters of a mile pass Ace Hardware on the right. Approximately a quarter of a mile after Ace turn right into the parking lot of the St Raphael Episcopal Church. ark behind the church close to the trailhead. Kingsgate Knights Way Meditation Trail Meditation Trail Riverchase Scale To the Obed River 0.1 miles Enter the Meditation Trail and enjoy an easy walk in this quiet spot close to the bustling activity in Crossville. As you walk over the bridge you can visualize how much water gets in the creek after heavy rain..enough to wash this bridge away twice in recent weeks! St Raphael Episcopal Church 70 Sparta Highway CROSSVILLE 10

11 11. Cumberland Trail: Black Mountain (2.0 miles) GS: , Driving Directions: Take Bat Town Road south from the Crab Orchard exit from I-140, Exit 329. After about two miles turn left onto Owl Roost Road where it is signed to the Justin Wilson State ark. Take Owl Roost Road and Black Mountain Road for three miles to the parking lot at the summit of the mountain. carefully as it is a single-track road with passing places. Follow the signs to the Main Trail and the South Overlook. After enjoying the views at the overlook return to the Main Trail and head south along this section of the Cumberland Trail. Although it is not required for the marathon, you can take the staircase down off the summit if you want to admire the rock formations, then back up the stairs and turn left onto the loop trail to the northern overlook. Continue along the loop trail, crossing over the access road. Note where the main, Cumberland Trail branches off the left (for just a short distance until the next section is constructed) but remain on the loop trail and return to the parking lot. The trails in the park pass close to steep drop-offs in many places so children should be supervised. 11

12 12. Cumberland Trail Hebbertsburg(South) (3.5 miles) Trailhead coordinates: GS: , Driving Directions: From Crab orchard: From the I-40 interchange at Crab Orchard, head north, cross the railroad track and turn left for a short distance and turn right on Hebbertsberg Road. 5.6 miles north on Hebbertsberg Road. When you pass the Eden s Ridge entrance on the right side of Hebbertsberg Road the next dirt road on the left is the trailhead where you will see the yellow gate. From Fairfield Glade: Head east along eavine Road towards Hebbertsberg. After 4.5 miles turn right onto Hebbertsberg Road. After about two miles you will pass E. Keyes Road (The street sign is missing.) on the right and about 0.5 miles further on is the trailhead on the right where you will see the yellow gate set back from the road. There is some limited parking, for half a dozen cars, at the recommended trailhead which is a small dirt track off the west side of Hebbertsberg Road. The track is readily identifiable by a onebar yellow gate located a short distance in from the road. You should see some Hiking Marathon signs from the road. Just past the yellow gate you will see where the connector trail (yellow blazes) starts. Follow this trail for just over a quarter of a mile and then turn left onto the main Cumberland Trail (white blazes.) In 0.5 mile cross Hebbertsburg Road and continue into woods following the trail 1.25 miles to the wooden bridge. At the bridge stop and begin the return journey. 12

13 13. CMS: Byrd Creek & lateau Nature Trails (2.5 miles) GS: , Driving Directions: The Cumberland Mountain State ark is very well known and there are plenty of road signs directing you to the park, which is about four miles south east of Crossville on Highway 127. There is plenty of parking but please do not park in the restaurant parking lot as that gets very busy at times. We recommend parking by the park office. Byrd Creek Trail lateau Trail igeon Ridge Road Stone Dam/Bridge Restaurant Wooden Bridge Overnight Trail (Blue) We suggest hiking the trail clockwise starting by walking down the road and crossing the dam. Turn right immediately after the dam and follow the lateau Nature Trail. (red blazes) Do not descend to the creek. Stay on the upper trail. Follow the lateau Trail for about half a mile and then, at the old noticeboard, turn left onto the Byrd Creek Trail (yellow blazes). After about half-a-mile you will reach a covered bridge built by the Boy Scouts. After another quarter of a mile turn right at another old noticeboard and stay on the Byrd Creek Trail (yellow blazes). Do not take the blue blazed trail. After a short distance you will pass the blue blazed trail again, on the left. Turn right onto the old road and after it crosses the creek turn right once again back into the woods. (There are yellow arrows painted on the surface of the old road.) Follow, the trail all the way back to the campground and park office.(yellow blazes) This trail has many exposed roots on the trail so take extra care to avoid turning an ankle. The trails in the park pass close to water and there are steep drop-offs in many places so children should be supervised. Byrd Creek ark Office US Route 127 US Route 127 State ark Entrance 13