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Outdoor Adventures

Explore 3 state parks and a university trail system filled with dramatic sandstone cliffs, over which spill dozens of majestic and beautiful waterfalls, carving deep canyons with cool, clear-running streams — all surrounded by lush, mature hardwood and evergreen forests.

Abbo's Alley

Easy

Abbo's Alley

An easy-to-walk and carefully tended ravine garden at the University of the South in Sewanee.

Big Creek 3-Day Overnight Hike

Difficult

Big Creek 3-Day Overnight Hike

This 3-day/2-night hike is especially beautiful during fall colors or spring wildflower season. The climbs down into the Gulf and back out again can be challenging. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead.

Big Creek Sink

Difficult

Big Creek Sink

Big Creek disappears into an underground cave at this location, only to emerge further downstream. There's a steep descent/return ascent into/out of Big Creek Gulf. Otherwise, it's a moderate-to-easy hike. Access this adventure from either the Savage Gulf North or Savage Gulf East trailheads.

Bigfoot Adventure Zipline & Disc Golf

Bigfoot Adventure Zipline & Disc Golf

RV park and campground with ziplining, disc golf and clay shooting

Black Canyon Cascade

Moderate

Black Canyon Cascade

One of the most picturesque sites in the Fiery Gizzard, Black Canyon is technically a cascade, not a waterfall, but still an amazing sight, as two creeks come together and are squeezed through a narrow rock opening. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead.

Blue Hole Falls

Moderate

Blue Hole Falls

This pristine mountain creek waterfall is in an awe-inspiing setting, with a good swimming hole. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

Boardtree Falls

Moderate

Boardtree Falls

Boardtree Falls is actually a pair of cascade-style waterfalls on Boardtree Creek, near the Alum Gap campground. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf West Trailhead.

Buggytop Cave

Difficult

Buggytop Cave

This is a moderately difficult 4-mile roundtrip hike to one of the largest cave openings in Tennessee, and the only one from which water normally flows. There are two steep ascent/descent areas; one at each end of this trail. Access this adventure from the Lost Cove West Trailhead.

Coalmont OHV Park

Coalmont OHV Park

New off-road park offering over 1,300 acres of trails with varied wooded terrain for all vehicle types and skill levels.

Collins Gulf 2-Day Overnight Hike

Difficult

Collins Gulf 2-Day Overnight Hike

This two-day hike features eye-popping springtime wildflowers, amazing waterfalls, disappearing streams and majestic overlooks. There are steep descents/return ascents into/out of Collins Gulf. Otherwise, it's a moderate hike. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead.

Cove Creek Farm

Cove Creek Farm

Working farm with indoor & outdoor playgrounds and guided tours

Denny Cove & Falls

Moderate

Denny Cove & Falls

Explore a world-class rock climbers’ paradise, with a double-cascade waterfall and nearly 500 climbing routes with grades ranging from 5.8 to 5.14. Access this adventure from the Denny Cove Trailhead.

ECO E-bikes

ECO E-bikes

E-bike rental, sales & repair right on the Mountain Goat Trail

Experience Chattanooga

Experience Chattanooga

Guided hiking tours with transportation & professional photography included.

Fiery Gizzard Trail, a 2-day Adventure

Difficult

Fiery Gizzard Trail, a 2-day Adventure

Ranked as one of the top 25 backpacking trails in the United States by Backpacker magazine, "The Gizz" features cascading streams, numerous waterfalls, panoramic overlooks, extremely rocky gorges, gentle slopes and lush woodlands. Use either the Fiery Gizzard North or Fiery Gizzard South trailheads to begin this adventure!

Foster Falls

Moderately Difficult

Foster Falls

At the southern end of the Fiery GizzardTrail is Foster Falls, a 60-foot waterfall, the tallest in the parks, with a swimming hole at its base. There is an easy quarter-mile hike to observe the falls from above; and a much more strenuous two-mile hike (round trip) to clamber to the bottom of the falls on a rocky trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead.

Greeter Falls

Moderately Difficult

Greeter Falls

A moderate-to-challenging one-mile out-and-back trail with a spiral staircase, taking you to Greeter Falls. Also check out the (easier) spur trail to the Blue Hole swimming area, as well as some smaller waterfalls and historic sites. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf West Trailhead.

Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp

Moderate

Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp

A moderate 3-mile trek with swimming holes, history, geology, giant hemlocks and cascading streams with an optional 1/3-mile walk through the site of a 1930s CCC camp. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

Grundy Lakes & Lone Rock Coke Ovens

Easy

Grundy Lakes & Lone Rock Coke Ovens

There's a recreational lake with swimming and picnicking facilities at the site of the historic Lone Rock Coke Ovens, where locally-mined coal was converted to coal coke by convict labor. An easy 2.3-mile hike encircles the lakes; some of it using a low-traffic paved road. Access this adventure from the Grundy Lakes Trailhead, which is also the parking area for the swimming and picnicking facilities.

Hanes Hole Falls

Moderate

Hanes Hole Falls

The first named waterfall of Fiery Gizzard Creek, on its way into Fiery Gizzard Gorge, along the Grundy Forest loop trail. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

High Point Climbing

High Point Climbing

Fully insured and certified climbing guides at Denny Cove and Foster Falls

Horsepound Falls

Difficult

Horsepound Falls

Visit the waterfall said to be named for the place where Confederate forces hid their horses during the Civil War. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead.

Just IN Time Adventures

Just IN Time Adventures

Offering guided waterfall, hiking, cavern and various other outdoor adventure tours

Laurel Falls

Moderate

Laurel Falls

This 400-foot trail, next to the Stone Door Ranger Station, leads to a picturesque waterfall. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead.

Meadow Trail

Easy

Meadow Trail

This is a 1-mile easy, round trip walk through a meadow with storyboards from a children's book and a forest playground made of logs and ropes -- a great way to introduce the little ones to the joys of hiking! Access this adventure from the South Cumberland State Park Headquarters on US 41 in Monteagle.

Mountain Goat Trail

Easy

Mountain Goat Trail

A real-life version of “The Little Engine that Could”, and now a great paved trail

Ranger Falls

Difficult

Ranger Falls

Ranger Falls has no visible outflow; under normal flow, 100% of its water flows into an underground cave. Access this unusual adventure from the Savage Gulf West or Savage Gulf North trailheads.

Roundhouse Park and Historic Tracy City

Roundhouse Park and Historic Tracy City

Park with historic marker, picnic pavilion and playground

Savage Creek 4-Day Overnight Hike

Difficult

Savage Creek 4-Day Overnight Hike

This 4-day hike takes you into the “wildest” part of Savage Gulf State Park — some of the most beautiful wilderness in the region. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf East Trailhead.

Savage Day Loop

Easy

Savage Day Loop

An easy 4.2 mile round-trip hike and a perfect outing to see the eastern part of Savage Gulf and Savage Falls. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf East Trailhead.

Schoolhouse Falls

Easy

Schoolhouse Falls

This small waterfall has the remains of a moonshiners' still at its base -- an easy quarter-mile walk from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead, if you bear left at the first trail intersection, about 100 feet from the trailhead kiosk.

Schwoon Spring

Difficult

Schwoon Spring

This spring, named for early settler Fred Schwoon, was an important source of fresh water for the early residents of Savage Gulf. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead.

Sewanee Natural Bridge

Easy

Sewanee Natural Bridge

A remarkable natural sandstone arch, easily accessible via a 400-foot stair-stepped path from the parking lot. Access this adventure from the Lost Cove North Trailhead.

Sherwood Loop Trail

Easy

Sherwood Loop Trail

This is an easy 2.9 mile loop trail that includes the Sherwood Natural Bridge and several outstanding overlooks. Access this adventure from the Lost Cove East Trailhead.

South Cumberland State Park Visitor Center

Easy

South Cumberland State Park Visitor Center

Park info, gift shop, mini-museum and trailhead for a kid-friendly "storybook trail"

Stone Door

Easy

Stone Door

This is a realtively easy 2 mile out-and-back hike with a spectacular overlook and steps that descend through a 150-foot crevice at the crest of the plateau. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf North Trailhead.

Suter Falls/Horsepound Falls

Difficult

Suter Falls/Horsepound Falls

Here's a challenging 2 mile out-and-back viewing of Suter Falls, Horsepound Falls, rock shelters, and high bluffs. Access this adventure from the Savage Gulf South Trailhead.

Sycamore Falls

Moderate

Sycamore Falls

This is a great summer swimming hole on Big Fiery Gizzard Creek. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.

Tenacity Adventure Fitness

Tenacity Adventure Fitness

Martial arts studio with weight training equipment and indoor climbing, trampolines and obstacle courses for kids

The Course at Sewanee

The Course at Sewanee

Recently renovated golf course with gorgeous bluff views

War Memorial Cross

Easy

War Memorial Cross

Scenic overlook and favorite spot for picnics and sunsets

Woody's Bicycles

Woody's Bicycles

Full service bicycle sales, rental and repair

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