The Fiery Gizzard Area
The Fiery Gizzard area of Tennessee's South Cumberland includes the communities of Tracy City, Monteagle, and Pelham. Monteagle and Pelham are directly accessible from I-24, and Tracy City is about six miles east of Monteagle via US 41.
Tracy City is the historical center of the region and access point for the major trailheads of Fiery Gizzard State Park, including the renowned Fiery Gizzard Trail, the Grundy Lakes Historic Area, Foster Falls and Denny Cove. The latter two locations are very popular rock climbing destinations. The Fiery Gizzard Welcome and Information Center is halfway between Tracy City and Monteagle on US 41.
Monteagle is the gateway to the South Cumberland region, with direct access to I-24 via exits 134 and 135. It has numerous options for lodging, dining and shopping and is home to the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, one of a handful of remaining Chautauqua communities dating back to the late 1800s, and a number of other historic sites and homes.
The Mountain Goat Trail is a paved walking/running/biking trail that connects Monteagle to Tracy City, with future development planned to Coalmont, Gruetli-Laager and Palmer.
Pelham is home to The Caverns, a large underground music venue that has attracted some of the world’s top musicians, across many musical genres. The Caverns also operates an above-ground music amphitheater during the warmer seasons.
Communities
Monteagle
Gateway to the region with direct access to I-24, the highest concentration of restaurants and retail shops and home to the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, one of a handful of remaining Chautauqua communities from the late 1800s.
Pelham
Home of The Caverns, a world-renowned destination for underground live music and the Emmy-winning PBS television series.
Tracy City
A company town in the coal mining area, home of the Grundy County Heritage Center and trailhead of the nationally-renowned Fiery Gizzard trail.
Highlights
Fiery Gizzard State Park
This 12,000 acre park includes the area's highest waterfall, a recreational lake area created from a coal mining site, a historic CCC camp exhibit and the acclaimed Fiery Gizzard Trail.
The Caverns
A world-renowned destination for live music above and below ground, in beautiful natural settings. It's the home of the PBS TV series The Caverns Sessions, and offers tours of its magical cave system.
Mountain Goat Trail
A paved walking and cycling trail connecting the communities of the mountain along the path of the historic Mountain Goat Railroad, now open between Sewanee and Tracy City, with more trail to come!
Appalachian Conservation Institute
11,000 acres of protected land that is available by permit for hunting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, foraging and OHV riding on designated trails.
Places to Stay
Monteagle
Trailhead Cabins
Four cabins located near the South Cumberland Welcome Center
Tracy City
Foster Falls Campground
Located at the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead, this is the only state park campground in this area that is open to vehicles, with 25 sites for tents or small trailers. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.
Tracy City, Monteagle
Retreat Vacations by Oakstone
This new luxury, tiny home mountain community offers over 50 vacation homes. Includes 1/2/3 bedrooms, fire pits, hiking trails, playground, biking, canoe/kayak rentals, hot tubs & gathering areas.
Tracy City
Goat Pen Hostel
Bunk rooms and private rooms with shared living space kitchenette and bathrooms
Altamont, Monteagle, Tracy City, Coalmont, Beersheba Springs
South Cumberland Getaways
SCG is the fastest growing vacation rental management company in the region.
Tracy City
Grundy Forest Campground
Five sites and one group campsite, only a half mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.
Tracy City
Camp Swann
10 cabins each with their own unique theme, nestled right next Grundy Lakes
Monteagle
Terralodge
Luxury domes and treehouses in a wooded setting
Monteagle
Monteagle Inn
A charming bed & breakfast with 13 rooms, a cottage, and a conference room located conveniently in downtown Monteagle.
Tracy City
Father Adamz Campground
The Father Adamz Campground was established in honor of a local priest and early advocate for the Boy Scout movement. It's only a half-mile hike from the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead. Online reservations required at Reserve.tnstateparks.com.
Monteagle
Smoke House Lodge & Cabins
Rustic lodge and cabins conveniently located in Monteagle, and its Patio Grill Restaurant is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with live music every day
Tracy City
Cumberland Trails RV Park
Privately owned campground with full hookups and gated entrance near Foster Falls
Tracy City
The Falls at Sewanee Creek
Unique cabins and glamping options with private waterfall, trails & outdoor movie theater
Monteagle
The Edgeworth Inn
Historic bed & breakfast located within the historic Monteagle Assembly
Monteagle, Sewanee
Reverie Vacation Rentals
Licensed vacation rental management company offering 5-star stays in the South Cumberland and surrounding areas.
Monteagle
South Cumberland Concierge
Exclusive, luxury vacation homes in Monteagle and Sewanee
Tracy City
Bigfoot Adventure RV Park and Campground
500-acre property with pull-through RV spaces, tent camping, ziplines, disc golf and more
Places to Eat
Monteagle
The Depot Cafe
Home cooked Southern food, including burgers, Philly cheese steaks & desserts
Monteagle
Mountain Goat Market
Killer eats, eclectic finds
Tracy City
Tracside
Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner with special plate lunches on Sundays
Pelham
Simply Southern Cafe
Southern comfort food
Tracy City
Henry Flury & Sons Grocery
A classic turn-of-the-last-century American grocery store, and a step back in time
Tracy City
Dutch Maid Bakery
The oldest family-owned bakery in Tennessee
Monteagle
Mountain Top Restaurant
Bringing innovative techniques and recipes from across the globe to create an exceptional culinary experience. Open Mon-Fri for lunch, Saturday for brunch and Thur-Sat for dinner.
Monteagle
Papa Ron's Pizza & Italian Steakhouse
Local family-owned restaurant since 1992, serving a large variety of food such as pizzas, pastas, steaks and much more.
Monteagle
Paco's Cantina
Mexican restaurant and sports bar serving tacos, beer and more
Tracy City
Hank's Corner Grille
Steaks, burgers, wings & pizza with a full bar
Tracy City
Rosie’s Farmhouse Kitchen
Country breakfasts, daily plate lunches and evening meals
Tracy City
El Maguey Mexican Restaurant
Authentic Mexican cuisine
Pelham
Tess's Kitchen Cafe
Country food, Asian food & pizza
Tracy City
Off the Rails
Railroad-themed food & energy station in Tracy City
Tracy City
Potbellies
Chow down on a hearty breakfast of omelette, skillets, or the hillbilly bowl, or come at lunch time for a sizzlin' sandwich or mouth watering burger.
Monteagle, Sewanee
Word of Mouth Provisions
Have your vacation rental stocked for your arrival with groceries, welcome meal, charcuterie board, chilled drinks, fresh flowers, and breakfast bakery items.
Monteagle
High Point Restaurant
Built inside a 1929 mansion that presumably once was financed by Al Capone, High Point serves a menu of traditional gourmet dishes including Brie en Croute, Blackened Salmon Oscar and Black Thai Duck.
Tracy City
Dari-Delight
Pizza, burgers, sundaes & more
Monteagle
Smoke House Patio Grill
Grilled & fried chicken, grilled pork chops, pulled BBQ, burgers, sandwiches, salads, vegetables, fried pies, cold beer with live music Friday & Saturday nights, plus open mic on Sunday from noon to 4pm.
More to Explore
Tracy City
Shopping
Nature's Treasures
Garden produce center and seasonal decor store
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Birds & Clays at Baggenstoss Farms
Full-service 500-acre hunting destination, featuring bird hunting, clay shooting and specialty hunts.
Pelham
Outdoor Adventures
The Caverns Cave Tours
Daily cave tours at The Caverns in Pelham include one of the largest underground rooms in the world at over 3 football fields long and a behind-the-scenes tour of the music venue. Thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies can take an Adventure Cave Tour to explore deep portions of The Caverns with seasoned cave guides.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Schoolhouse Falls
This small waterfall has the remains of a moonshiners' still at its base -- an easy quarter-mile walk from the Fiery Gizzard State Park's North Trailhead, if you bear left at the first trail intersection, about 100 feet from the trailhead kiosk.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Black Canyon Cascade
One of the most picturesque sites in the Fiery Gizzard State Park, 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.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Hanes Hole Falls
This is 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 State Park's North Trailhead.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Blue Hole Falls
This pristine mountain creek waterfall is in an awe-inspiing setting in Fiery Gizzard State Park, with a good swimming hole. Access this adventure from the Fiery Gizzard North Trailhead.
Monteagle
Outdoor Adventures
ECO E-bikes
E-bike rental, sales & repair right on the Mountain Goat Trail
Monteagle
Shopping
The Whimsy Willow
Clothing, gifts and home goods boutique with a little something for everyone
Monteagle
History
Monteagle Sunday School Assembly
One of Nine Surviving Chautauquas
Monteagle
History
The Hotel, The Eagle & College Hijinks
An Epic Tale of Fire, Abduction, Guilt and Repatriation
Monteagle
History
The Mabee Homeplace
A Storied Home with Connections to Al Capone
Monteagle
History
Wrenn's Nest
A place to escape summer heat and yellow fever
Tracy City
History
Historic Henry Flury & Sons Grocery
A Century of Essentials and Personal Service
Tracy City
History
The Marugg Company
The Business that Scythes Built
Tracy City
History
E.L. Hampton House
From Railroad Ticket Agent to Coal Company President
Tracy City
History
Historic Dutch Maid Bakery
Tennessee’s Oldest Family-Owned Bakery
Tracy City
History
Historic Mountain Goat Railroad
A real-life version of “The Little Engine that Could”
Tracy City
History
Frank White House
An Eclectic Home with a “Do It Yourself” Owner
Tracy City
History
Christ Church Episcopal
From a humble start in a woodshed, an enduring legacy
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Sycamore Falls
This is a great summer swimming hole on Big Fiery Gizzard Creek. Access this adventure from Fiery Gizzard State Park's North Trailhead.
Monteagle
Spa & Fitness
Fade Medical Spa
Medical spa services by appointment: hydrafacial, dermal filler, neuromodulators
Monteagle
Outdoor Adventures
Storybook 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 Fiery Gizzard State Park Headquarters on US 41 in Monteagle.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Foster Falls
In Fiery Gizzard State Park, 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.
Monteagle
History
Werner Military Museum
Unique Military Equipment from a Unique Collector
Monteagle
Outdoor Adventures
Cove Creek Farm
Working farm with indoor & outdoor playgrounds and guided tours
Monteagle
Music & Nightlife
Music on the Mountain at The Smoke House Patio Grill
Features some of the best artists and songwriters from Nashville every Friday night from 6:30 to 9:30 and every Saturday night from 4:30 to 9:30. Also serving hot food and cold beer, with indoor and outdoor seating options.
Monteagle
Shopping
Mooney's Market & Emporium
Located in a 1939 storefront, The Market is a Natural Foods Grocery, while the Emporium is a collection of "shops". Yarn shop, antiques, houseplants, pottery, African baskets and more.
Tracy City
Shopping
Olde House Shoppe
A carefully selected collection of home & garden decor, antique/vintage finds, gifts & unique items
Monteagle
Outdoor Adventures
Fiery Gizzard State Park Visitor Center
Park info, gift shop, mini-museum and trailhead for a kid-friendly "storybook trail"
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Roundhouse Park and Historic Tracy City
Park with historic marker, picnic pavilion and playground
Pelham
Outdoor Adventures, Music & Nightlife
The Caverns
A world-renowned destination for live music above and below ground, in beautiful natural settings. It's the home of the PBS TV series The Caverns Sessions, and offers tours of its magical cave system.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures, Spa & Fitness
Tenacity Adventure Fitness
Martial arts studio with weight training equipment and indoor climbing, trampolines and obstacle courses for kids
Monteagle
Shopping
Oakes & Oliver's Modern Mercantile
Cool vintage items, unique home decor and local handcrafted goods
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Bigfoot Adventure Zipline & Disc Golf
RV park and campground with ziplining, disc golf and clay shooting
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Grundy Forest Loop/CCC Camp
In Fiery Gizzard State Park, you'll discover 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.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
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 State Park's North or South trailheads to begin this adventure!
Tracy City
History
Grundy County Historical Society Museum
The Definitive Historical Resource for the South Cumberland Region
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Grundy Lakes & Lone Rock Coke Ovens
In Fiery Gizzard State Park, 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.
Monteagle
Shopping, Arts & Crafts
Hallelujah Pottery & Full Circle Candles
Locally-crafted pottery, candles and other gifts
Monteagle
Shopping, Arts & Crafts
Highland Bluff Studio
Subtly nerdy soy candles made with all natural soy wax, cotton wicks, and no dyes
Monteagle
History
Highlander Folk School
An historic site on America's journey toward a more just and inclusive society. (Closed for Restoration)
Monteagle
History
May Justus Memorial Library
Local library, named for a noted author and teacher who encouraged literacy among area citizens.
Monteagle
Shopping
Mountain Outfitters
Outdoor equipment and apparel store with rock wall inside and permanent 50%-off outlet upstairs
Tracy City
Shopping
Music Barn
Musical instruments & accessories, bibles, books and gifts
Tracy City
Taste of Ink Tattoo Studio
Private tattoo studio offering a variety of custom tattoo, art and piercings.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
High Point Climbing
Fully insured and certified climbing guides at Denny Cove and Foster Falls
Monteagle
Shopping
Amish Hippie
One of the quirkiest vintage shops in Tennessee, with clothing, jewelry, accessories, gifts, nostalgic souvenirs, vintage posters & stickers, tobacco accessories, t-shirts, Amish soap and baskets.
Tracy City
Outdoor Adventures
Denny Cove & Falls
Explore a world-class rock climbers’ paradise in Fiery Gizzard State Park, 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.