Smoky Mountain Segment
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CUMBERLAND TRAIL
Smoky Mountain Segment |
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When completed, the Smoky Mountain Segment, named after Smoky Mountain in Scott County, will wind its’ way through the heart of the Cumberland Mountains. This segment will connect Cove Lake and Frozen Head State Parks with one continuous back-country trail allowing the hiker to enjoy the Royal Blue and Sundquist WMA while experiencing outstanding vistas and watersheds. The Smoky Mountain segment will offer the rugged, remote challenge so often sought after on long-distance hiking trails.
This 36 mile segment now has 27.5 miles of constructed trail with 22.5 miles open for hiking, making this segment’s trail construction phase 76% completed. Plans are to complete trail construction and to have this segment open for hiking from Cove Lake to Frozen Head State Parks by June of 2009.
 Early Fall On The Trail
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Length: 36 miles (when construction is completed), 22.5 miles open for hiking.
Trailhead Directions: The trailhead for the northern terminus of this segment is a paved parking area located within Cove Lake State Park on Bruce Gap Road (GPS: N36 18.433 W84 13.625). To reach the trailhead, take I-75 to the Caryville, Tennessee, exit 134, take old Hwy 63 by the Shoney’s restaurant and the Caryville Fire Department .5 miles to the intersection of Bruce Gap Road (Butter and Egg). Turn right, pass under I-75 and cross over the Cove Creek Bridge to the parking lot on the left.
When completed, the southern trailhead will be shared with the Frozen Head Segment at the Bird Mountain Trailhead on the north side of Frozen Head State Park's Big Cove Campground. At present, to hike the open section, a vehicle can be parked along Norma Road in Scott County. At the location where the trail crosses the road is a pull off area that can accommodate a few vehicles (GPS: N36 18.211 W84 23.147).
To access this location from I-75, take exit 141, Hwy 63 west, and go towards Huntsville. Crossing into Scott County and traveling 11.8 miles, Norma Road will be on the left (directly across from a Shell Station and before the Sunrise restaurant, GPS: N36 22.729 W84 23.777). Follow Norma Rd. about 7.6 miles to the trail crossing area (GPS: N36 18.211 W84 23.147). At this location will be wooden steps and “Cumberland Trail” signs.
Hike rating: difficult
Note: This segment of trail goes through the Royal Blue and Sundquist WMA and hunter orange has to be worn during hunting season. See below for hunting season information.
Parking is possible at the dirt pull-off area adjacent to this crossing.
In addition to this parking area, a private home owner will allow parking on their property. The house is a brown wooden two-story house with two ponds located adjacent to the dirt pull-off area on Norma Road. A possible shuttle service can also be provided for a small fee. To contact the home owner about parking (required) or shuttle service, please call Miss Linda Ward at 423-663-9191.
Water can be found all year at Montgomery Fork, Greens Branch, and New River. It is recommended that drinking water be treated.
From Bruce Gap trailhead, a hiker follows the trail at the backside of the paved lot, and quickly faces a dilemma of going right onto the Cumberland Mountain Segment or left onto the Smoky Mountain Segment, turn left. Follow the old road a short distance to the I-75 Cove Creek overpass, cross under I-75, bear right, and continue NW .5 miles to the 88-ft Cove Creek Bridge. After crossing the bridge, turn left and cross the paved road (old Hwy 63) and climb to the railroad tracks, turn right and follow the tracks 200 feet to a left turn up rock stairs into the woods. The trail will switchback through spectacular March and April trillium fields (yellow and toad shade) to reach Adkins Branch Falls at mile 1.1..
The hiker then climbs through a rock garden to a ridge top covered with mountain laurel and ending at Adkins Branch. Rock hop across the branch, climb a rock staircase, and come to a dirt road at mile 1.3.
You will see evidence of old coal mining activities. The trail goes straight ahead on the dirt road for 175 feet and then makes a 90 degree right turn back into the woods, soon reaching a set of water bar steps and makes a 90 degree right turn onto the old Royal Blue Cable railroad bed.
Follow the old rail bed for 3/10 mile and then the trail makes a 90 degree left turn into the woods. After a series of switchbacks and steps, the hiker reaches Duncan Falls at mile 3.1. Look for Panther Rock at the base of Duncan Falls, Overhang Rock at mile 3.3 and the Tennessee Coal Dunes (remnants of an old strip mine) at mile 3.4. The trail crosses a small stream and switchbacks up to a dirt road at mile 3.7.
Just below the crest of Cross Mountain, the trail makes a right turn onto the dirt road, and then ascends a rock staircase on the left to return to the woods. The next mile is an extremely rich site for wildflowers, including wild geraniums, may apples, little brown jugs, trillium, Solomon's Seal (real and false), blue cohosh, violets, wood sorrel, trailing arbutus, bloodroot, rue anemone and a host of others. Notable features along this mile include a large tulip poplar tree at mile 3.8, a northern red oak overhanging the trail at mile 4.0, and a wonderful overlook at mile 4.2 as the trail winds around the end of the ridge. You have now climbed 1900 feet and reached the highest elevation on the Cumberland Trail as you cross the 3,000 foot elevation mark. The trail continues to wind along the ridge for another 4/10 mile, goes across the crest Big Bruce ridge and down through another rock garden. After descending a rock staircase the trail makes a 90 degree right turn onto an old road bed at mile 5.4. At this point, the trail begins its’ descent into the Montgomery Fork watershed. At 5.8 miles, the trail enters a strip mine cut and crosses the gravel Mine #10 Road. The trail makes a right turn onto the coal road and travels 100 feet, and then makes a 90 degree left turn back into the woods to negotiate another descent down a strip mine cut towards Montgomery Fork. This dry hillside has an abundance of flame azalea and mountain laurel, along with some specimens of white and black oaks, pignut hickory and sugar maple. You'll reach the Montgomery Fork campsite side trail at mile 6.6.
To reach the campsite, follow the side trail a short distance to several nice level tent sites on a bench near a seasonal creek.
Back on the main trail; continue on to the Montgomery Creek Bridge at mile 6.7. Continue across the bridge, climb a bit, and then begin paralleling Montgomery Fork until turning up and descending to the Spring Branch Bridge at mile 7.3.
Cross Spring Branch, ascend to the 1,700 ft contour, and again parallel Montgomery Fork to the Greens Branch Bridge at mile 9.2. The Greens Branch campsite site is located on the west side of Greens Branch on a small hill near the bridge.
After crossing Greens Branch, you will begin the ascent of McCory Ridge and Anderson Mountain. . At 9.9 miles, take a left onto a dirt road and follow it for about 400 yds and at rock steps take a right and continue up the slope of McCory ridge. This is a nice hike through a hardwood forest with many wonderful views of the surrounding valleys and mountain tops and maybe an Elk sighting. In 11.8 miles, you emerge out of the woods to a field edge, turn right and head in a westerly direction, following the CT sign post. As you emerge into the field notice the “high wall” on the left. The field is the remnant of a coal mining operation that removed the top of the mountain. This area has been reclaimed and planted with vegetation for various animals.
After skirting the northern edge of the field, the trail turns right at 12.2 miles to reenter the woods and begin the climb to the upper Anderson Mountain meadow which will be reached at 12.6 miles. This meadow is the same as the lower field. The top of the mountain was removed to mine a coal seam. This meadow offers many wondrous views of the surrounding mountains and the wind farm on Buffalo Mountain. Follow the CT sign post/blazing across the field to the northwest corner of the field to a road bed. Travel the road downhill for about 300 feet and the trail makes a left turn off of the road, watch for the double blazing indicating the left turn.
After traveling across a wooden ridge, the trail veers left off of the ridge line and switchbacks down the ridge to a gravel ATV road at 13.3 miles. Take a right and follow the road for about 400 feet to a gap and a set of crossroads at 13.8 miles. A CT sign post points left. The trail enters into the woods and a strip mine cut to the left of the crossroads. As you are walking this strip bench, notice the “high wall” on your right. This section also offers many spectacular views of the Cumberland Mountains.
After traveling the strip bench, you emerge onto an old road bed. Follow this road until you reenter the strip bench at 15.6 miles. At this point, the trail begins its’ decent of Anderson Mountain and into the New River Valley. The trail exits the strip bench to the left (do not follow the gravel ATV road). Follow the trail down the mountain through several switchbacks and rock steps until you come to Norma Road at 17.2 miles.
After crossing Norma Road, continue another .18 miles to the New River concrete bridge. After this hike, it might be nice to soak your feet in the cool waters of the New River. Cross the bridge and continue down hill after crossing the road and emerge at the railroad tracks. Cross the tracks and turn left onto the gravel road and follow it a short distance to the bridge. Continue .9 miles to the intersection of the connector trail to the parking area. Take a left at the intersection and follow the trail .2 miles to the parking area. Or, take a right at the intersection to follow the CT and the scenic Lick Creek Loop. This recently constructed 2 mile loop trail along the New River provides the hiker with a spring wildflower display as well as numerous accesses to the river.
Branching from the loop trail, the under construction portion of the CT continues and is designed and flagged to Frozen Head State Park. This under construction part of the CT is not open for hiking at this time. Check the activities page for volunteer trail building opportunities.
| Location | GPS Waypoint |
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| Top of Cross Mountain | N36 18.224 W84 16.481 |
| Mine #10 gravel road | N36 18.437 W84 17.137 |
| Montgomery Fork campsite | N36 18.130 W84 17.500 |
| Montgomery Fork bridge | N36 18.147 W84 17.590 |
| Spring Branch bridge | N36 18.345 W84 17.970 |
| Greens Branch bridge | N36 19.114 W84 18.921 |
| Greens Branch campsite | N36 19.085 W84 18.945 |
| Anderson Mountain lower field east side | N36 18.498 W84 19.867 |
| Anderson Mountain lower field west side | N36 18.527 W84 20.219 |
| Anderson Mountain upper field east side | N36 18.679 W84 20.349 |
| Anderson Mountain upper field west side | N36 18.874 W84 20.220 |
| Norma Road crossing | N36 18.211 W84 23.147 |
| New River bridge | N36 18.141 W84 23.249 |
SAFETY NOTICE: This portion of the Smoky Mountain Segment is located within Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area. Hikers must wear at least 500 inches of orange on the head and chest during big game hunts. Please check this website or call the Region IV Office of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at 1-800-332-0900 for hunt dates.
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We share public lands with other outdoor enthusiasts. Much of the funding to manage these lands comes from the sales of hunting and fishing licenses and the taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. TWRA lands are entirely purchased and managed by license fees and taxes on hunting and fishing equipment.
Hikers and hunters share interests in the environment and conservation and a love of wildlife, of being outdoors. Hunters have done more for conservation and preservation than any other group. A lot of species, including some non-game species, wouldn't be here today if not for hunters. Tennessee hunters and TWRA are among the Cumberland Trail's biggest supporters and donors. Much of the Cumberland Trail is located on TWRA lands and we consider our partnership essential to building this protected greenway that will act as a buffer to protect water quality and provide natural habitat for animals. With the exception of a few managed hunt dates, licensed Tenessee hunters generously share access to TWRA lands with hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. For this reason, many hikers purchase annual licenses to support the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. Visit the TWRA website for up to date information on big game and turkey hunts in the Wildlife Management Areas before planning your fall and spring hikes. |
Any new trail requires the hiker's foot to pack the surface.....so we need your help in hiking and scheduling new hikes on this new trail segment!
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