Stinging Fork Segment
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CUMBERLAND TRAIL
Stinging Fork Segment |
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This 15-mile segment currently has 1.5 miles open.
The open trail is one of the Bowater Pocket Wilderness trails in Tennessee built in 1969 by Bowater to provide hiking and recreation to the public. The Pocket Wildernesses offer established, heavily-visited trail systems that provide superb feeders
into the Cumberland Trail. One of the Cumberland Trail's most active private sector supporters, Bowater generously donated this and other pocket wilderness areas to the State in 2007 in order to be part of the Tennessee State Park system.
Length: 15 miles; rating: moderate. This segment is isolated in
the corners of Bledsoe, Cumberland, and Rhea counties. It provides
challenging and satisfying day-hikes in the Piney River and Stinging
Fork Pocket Wildernesses, as well as other connecting trails. Piney
Falls and Stinging Fork Falls are popular destinations on this segment.
Location: Beginning at Hicks Gap, Stinging Fork Segment shares a
trailhead with the Grassy Cove Segment at Jewett Road, between Brady
and Hinch Mountains. A southern trailhead is shared with the Piney River Segment off Shut-In
Gap Rd, offering parking as well as a picnic area.
See the Tennessee Division of Natural Areas STINGING FORK FALLS webpage for a description of the 783-acre Stinging Fork Falls Natural Area.
Stinging Fork Falls Trail:
The trail starts at the gravel parking area on Shut-in Gap Road.
This 3 mile round trip trail is rated moderate and leads the hiker through a
managed pine plantation into the 140-acre Bowater Stinging Fork Pocket Wilderness. The
trail was built in 1969 and was the first on Bowater property.
At one half (1/2) mile, a spur trail leads to Indian Head Point, which affords a scenic overlook of the rugged Stinging Fork Gorge.
The length of the spur to Indian Head Point is one tenth (1/10) mile. After this intersection, the trail then continues and descends into the gorge and on up the creek. The trail ends at the plungepool of the scenic 35-foot falls. The hiker must retrace his steps to return to the parking area.
| Location | GPS Waypoint in WGS 84 format |
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| Trailhead | N35 42.765 W84 55.689 |
| Indian Head Point | N35 43.260 W84 55.733 |
| Stinging Fork Falls | N35 43.283 W84 55.607 |
Directions to trailhead: From Spring City take Hwy 68 north to Shut-in Gap Road, approxmately 1-mile. Turn left on Shut-in gap road and go approximately 5-miles to the trailhead parking area.
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