APR 4 – Cumberland Trail Rock Creek Gorge Loop -
We'll hike the 6 mile loop from the Lower Leggett Rd Trailhead following Rock Creek to Boiling Springs with a side trail to Leggett Point Overlook http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/maps-and-guides/trail-segments/three-gorges/rock-section/ Depart 7:30 am CT Trinity Tabernacle Church on HY 127 South. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Carpool cost $6. Contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243 for more info.
Apr 7 - Frozenhead State Park -
LONG HIKE: meet Jan Lyon 10a ET at Frozen Head SP visitors center, 964 Flat Fork rd, Wartburg TN, Hike an 8 mile loop in on Spicewood branch, Chimney top, S. Old Mac, and Judge branch trails to view early spring wild flowers and ridge top views. Moderate to difficult hike, has 1600 ft elevation gain and is steep in areas, Need good hiking boots, water, food and rain gear. Contact Jan for more info at (865) 406-5732 or email janlyons.fun@gmail.com
Depart VF Outlet Mall at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and lunch. For additional information contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243.
Apr 11 – Savage Gulf Laurel and Ranger Creek Falls -
Apr 12 -– Chapter Meeting. 6pm CT at First United Methodist Church Annex, 69 Neecham Street, Crossville. Program TBD. Join us for dinner beforehand at 5pm CT at Las Margaritas in Woodmere Mall. Contact Chapter Chair, Bruce Whitehead, 941-716-3620 or email plateau@tennesseetrails.org if you intend to join us for dinner.
Apr 18 - Walls of Jerico TN Trailead - We will hike an 8 mile loop on difficult rocky trails. We'll cross the creek bottoms passng a cemetary then a low wide waterfall and 30' Tunnel Falls. Carpool cost is $10. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Depart from Tractor Supply at 7:30 am CT. Contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243 for more info.
Apr 20-22. – Spring Getaway to Brevard County NC. Depart VF Outlet Mall at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost est $20-25. Pack clothes, water, snacks and lunch for 3 days. For more information contact and to sign up contact Cheryl Heckler ASAP 931 -200-7436 or thehecklers@charter.net .
Friday, drive from Crossville to Black Balsam Knob trailhead https://www.romanticasheville.com/black_balsam.htm off of the Blue Ridge Parkway (198 miles; 3 h 20 min drive plus one potty stop). Hike to the first bald at 1 mile and eat lunch; continue on for a 5 mile loop For those wanting a shorter hike they can hike to the 1.5 mile sign and return for a 3 mile hike. If we hike 2 mph we will be done around 3:30 pm. Drive 32 miles to the Inn taking about 1 hour checking in around 4:30 pm. Clean up and head to Brevard for dinner.
Saturday, after breakfast drive 8 miles to High Falls Trailhead at the Dupont State Recreational Forest Visitor Center. Stop at the Hooker Falls parking area on the way for a short walk to Hooker Falls and back to car then driving on to the Visitor Center. Hike the 7 mile hike described in link below with a shorter hike just doing the Triple Falls and High Falls loop for a 3 mile hike. Hike description: https://www.romanticasheville.com/dupont_waterfall_hike.htm
Sunday, we have a choice of:
1) Drive 32 miles for 1 hour going back to the Blue Ridge Parkway just down from Black Balsam Knob and hike the 4 mile Graveyard Fields & Waterfall Loop, returning to Crossville same way we came which is 198 miles in 3 hr 20 minutes plus potty stop. hike description: https://www.romanticasheville.com/graveyard.htm or
2) drive 29 miles in 50 minutes to hike 4 miles total for an in and back hike to see Rainbow Falls, Turtle back Falls, Stairway Falls, and Hidden Falls. hike description: https://www.romanticasheville.com/rainbow_falls.htm
We can opt to drive eight miles past Gorges State Park to see Upper Whitewater Falls, part of the highest waterfall in the eastern USA. It is a short walk and description below. hike description:
https://www.romanticasheville.com/whitewater_falls.htm
The drive back to Crossville from the Rainbow Falls hike is 222 miles and 4 hours driving plus a potty stop.
Apr 25– Big South Fork Leatherwood, Sunset Overlook Trail, East Rim Overlook. This will be a 7 mile hike. Pack your lunch, snacks and bring water. Depart Cracker Barrel at 7:30 am CT. Carpool cost is $6. Pack water, snacks and lunch. Contact the hike coordinator, Deb Westervelt, via email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org or text/call 931-267-2243 for more info.
Apr 28 – Smoky Mountains-Little River Trail and Cucumber Gap Trail. Option 1: Easy to moderate 12 mile total hike on Cucumber Gap Trail then the length of the Little River Trail and back. Option 2: Hike a loop total of 5 easy to moderate miles on the Cucumber Gap Trail and Little River Trail. Depart 7 AM CT from Outlet Mall, Interstate Drive, west parking lot. Carpool cost is $9. Pack water, snacks and lunch. To sign up contact the hike coordinator Deb Westervelt, via text/call 931-267-2243 or email plateauhikes@tennesseetrails.org.
