FIERY GIZZARD and GRUNDY TRAILHEADS at the Nature Area in the South Cumberland State Park in Tracy City, Tennessee
Sunday, January 19th, 2014
FREE HIKE..This Park Charges NOTHING for you to Hike and enjoy the Waterfalls !!!
Tony and I went hiking in the South Cumberland State Park at the Grundy Trail Nature Area in Tracy City . It took us 2 ½ hrs to hike 3.2 miles. Not too bad for 2 people over 50 with heart conditions…
Directions:
I-24 exit 134 Monteagle, take Rt 41South to Tracy City. On Right turn on 3rd street go to the Tracy City Elementary School, just past you will turn Right on Marion Street, go back to the Brown sign showing Fiery Gizzard Trail back near the softball field for the school, you will see on the left parking spots paved with bathrooms, shelter with picnic tables and signs..
 |
| Sign for the Trail that you will be looking for |
There is several picnic areas with grills available. There is also a very nice covered shelter area with a grill as well as a public bathroom for your use.
Sign in to let them know you are hiking.
Two trails one near the sign where you register marked Fiery Gizzard and the second located between the shelter picnic area and the bathrooms that is label : Grundy Trail
 |
| Start of this trail is near the restrooms and picnic shelter |
 |
This trail starts near the registration/info board
This is where the other trail ends (its a loop) |
 |
| Registration and info board for the trails |
2.0 mile loop following the white tag markers
½ mile in there is a CCC campsite following blue marker trail to the RightFree Camping available no electric, primitive sites
 |
| White markers to guide you on the trail |
 |
| Just follow the marked white path for the waterfall and loop trail |
 |
| Blue marked trail is another route..not for the waterfalls |
1 mile into the hike you will come to the Hanes Waterfall 6’ ft and swimming hole after you take the steps (approximately 24) down to the water’s edge.
 |
| Stairs leading down to the waters edge |
 |
| Narrow steep trails no safety rails |
 |
| My husband Tony pointing down showing the steepness to the water |
 |
| Hanes Waterfall |
Another .3 miles you will arrive at the bridge crossing, through an area referred to as Black Canyon, this will take you further into the park for hiking but if you venture .2 miles you will arrive at another waterfall, Chimney Rocks Waterfall, which is 20’ ft drop into the narrow canyon and then an additional .4 miles to the Sycamore Falls, which is a 12’ ft fall with gorgeous swimming hole.
 |
| Bridge over to the Black Canyon area and rest of the park |
 |
| Chimney Rock Falls |
 |
| Tony on the trail |
 |
| Amazing how the trees grow on the rock ledge |
From here you can continue on the left to the Dog Hole Trail… At this point, we double back .6 miles back to the bridge and mada a Right to then continue on the White marker path back towards the parking lot .7 miles.
 |
| Blue Hole Waterfall |
 |
| Blue Hole Waterfall |
On this part of the trail you will pass the Blue Hole Waterfall 9’ high and swimming hole is 7’ ft deep
 |
| Blue Hole Waterfall |
The Cave Spring Rockhouse overhang rock cliff with the Hemlock Tree over 500 plus yrs. before climbing back to the parking lot and ending up at the Fiery Gizzard Trailhead.
If you walk this entirely to the Sycamore falls and back to the parking lot you will have hiked 3.2 miles.
 |
| Getting Ready for the Hike..but first...a Selfie!!!! |
 |
| loved the water..it is so pretty |
 |
| LONG WAY DOWN...don't fall !! |
 |
| CAVE SPRING ROCKHOUSE |
 |
| TONY at the CAVE SPRING ROCKHOUSE OVERHANG |
No comments:
Post a Comment