Tennessee Wilderness Parks

[Morgan88]

I recently (July 2019) moved from Northern Indiana to Marion County.  A friend was here over the holidays visiting and since we have no family here looked for something to do. We decided since your great weather here to hike the trails in some of the local wilderness parks.  Wow!!   On 4 different days we hiked Denny Cove falls,  Foster Falls, Stone Door/Savage Gulf and Little Cedar Mountain (a TVA) area.   What a gift from the creator.  Ranger Baxter at Stone Door provided that the designation of "wilderness area"  is important in that there are no provisions for keeping you safe.  You are on your own if you go there and accept the risk.  Observation areas with sheer 200 ft drop offs and no railing.   No railings in the wilderness.  Anyway I hope to spend much of the winter here hiking the area trails embracing the grandeur since the winter weather is so much better here.  May need to find a local hiking group in the Jasper/Kimball area.   Best regards to all.

Morgan88

[gregintenn]

Tennessee is a beautiful place and has some of the best state parks in the nation. There are some really nice national parks here as well. Many folks who have lived here all their lives are unaware of them. I hope you continue to enjoy it here.

[RED333]

4 hours ago, Morgan88 said:

Stone Door/Savage Gulf

Been there myself years ago.

 

4 hours ago, Morgan88 said:

designation of "wilderness area"  is important in that there are no provisions for keeping you safe.

This is what make the places unique, still in the wild.

[Dirtshooter]

We have lived here for 5 years and are still exploring this part of Tn. We always vacationed in the Smoky mountains, but we really feel that this part of Tn. near Dale Hollow lake is prettier by far and none of the traffic jams.

[gregintenn]

10 hours ago, Dirtshooter said:

We have lived here for 5 years and are still exploring this part of Tn. We always vacationed in the Smoky mountains, but we really feel that this part of Tn. near Dale Hollow lake is prettier by far and none of the traffic jams.

Aside from Memphis, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge has been my least favorite place to visit in Tennessee.

Dale Hollow is beautiful, and to the east of it lies Big South Fork. I could spend a lot of time wandering around there.

[Erik88]

35 minutes ago, gregintenn said:

Aside from Memphis, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge has been my least favorite place to visit in Tennessee.

Same here. Nothing but cheesy tourist traps. I live only an hour away and I haven't been there in many years. 

Edited December 30, 2019 by Erik88

[peejman]

Winter is hiking season in the Smokys.... no bears, no bugs, no snakes, no foliage, and no tourists.  There's plenty of trails where you'll never see a soul.  

[Grayfox54]

I've camped and hiked many of the parks here on the west end. Beautiful country, but suffer from legislative neglect. Budgets keep getting cut. So needed maintenance just can't be done. They try their best to keep up camp grounds and public areas. But trail maintenance is pretty much non-existent. Too bad the folks in Nashville can't seem to grasp what wonderful treasures our parks are.