Team Green

Below is a description of your event. Please use the comment form to provide feedback or start a conversation with other interested event participants.

JULY 4th DAY HIKE to FIERY GIZZARD

Details

When

Sunday, July 5th

The Fiery Gizzard is one of the more beautiful and challenging trails in the Southeast. It has always been one of Team Green’s favorites so we chose to trek there in celebration of July 4th weekend. We are offering two trips, a more advanced 11 mile hike or you can hike in to the lovely Sycamore Springs and swim and relax while others are hiking.

When Sunday, July 5th at 7am CST (carpool)
Where Fiery Gizzard trailhead, South Cumberland State Park. Target Hickory Hollow (toward left when facing building under post with security camera)
Cost FREE! and open to the public
Participant Number: 12 for Strenuous/ Unlimited for easy section
Children Policy: No children under the age of 18
Dog Policy Friendly dogs who have experience hiking over 6 miles welcome.
Total Hiking Distance: 3.0 / aprox 11 miles
Difficulty: Easy / Strenuous
Trip Leader: Darren

We will hike the full loop and the trail down to the waterfall for a total of aprox 7 miles. If you prefer to just do the waterfall trail, swim and wait for the group then that is fine. Here is a description of the trails:

Hike Description

Both hikes begin at the Grundy County trailhead just down the road from the Cumberland State Park Nature Center. We will begin as the Big Fiery Gizzard Creek pours through the slot of Black Canyon, the pillars of Chimney Rocks loom in the forest, the creek spills over Sycamore Falls, and numerous overlooks offer views of Gizzard Cove. We will drop off our swimmers at Sycamore Springs aprox 1.5 miles in then continue our descent into Gizzard Cove and for much of the first half of the trip step from rock to rock in the boulder-strewn gorge while following the creek the entire way. As we approach 3 miles of rocky terrain, we will have a steep climb out of Gizzard Cove to the top of Raven’s Point where we will see a spectacular view of the gorge. After enjoying lunch, we will head back on the Dog Hole trail along the gorge’s rim and back to Sycamore Springs for aprox. 3 miles. We’ll pick up our swimmers and head back to the trailhead.

The longer hike is strenuous with many ups and downs and unsteady rocks especially for the first 4.5 miles, requiring sturdy hiking boots. Also bring plenty of water, snacks and lunch. Fortunately we will be on Monteagle Mtn and in the shade for the entire hike, making it a “cool” Gizzard rather than a Fiery one.

Register

To register, email the trip leader Darren