Spread out over four counties, the South Cumberland State Park is made up of over 24 thousand acres of wild wonder. From the Savage Gulf down through the Fiery Gizzard and Grundy Forest, the area is filled with scenic overlooks, spectacular rock formations, cascading waterfalls, and lush forests. There’s so much to see, taking it all in can seem kind of hard…and intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be, especially if you do it a section at a time. That’s the idea behind the “Hike all 14 in 2014” challenge. It’s a series of hikes that collectively take you through all the trails at South Cumberland. Wild Side Guide Ken Tucker takes us to the Stone Door Ranger Station, where a group of hikers are giving Hikes #2 and #6 a try.
Hikers who traverse all the Hike 14 trails will receive a certificate, trail map bandana, and a year’s membership to the Friends of South Cumberland. There’s still time plenty of time to take up the challenge. Hikes in the fall and early winter can be spectacular at the park, and there are lots of organized hikes planned through the rest of the year. You can purchase a copy of Mary’s book online (proceeds benefit the park) by clicking here. They are also for sale at the visitors center and at various stores in Sewanee and Monteagle. And if you’re in a rush and ready to head out today, you can download the Hike ‘Em All list, along with trail maps of Savage Gulf/Stone Door and Fiery Gizzard/Buggytop.
And if you can’t do them all in 2014, don’t let that stop you from taking on the challenge. No matter how long it takes to finish, it’s well worth it to be able to say, “I Hiked Em All!”
From show 2801
