Grassy Cove Segment
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CUMBERLAND TRAIL
Grassy Cove Segment |
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When completed, this segment will cover 15 miles and travel on the remnants of the Crab Orchard Mountains, overlooking the incredible Grassy Cove Karst National Landmark. The Cove, actually a limestone sink, lies beneath the forested slopes of Black and Brady Mountains. The trails of the Grassy Cove Segment of the Cumberland Trail offer the hiker unspoiled views of the surrounding mountains. The hiker is rewarded with a stroll through upland dry ridge forests covered in chestnut oak, sassafras, maple, sourwood, and black gum. Remnants of the redwoods of Tennessee, chestnut sprouts, grow along the trail as well.
Currently, the Grassy Cove segment has 2.0 miles of trail open on Black Mountain plus a 1.7 mile loop on top of the mountain. The two mile section goes from the Black Mountain trailhead down the western slope of Black Mountain to Windless Cave. The Brady Mountain section has 7.8 miles open from the Highway 68 trailhead to Jewett Road.
Length: 15 miles (when construction is completed), 9.8 miles open for hiking.
Trailhead Directions:
Black Mountain Trailhead: To reach the Black Mountain trailhead, travel 4.2 miles on Hwy. 68 from the Hwy. 68/127 intersection east of Crossville, TN, to a left on Cox Valley Road. Take Cox Valley Road 0.4 miles to the trailhead on the right. Parking for several cars is available approximately 300 yards past the trailhead at the intersection of Cox Valley Road and Old Grassy Cove Road.
Hike rating: moderate
From here shuttle to the top of Black Mountain by continuing 3 miles on Cox Valley Road to a right on Haley Cove Road. There is a playground on your immediate left. Take Haley Cove Road 1 mile to a right on Battown Road and travel 0.9 miles up to a four-way intersection. Take the immediate left at the Cumberland Trail State Park sign and proceed 3 miles up the narrow and steep paved Black Mountain Road to a the paved trailhead parking area on the right. Parking is ample and the ADA connector trail begins on the west side of the parking area. Follow the paved connector trail 700 feet and it connects to the Cumberland Trail just 150 feet west.
The Black Mountain trailhead can also be reached from I-40 at exit 329 and following Battown Road south.
| Location | GPS Waypoint in WGS 84 format |
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| Highway 68 and Cox Valley Road intersection | N35 52.510 W84 55.960 |
| Cox Valley Rd and Haley Cove Rd intersection | N35 54.430 W84 53.590 |
| Haley Cove Rd and Battown Rd intersection | N35 53.765 W84 53.084 |
| Battown Rd and Black Mtn Rd intersection | N35 53.250 W84 53.360 |
| Black Mtn Loop Trail Parking | N35 53.250 W84 53.360 |
| Campsite | N35 51.864 W84 53.897 |
| Windless Cave | N35 52.106 W84 54.534 |
| Foot path connects to ATV trail | N35 51.943 W84 54.506 |
| Cox Valley Rd Trailhead | N35 52.754 W84 55.742 |
| Cox Valley Rd Parking | N35 52.895 W84 55.680 |
| Cox Valley Rd, Highway 70 Intersection | N35 54.580 W84 53.480 |
| I-40 exit to Crab Orchard | N35 54.310 W84 52.590 |
| Jewett Rd, Highway 68 Intersection | N35 46.150 W84 52.550 |
| Jewett Rd Trailhead | N35 47.550 W84 58.587 |
Brady Mountain Trailhead: To reach the Brady Mountain trailhead, take Hwy. 68 for 4.6 miles from the Hwy. 68/127 junction just east out of Crossville, TN. The trailhead is a large paved pull off on the right at the top of the rise. Parking is plentiful and the trail comes out on an old roadbed. Shuttle to the south trailhead by continuing on Hwy. 68 east through Grassy Cove 8.4 miles to a right on Jewett Road. Take Jewett Road 6.6 miles to the south trailhead on the right with parking for several cars. This road turns into a gravel road and the trailhead is marked with wooden signs. This trailhead and section of trail are on private property.
Hike description Black Mountain (north to south):
This portion of the Grassy Cove Segment is a Registered State Natural Area that invites exploration. Its extensive rock formations and intensive vistas to the east have led to extensive overuse. Please tread carefully and help preserve Black Mountain.
From the trailhead parking area, on top of Black Mountain follow the paved path to the Cumberland Trail intersection, the Cumberland Trail has a white 2x6 blaze on trees to mark the trail. Take a right to hike the Cumberland Trail and come to the spring house.
At the spring house, take a right going up the steps, passing the trail kiosks, and climbing to the crest of Black Mountain.
At the top of the slope, a side trail to the left takes hikers out to a spectacular overlook of Grassy Cove. The CT continues to the right. The trail gently follows the top of the mountain and turns to the left through a rock gateway down through the bluffs. In the winter months, watch for ice here. Upon descending, the hiker finds oneself among rising narrow bluffs with numerous passageways. Exit the bluffs and continue 0.5 miles over recovered fields and down to the campsite.
At the campsite, the trail goes left around the campsite down the west slope of Black Mountain. Many wonderful flowers can be viewed in the spring time in this mainly hardwood forested slope.
After descending Black Mountain, the trail rejoins an old roadbed and turns right onto the road. This road will take the hiker to the opening of Windless Cave (GPS: N35 52.106 W84 54.534).
The cave is the official end of this section of the Cumberland Trail at this time. Future construction will extend the trail south to Highway 68.
Unofficially, after the cave, the old trail route took the hiker on ATV roads out to the Cox Valley road walk and onto Hwy 68 trailhead. This is private property and the property has been sold since the original verbal agreement was obtained to use this road as a trail. The new property owners have not been contacted for permission to walk this road. However, many hikers still hike this ATV road out to Cox Valley road. Old blazing is still visible to guide the hiker out to Cox Valley Road. At Cox Valley Road turn left to Hwy 68.
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You are REQUIRED
to register to camp after sunset on Black Mountain. There is no fee. The information you provide will help us to provide security and also to determine if there is a need to expand the camping area and provide designated campsites in order to enhance your hiking and camping experience. As people discover this spectacular area, public use is increasing rapidly.
To register your group on-line, please complete the
ONLINE BLACK MOUNTAIN CAMPSITE REGISTRATION FORM.
You will automatically be emailed a copy of your submission for your records. A confirmation code will be supplied upon submission of the online form. Please be prepared to supply this confirmation code to the Park Ranger if asked.
To register your group by phone, please call 423-566-2253 and give this information on the phone. Almost all cellular phones will reach in this area.
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Brady Mountain Trail:
This portion of the Grassy Cove Segment covers 7.8
miles along the ridges of Brady Mountain. From the Jewett Road trailhead,
ascend 0.5 miles up to the gap and a road between Brady's Dorton
Knob to the west and Bear Den Mountain to the east. Cross the road
and join the trail moving off through the woods to the left to soon
rejoin a logging road which then rises to the ridge top of Brady
Mountain. Turning north, the trail follows the ridge, alternating
between wide sweeping forests to narrow spiny ridges.
Soon you will see a spur trail, yellow blazes, moving off to the right 100 yards to an overlook offering spectacular views of the south end of Grassy Cove, Bear Den to the east, and Dorton Knob, at 2,980 feet, the tallest point of Brady, to the south. You are 1.6 miles from the trailhead. Rejoin the trail and continue to ascend along the crest over the second highest point on Brady at 2,920 Feet. An additional 1.8 miles brings you to an additional spur trail with views of the Grassy Cove below, Black Mountain to the north, and the Smoky Mountains to the east. This side trail is often difficult to locate and is approximately 100 yards past a road junction on the right -- look for the yellow blazes and small stacks of stones marking the entrance.
Rejoining the main trail, over the next 1.8 miles you will pass interesting stacked rock formations before reaching a large overhanging rock shelter offering dry shelter for the hiker. Soon the trail begins a steep descent off the north end of Brady and in 1 mile rejoins a roadbed at Lowe's Gap. Follow the road 1 mile to the Hwy. 68 trailhead.
If you wish to continue and hike the entire Grassy Cove Segment, you can reach the Black Mountain Trailhead by following the powerlines along Hwy. 68 west 0.3 miles to a right on Cox Valley Road and 0.4 miles to the trailhead on the right.
Hiking the Black Mtn. Loop of the CT's Grassy Cove Segment:
Black Mtn. Loop (1.7 miles with overlooks, easy):
This 1.7 mile recently constructed loop provides an easy hike around the top of the Black Mtn. Recreation Area with access to two overlooks, and passage for the Cumberland Trail. Traditionally, many visitors make the short jaunt to the Black Mtn. Southern Overlook, considered to be the best view of the Cumberland Plateau and the Tennessee Ridge and Valley system beyond, but consider taking a bit of time to hike the Black Mtn. Loop Trail. Recently, the American Medical Association recommended everyone to add 2,000 steps to their daily routine to fight our growing girth. Well, guess what - the loop will add about 3,000 steps to your day.
To hike the loop begin at the Black Mtn. Parking Facility and walk the paved ADA connector trail 700 feet back across the road and on to the Spring House. Here lie the ruins of two homes built by the Gill Family around 1900. These homes were abandoned in 1933 upon Mr. Gill's death and the property was subsequently donated to the First United Methodist Church. At the Spring House quickly pick up the Black Mtn. Loop Trail and Cumberland Trail up the stairs on your right and hike 0.2 miles to a left turn leading to the Black Mtn. Southern Overlook. On a crisp day the hiker will see White's Creek breaking through the Plateau on your left, Watts Bar Lake just beyond the Plateau, and the Smoky Mountains rising in the background. At your feet lies Little Cove with Grassy Cove, ringed by Brady and Bear Den Mountains to your far right.
Now retrace your steps to the main trail and take a left. In just another 0.2 miles you will reach the steps leading down and out for the Cumberland Trail, just continue to the right and another .4 miles brings you to the Black Mtn. North Overlook containing glimpses of the Crab Orchard Valley, with the best views found in the winter months. Retrace your steps and continue on the loop 0.5 miles back to the springhouse through an oak-hickory forest. This area was ravaged by fire in 2000. Notice the heavy density of sprouting Sassafras and the Mountain Laurel - all indicative of the resilience of Tennessee's forests. You have now walked 3,000 steps. Congratulations.
To learn more about the history of Black Mountain, see Bob Fulcher's "Black Mountain: Rags and Riches".
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