Of particular need are Trail Stewards - individuals or an organization within a local community that demonstrate a vested interest in the trail and strong community leadership. A Trail Steward works closely with the CTC on an adopted section of trail in the pursuit of an integrated community trail. For further information, send us an e-mail.

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What have we accomplished?

Over the last ten years, over 183,000 CTC volunteer hours have been dedicated to the vision of the Cumberland Trail. CT supporters have produced many major accomplishments:

• Volunteers constructed 14 miles of trail and several bridges in the Catoosa WMA

• 15 miles of trail constructed in Cumberland County on Black and Brady Mountains by volunteers

• Volunteers completed a successful major capital campaign for the purchase of trail corridor in Hamilton County for the Rock, Possum, and Soddy Gorge segments of the Cumberland Trail. The trail corridor was secured and 4 years of construction by volunteers produced 35 miles of continuous trail - ultimately to include several bridges and other infrastructure

• The construction by volunteers of 26 miles of trail and several bridges in the Royal Blue and Sundquist WMA

• Construction by volunteers of 6 miles of trail in the Frozen Head segment

• Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation's acquisition and donation to the State of major key CT vital links and destinations - Black Mountain, Devilstep Hollow Cave and Head of Sequatchie Spring, and receipt of Plateau Properties gift of 300 acres on Brady Mountain in memory of trail advocate Bob Brown, and co-founder Arthur Harrison

• Bowater Corporation's donation of approximately 30 miles of trail corridor in 2007, including the trails in the Stinging Fork, Piney River, Laurel-Snow, and North Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness

• A permanent design swinging bridge was constructed to span Middle Creek in 1998, a number of permanent design treated wood bridges were constructed, three permanent design fiberglass reinforced resin were constructed in the Soddy and Possum Segments in 2008 and 2009, and a number of five-to-seven year design untreated log bridges were constructed so that mountain streams could be crossed safely during high water times.

• CTC has assumed a leadership role in legal and legislative efforts addressing the serious environmental damage that unregulated rock mining does in the park.

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HISTORY OF THE CTC Excerpts From Winter 2008 CTC Newsletter It began in March 1965 with the Clinch and Powell River Valley Association. The members of this group proposed a trail from Cumberland Gap following the ridge of the Cumberland Mountain south to Cove Lake State Park. From this park, the trail was to continue south along Walden Ridge to Oliver Springs. A connector trail to Oak Ridge was also planned. This route was to be named the Cumberland Trail (CT). After some initial support, the association’s enthusiasm faded and by July 1965 the concept evaporated as dew in the summer heat. In 1968 the Tennessee Trails Association (TTA) was organized by a small group of people interested in creating a state wide system of hiking trails. This group envisioned a Cumberland Trail stretching from Cumberland Gap southwest to the Tennessee River Gorge. The CT was to serve as a pilot project to prove the feasibility of a state wide system of scenic trails. In 1971, the TTA assisted with the passage of Tennessee’s Trails System Act. This legislation designated the Cumberland Trail and six other proposed trails as state scenic trails. State funds for the Trail Systems Act were very limited; however a small, state trail system staff was funded. This staff working with the TTA began obtaining agreements with land owners for the various trail corridors. This coordination allowed construction of the CT to begin. In 1976, the TTA became a non-profit organization to provide a legal entity for agreements with land owners and to maintain continuity of Tennessee’s scenic trails program. From 1972-1979, the TTA and the State of Tennessee continued their cooperative efforts and several miles of the Cumberland Trail were constructed, primarily with volunteer labor. Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander was inaugurated in 1979, and he supported the proposed scenic trail system. Additional funding was allocated and state trail building crews were formed along with a state trails system administrator. By 1986, about 100 miles of the CT from Cumberland Gap to Lone Mountain State Forest were built along with 32 miles on Signal Mountain, and 14 miles in the Grassy Cove segment. It was managed as the state’s only linear park and was designated the Cumberland State Scenic Trail. The majority of the trail passed through private property with land owner agreements allowing for the trail. Unfortunately, in 1988 during Governor McWherter’s administration, budget problems arose. All new trail construction was halted and the state trails system administrator position was abolished. Later, additional budget cuts eliminated operating funds for the Cumberland State Scenic Trail. The state ceased maintenance on the CT sections it had built and land owner agreements were allowed to expire. The noble goals of the Trail Systems Act were not achieved, and many miles of the trail dissolved into the wilderness. Nevertheless, TTA and Tennessee River Gorge Trust members along with State Forestry Division personnel performed minimal trail maintenance and managed to keep the Grassy Cove and Tennessee River Gorge segments open. In an effort to restore and generate new interest in the Cumberland Trail, the TTA hosted the first Breakaway program. In March of 1996, eight students from East Tennessee State University spent a week restoring the Eagle Bluff section in the CT’s Cumberland Mountain segment. This initial event revived volunteer support of the Cumberland Trail project. Through the 1990s most new public funds for trails were in the form of grants to be matched by the grantees, creating public/private partnerships. With the renewed interest in the trail project, the TTA sought funding to continue the volunteer effort. To help establish a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and other funding partners, the TTA created the Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC) in 1997. This organization’s mission is the completion of the Cumberland Trail utilizing volunteer labor. With Breakaway as the backbone of the volunteer effort, the CTC obtained a formal funding agreement with TDEC for the development of the Cumberland Trail. In June 1998, the project gained additional support when Governor Sundquist announced the creation of the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park which was “to be the backbone of Tennessee’s expanding system of greenways and trails.” Since 1996, the Cumberland Trail project has progressed forward. Strengthened by the TDEC partnership, CTC trail building programs and other initiatives have been the catalyst for the development of the trail. Today’s Cumberland Trail is a collection of separated trail segments lined up along the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau, with project supporters diligently working to connect the dots. Once completed, the trail will stretch 290-miles from Signal Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee, north to Cumberland Gap, creating one of the last unbroken greenways in Tennessee. Additional plans are to include the Cumberland Trail as part of the Great Eastern Trail. To date, 170 miles of the trail are maintained for hiking and other outdoor pursuits. With the trail as the central feature, the Cumberland Trail State Park is Tennessee’s 53rd state park. The park has a manager, rangers, and other staff positions along with office facilities. Historical information from Hiking Tennessee Trails by Evan Means

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Send email to cumberlandtrail@rocketmail.com

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