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Cumberland Trail Grassy Cove Segment Click for PDF Description of Black Mountain Trail Click for PDF Description of Brady Mountain Trail Click for Detailed Nat Geo Explorer Topo Maps of Grassy Cove Trail
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Trailhead Directions:
Black Mountain Trailhead:  COX VALLEY ROAD PARKING - LOOKING SOUTHWEST
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.
 ROAD MAP TO BLACK MOUNTAIN TRAILHEADS
 BLACK MOUNTAIN PAVED TRAILHEAD PARKING
Brady Mountain Trailhead:
Take Jewett Road 6.6 miles to the access the Jewett Road trail crossing. The trail crossing is easy to miss, so study the picture below carefully. There is no constructed trailhead parking area, only a wide spot in the road. There is parking directly across the road from the trailhead that is large enough for 1 average size car or maybe two small cars. There is another wide spot in the road about 200 feet past the trailhead that is large enough for 2 or 3 cars. This trailhead and section of trail are on private property.  HWY 68 PARKING - LOOKING SOUTHEAST  ROAD MAP TO JEWETT ROAD TRAILHEAD  JEWETT ROAD TRAIL CROSSING
Hike description Black Mountain (north to south): Black Mountain trailhead to Cox Valley Road trailhead: 4 miles: easy (difficult if you hike uphill, south to north) 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.  Springhouse on Black Mountain 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.  BLACK MOUNTAIN TRAIL MAP 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).  HIKERS AT WINDLESS CAVE ENTRANCE The cave is the official end of this section of the Cumberland Trail at this time. 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. 
The Private Road From Windless Cave to Cox Valley Road
Brady Mountain Trail: Length: 7.8 miles: moderate (Starting at Jewett Road trailhead makes for a much easier hike) 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.
 BRADY MOUNTAIN TRAIL MAP 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 length: 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.  MAP OF BLACK MOUNTAIN LOOP TRAIL
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. 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.
 PICTURESQUE VIEW FROM SOUTHERN OVERLOOK 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.
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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.
