Possum Creek Segment
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CUMBERLAND TRAIL
Possum Creek Segment |
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Part of the Cumberland Trail's 35-plus miles of recently constructed contiguous hikeable trail near Chattanooga, the Possum Creek Segment has 10.0 miles of the Cumberland Trail and associated side trails in the Possum Gorge Unit. The recently constructed 10.0 mile Possum Creek Segment is currently open for hiking but not considered complete until the Big Possum and Little Possum Creek bridges are installed, the trailheads paved and marked, and the "punch list" items revealed by weathering and use by hikers are completed.
Punch list work involves work like adding steps in areas where it was originally felt that rock or wood steps were not needed, but that weathering and trail use has shown otherwise. Areas of easily compacted soil often "berm" on the sides and require minor recutting to restore the trail outslope after some trail use and weathering. In other areas, too much outslope in anticipation of compacting that did not occur will be corrected. It may be determined that additional blazing is needed, or that drainage may need to be improved. It may even be determined that complete rerouting and rebuilding of problem sections of newly constructed trail is necessary. Punch list items do not normally detract significantly from the hiker's experience.
The two creeks can be easily forded except after major rainstorms. The Big Possum Bridge and Little Possum Bridges are scheduled to be installed in the future. The two trailheads are designed and are planned to be paved in the future.
This segment was primarily constructed by the Big Dig and BreakAway '03, '04, and '05 volunteers with the assistance of the AHS Volunteer Vacations, AmeriCorp NCCC, and Landmark Volunteers.
Heiss Mountain Road to Retro-Hughes Road
10.0 Miles
Contributed by Warren and Carol Devine, Possum Creek Gorge Section designers and stewards
Overview
This section lies between the Soddy Creek Gorge Section and the Rock Creek Gorge Section of the Cumberland Trail. These three sections, totaling approximately 35 miles of trail, constitute the Three Gorges Segment, aka the "Rock-Possum-Soddy Segment." Beginning at its southern terminus off Heiss Mountain Road, the trail descends into the gorge of Big Possum Creek, climbs out of the gorge to the top of Hughes Ridge, descends into the gorge of Little Possum Creek, then climbs again to the top of the plateau at Retro-Hughes Road between Little Possum and Rock Creek gorges. The trail is 10 miles long with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain and 1,000 feet of elevation loss. Note: Big Possum Bridge and Little Possum Bridge are scheduled for installation in the future. The creeks they will span cannot be crossed during times of high water, but can be safely forded during low streamflow. In addition, all mileages are approximate, pending completion of official measurement by wheel.
| Location | GPS Waypoint in WGS 84 format |
|---|---|
| Retro Hughes Trailhead | N35 24.173 W85 11.021 |
| Concrete Bridge | N35 22.465 W85 11.099 |
| Big Possum Creek Crossing | N35 21.258 W85 10.323 |
| Heiss Mountain Trailhead | N35 20.754 W85 10.501 |
Miles..........Feature
0.0..........Heiss Mountain Road
From the trailhead, enter forest, then descend past huge boulders to bridge across W Branch Blanchard Creek. The waterfall upstream of the bridge is very photogenic, especially after significant rainfall. Descend gradually, cross logging road, then cross bridge over tributary. Follow creek on sidehill past rockhouses on left and confluence of E and W branches of Blanchard Creek on right. (The E Branch is acidic from former strip mining; water below the confluence has turned rocks a golden brown. A spectacular waterfall reminiscent of Utah's canyon country lies downstream, very difficult to reach.) Veer left and ascend Bare Point.
1.0..........Bare Point
From Point, proceed SE through mixed forest. Descend through rhododendron thickets (beautiful in spring), through rugged old growth hemlock forest, pass interesting 100-foot rock face on right, and descend to the proposed bridge location over Big Possum Creek. The creek can be easily waded except after heavy rains.
1.5..........Big Possum Creek
Cross Big Possum and ascend steeply to old narrow-gage railroad grade.
1.6..........Big Possum Railroad Grade
To the left, the railroad grade continues upstream a short distance to the impressive site of the former railroad bridge over Big Possum Creek. The main trail follows railroad grade to the right (downstream) for a short distance. From the grade, turn left and ascend to base of rock escarpment. Proceed downstream, parallel to the escarpment. At an intersection, main trail ascends Hughes Ridge. To right, an old route called "Lain's Lane" passes spectacular rock face containing a large shallow room called "The Amphitheater." Beyond this formation the lane descends and intersects the railroad grade, but is not a finished trail. (Lain's Lane is named after its re-discoverer, the late Mike Lain of Oak Ridge.)
2.1..........Intersection of Main Trail with Lain's Lane
From intersection, ascend via two switchbacks to top of Hughes Ridge, then meander through pine forest to east end of Hughes Ridge near Perkins Point.
2.6..........East end of Hughes Ridge
From end of ridge, descend gradually via curving turns. Pass short side trail on left to overlook of Tennessee River valley with Appalachian mountains beyond. Descend via wooden staircase next to rock face, then via switchbacks--a total of about 400 feet.Trail curves northward around front of Hughes Ridge, then heads NE through a very rocky area above Little Possum Creek. Two small campsites are located to left of trail.
3.3..........Little Possum Campsites
From campsites, proceed upstream. Cross steep, rocky sideslope, then descend to the proposed bridge location over Little Possum Creek. The creek can be easily waded except after heavy rains.
3.5..........Little Possum Creek
Cross Little Possum, ascend about 200 ft, cross an intermittent stream, and reach base of Stack Rock--a tall cylinder-shaped formation of layered sandstone. Then climb the Stairway to Heaven to a broad bench. Here a short side trail leads to the top of Stack Rock with views of Hughes Ridge across lower Little Possum Canyon.
3.8..........Stack Rock
From Stack Rock, ascend gradually via switchbacks and a long sidehill cut. After crossing a seasonal stream, ascend a short staircase to a former strip mine bench. This area has recovered somewhat after mining in the 1950s.
4.2..........Former strip mine bench
On strip mine bench, proceed upstream well above Little Possum Creek with little change in elevation. Below, the creek thunders through The Impassible Canyon with numerous Class IV rapids and one Class V--"Holy Cross".
5.0..........North end of strip mine bench
From end of bench, descend very gradually to the edge of the canyon, then steeply through Ed's Break, named for its discoverer Ed Sonder of Oak Ridge. Proceed through rhododendron thickets, then down a rock staircase to Imodium Falls--one of the highlights of the Cumberland Trail. Until recently, only a handful of expert kayakers knew of this spectacular C-shaped waterfall. They named it "Imodium" because--upon approaching this potentially deadly Class V drop in a small boat--they wished they had taken some of this popular anti-diarrheal drug. A short, steep side trail leads to the base of the falls. To prevent serious injury and erosion of this fragile area, do not attempt any other route to the bottom.
5.6..........Imodium Falls
From falls, proceed upstream along Little Possum Creek with its numerous Class II-III rapids. When trail ends at creekside, choose between (a) ford creek and rejoin trail on far side, or (b) turn with back toward creek and walk short distance through woods to gravel logging road; turn left onto road and cross creek on concrete bridge. Main trail continues northward on right (N) side of road, a short distance beyond bridge.
6.5..........Ford of Little Possum Creek 500 ft below concrete bridge
After fording creek, continue through woods to gravel logging road. Turn right onto road and proceed 25 yards toward concrete bridge. Main Trail continues northward on left (N) side of road.
6.6..........Trail continuation on N side of gravel road
From gravel road, ascend and descend through mixed forest and approach Hughes Branch--a tributary of Little Possum Creek. Ford Little Possum Creek.
7.7..........Ford of Little Possum Creek just below Hughes Branch
After fording creek, cross ATV lane, ascend through woods, veer left, cross another ATV lane, enter woods and wind around E side of scenic valley. (This valley once contained a settlement called "Old Pennsylvanie" where barrels were made.) Finally, reach top of Coalbank Hill.
8.4..........Coalbank Hill
Descend from hilltop into middle of grove of giant hemlocks. From here, trail lies within 300-foot-wide corridor: respect adjacent land owners. Proceed NE along Coalbank Branch, sometimes through open areas that may contain patches of briars. Continue gentle ascent through mixed forest to end of section at (paved) Retro-Hughes Rd.
10.0.........Retro-Hughes Road
From here it is a 7 mile drive to US-27 in Bakewell. The Cumberland Trail Rock Creek Section begins on NE side of road.
Driving Directions to Trailheads
The southern end of this section is accessible from TN-111. From US-27 north of Soddy Daisy, ascend the Cumberland Plateau on TN-111 and proceed a total of 5 miles to the Jones Gap Road exit. (Jones Gap Road overpasses TN-111.) Immediately turn right onto (paved) Heiss Mountain Road, a dead-end road that parallels TN-111. Proceed approximately 0.5 mile from the service station at Jones Gap Road to the end of a guard rail on the left and the nearby trailhead. Plenty of parking is available along the side of the road. The road is sees very little traffic. The paved trailhead parking area is flagged and marked for construction in the future.
The northern end of this section is accessible from US-27. From Dayton take US-27 13 miles south to Bakewell. At the traffic light, turn right onto Retro-Hughes Road. After a mile, the road veers right and ascends the Cumberland Plateau via a series of sharp curves. Slow, careful driving is recommended. Proceed a total of 7 miles from US-27 to the trailhead near a graveled logging company staging area on the right and the nearby trailhead. From here Retro-Hughes Road heads west and crosses the county line in about one mile. Parking for 5 or 6 cars is available at the edge of the gravel staging area. Be careful not to block logging road access. The logging trucks are big and require a lot of room to turn onto the paved road. The paved trailhead parking area is not yet flagged, but is designed and scheduled to be constructed in the future.
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