Soddy Creek Section
of the Three Gorges Segment
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CUMBERLAND TRAIL
Soddy Creek Section of the Three Gorges Segment |
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Click for Detailed Nat Geo Explorer Topo Maps of Soddy Gorge Section Trail
This section lies between the North Chickamauga Segment and the Possum Creek Gorge Section of the Three Gorges Segment of the Cumberland Trail. Part of the Three Gorges Segment, the Soddy Section has 16 miles of the Cumberland Trail and associated side trails in the Little and Big Soddy Gorge Units. The Three Gorges Segment contains 31.3 miles of thru-trail and 4.9 miles of loop, spur, and access trails.
Road Approaches and Parking:
The southern end of this section is accessible from US-27. From Chattanooga take U.S. Hwy 27 north to Sequoyah Road in Daisy. Take a left on Sequoyah Road and travel one-half mile to the intersection with Dayton Pike. Turn left on Dayton Pike and proceed approximately 1.1 mile to the intersection with Mountain Road. Turn Right on Mountain Road and proceed approximately 1.8 miles to the trailhead on the right. At present, there is no nearby safe place to park along the side of the road, only a trail crossing identified by a sign.
The trail crosses Hotwater Road. Parking and trail access, via a short connector trail, are available on Hotwater Road at Sluder Lane. From Chattanooga take U.S. Hwy 27 north to Hwy 319 Hixson Pike Exit. Exit and take a left back over the highway to the t-intersection at Dayton Pike. Turn right and continue 0.7 miles to Durham St., turn left (Soddy Lake on your right). Go 0.6 miles to a t-intersection at Back Valley Rd, turn right and travel one block to a four-way stop at Hotwater Rd., turn left. Follow Hotwater Rd. 2 miles through Little Soddy Gorge until you crest the hill and reach Sluder Lane on your left. Park on the gravel at the corner of Sluder and Hotwater Rd. The trailhead is 230 ft back down Hotwater Rd. on your right.
The northern 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. Parking is available along the side of the road, which sees very little traffic.
Campsites; Water Availability:
There are no designated campsites in this section. Water is available from Big Soddy and Board Camp Creek and the numerous side streams that flow into Big Soddy and Board Camp Creek. Please treat all water!
Trail Features:
Mile 0.0 (16.0) Mowbray Road
Beginning at the Mowbray Road Trailhead Kiosk, the trail skirts the edge of the power line right-of-way.
Mile 0.3 (15.7) Rock Cliff Overlook and "Little Stone Door"
Looking down the power line right-of-way from the cliff gives a view of the old Town of Daisy, and the Tennessee River Valley, with the cooling towers of the Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant silhouetted against the skyline. Immediately past the cliff overlook and following the Mikel Branch stream, you pass through "Little Stone Door", which is a slit through the rock bluff. Reaching the exit of the "door", an old rock house is located to the left, which archeologists believe was once used by ancient Tennessee tribes. Looking back one can almost visualize an Indian brave standing atop of the little stone door gazing out into the valley below.
The trail continues along the brow of the bluff.
The trail passes among a number of huge rocks and the hiker gets a chance to view the valley below from a couple of overlook points before descending to traverse the slope of the escarpment.
The trail again ascends the slope and soon the hiker is traveling on a mining ridge which separates the valley from a large coal mining strip cut. After crossing the mine cut and working around the upper reaches of Clemmons Point, a descent is made into the Little Soddy Creek Valley along an old mine cut road.
Mile 4.2 (11.8) Intersection With Connector Trail and Remains of the Soddy Coal Company
Reaching the bottom, the main trail intersects the Little Soddy Trailhead connector, which is 0.4 miles from the Trailhead Kiosk on Hotwater Road. Crossing Little Soddy Creek on a pole bridge, one finds himself in the hub of the historic remains of the Soddy Coal Company. These include concrete abutments for the boiler house, cable wench, mule barn, etc. This was the site of the first tunnel mines in the state of Tennessee, having its beginnings in 1866, with seven shafts originating in this area.
Passing along the roadbed of the cable ore car track, which descended along a 7000-foot path to the coal washing station at the bottom of the valley, one can observe the stream cutting its way deep into the valley below. Leaving the ore car track path, one ascends to the trail crossing of Hotwater Road.
Mile 4.2 (11.8) Hotwater Road Crossing
Hotwater Road is a 1930's WPA project that replaced the old wagon path road ascent of Soddy Mountain. The road is steep and narrow and there is a lot of traffic at this trail crossing. There is a small parking area near the crossing. Be careful!
The trail continues up the bluff and rounds the upper reaches of Posey Point. The hiker is traversing the slopes of Big Soddy Creek.
Mile 5.8 (10.2) Highway 111 Descending Into Soddy Daisy View
A view of the white ribbon of HWY 111 can be seen descending into the town of Soddy Daisy.
Mile 6.3 (9.7) Pine Plantation
The trail continues through a corner of an old Bowater Paper Company pine plantation. Bowater managed this forest to provide pine lumber and pulp for paper making. A number of overlooks give views of the stream valley. Traversing a rhododendron field, which is a field of pink in the spring, one rounds the curve into the Deep Creek valley.
Mile 7.3 (8.7) Old Mine
The trail passes in front of an old coalmine portal with the timbers still visible.
Mile 7.7 (8.3) Grand Overlook of Canyon
Before descending a rocky slope to ford Deep Creek, a short side trail leads up to an overlook to give a view of the rock walls on the far side of the stream. The trail continues to descend into the gorge to the creek crossing.
Mile 7.9 (8.1) Creek Crossing
Fording the stream where a bridge will soon be built, the trail ascends.
Mile 8.2 (7.8) Confluence Canyon View
The hiker rounds the point where another spectacular view of the valley is afforded the hiker.
Mile 8.7 (7.3) Creek Crossing
Descending into the Big Soddy Valley, the hiker fords the stream, then ascends the bluff and follows the trail into the Board Camp Creek Canyon.
Mile 9.1 (6.9) Narural Wood Pole Bridge
The hiker crosses the natural pole bridge and the trail continues to the base of a rock cliff and down across a narrow ledge just above the stream before ascending a steep timber staircase,
Mile 10.8 (5.2) Wood Steps
The hiker ascends the steep timber staircase and continues along the ridge.
Mile 11.3 (4.7) Two Pole Bridges
The hiker crosses two pole bridges, then descends to the bank of Board Creek.
Mile 12.8 (3.2) Bank of Board Camp Creek
The hiker is soon is traveling along the gentle flowing bank of Board Camp Creek.
Mile 14.1 (1.9) Highway 111 Fence Line
The trail ascends to the Highway 111 fence line. A wooden stile is constructed to aid the hiker in crossing the fence line. After crossing the fence, the trail continues along the highway embankment, crossing Board Camp Creek. Traversing the south side of this roadway for about 1.5 miles, mostly hidden in the tree line, and then crossing the Jones Gap Road Bridge onto Heiss Road for 0.5 miles, the Heiss Mountain Road Trailhead is reached.
Mile 16.0 (0.0) Heiss Mountain Road Trailhead
The Possum Creek Section begins at the Heiss Mountain Road Trailhead.
Overview:
| Location | GPS Waypoint in WGS 84 format |
|---|---|
| Heiss Mtn Rd Trailhead | N35 20.754 W85 10.501 |
| Stile | N35 20.366 W85 12.290 |
| Boardcamp Creek Bridge | N35 18.511 W85 11.067 |
| Hotwater Road Crossing | N35 17.311 W85 10.888 |
| Sluder Lane Trailhead | N35 16.897 W85 11.610 |
| Mowbray Pike Trailhead | N35 15.279 W85 12.174 |
Big Dig 2005 Volunteers build a rock staircase above one of the numerous swimming holes along Board Camp Creek.
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