Soddy Creek Gorge Section (south)

Description:  South to North (North to South)

Mile 0.0 (4.9) At the Mowbray Pike Trailhead, the CT begins with 4 wooden steps at the back of the parking lot. Pass through a pine grove.

Mile 0.1 (4.8) Cross the first of many coal seams.

Mile 0.2 (4.7) Cross a small seasonal stream.

Mile 0.3 (4.6) Cross the power line right of way and overlook the town of Daisy; the twin cooling towers of TVA’s Sequoyah power plant are seen in the distance.

Mile 0.4 (4.5) Cross Mikel Branch; just downstream from the footbridge the creek drops over waterfall. The trail meanders through a boulder field.

Mile 0.5 (4.4) Pass through “Little Stone Door,” a gap through some very large boulders and descend to the base of the bluff line.

Mile 0.6 (4.3) Note the rock house on the left. An archaeologist has verified that the opening once served as shelter for Native Americans. Rhododendron, honeysuckle, and spice shrubs abound here in the spring.

Mile 0.9 (4.0) Another rock house on the left may also offer hikers shelter in the event of a sudden storm.

Mile 1.3 (3.6) Cross another seasonal stream; pinxter azaleas, blooming a pale coral, are in full bloom here in early spring.

Mile 1.6 (3.3) Cross another coal seam.

Mile 1.7 (3.2) Enter a pine grove; to the right is a small overlook, and in late spring the abundant blueberry bushes offer the hiker a tasty snack to those fortunate enough to beat the birds to them.

Mile 2.2 (2.7) Carol’s Bench—a long natural rock bench named for Wagonmaster Carol Haley, whose spring breakaway student crew built this stretch of trail and availed themselves of this bench to take their lunch break. Approximately midway between the Mowbray Pike and Sluder Lane trailheads, the bench provides an excellent spot to sit back and take a rest. You may hear the sound of a train whistle drifting up from the valley below.

Mile 2.5 (2.4) The trail picks its way through a rock field, one of which serves as another natural bench facing the valley that offers winter views.

Mile 2.6 (2.3) Pause here and enjoy the view from the escarpment. White dogwood blooms are seen dotting the woods in late April, and the blackberry bushes growing here bear their fruit in early to mid July.

Mile 2.9 (2.0) Begin walking atop a narrow mine tailing with the valley floor on your right and a strip mine trench to your left. Notice the “cuts” in the ridge; these were made to drain the trench. This spot is an excellent example of nature’s ability to heal itself.

Mile 3.3 (1.6) Cross the strip mine trench at its head and begin the switchback ascent to Clemmons Point.

Mile 3.4 (1.5) Clemmons Point, known to locals as “Clements Point,” is named for the Clements family, who either owned the land or operated a blacksmith shop in the area.

Mile 3.5 (1.4) The roadbed the trail is now on is the site of the coal vein. In April the old roadbed is a fern garden.

Mile 4.0 (0.9) One of several large dirt mounds, tailings left over from mining days.

Mile 4.3 (0.6) Here the roadbed is covered with ground pine. After a spring rain, the natural low of the trail can be a bit wet.

Mile 4.4 (0.5) Cross a footbridge over a drainage gulch, made to drain the mine over the side to your right. Dwarf crested iris are abundant here in early spring.

Mile 4.5 (0.4) Intersection with access trail to Sluder Lane Trailhead (blazed blue). At this intersection, the hiker enters the Little Soddy Historic Mining Area—a Walk in History (see also Mining History Synopsis). The area can be very wet at times, but stepping stones have been strategically placed. Feeding into this “wetland” is the oldest mine in Tennessee, opened in 1866 by the Soddy Coal Company (site # 3). Turn left to ascend toward the Sluder Lane Trailhead. (If continuing on the CT, you would bear right to across a bridge over Little Soddy Creek and reaching Hotwater Road in 0.7 mile.)

Mile 4.7 (0.2) Ore car path (site #2). Soon after, reach a junction with historic area loop trail (blazed yellow) to the right that circles back to connect with the CT to the north.

Cross a wooden bridge over Little Soddy Creek and begin a rocky and steep (but mercifully short) climb out of the Little Soddy Gorge. In early to mid-spring, fiddlehead ferns grow along here; the stems are edible and reportedly taste “just like asparagus.” Do not eat unless you’re sure of what you’re eating.

Mile 4.8 (0.1) Fibrothers Mine (originally “Five Brothers”), named for the five Millsaps brothers (site #1).

Mile 4.9 (0.0) Kiosk/footbridge. Go up the slope, turn left onto Hotwater Rd. and walk 200 feet to the parking lot at the Little Soddy Trailhead.

—Caroline Woerner, CTC volunteer, with Jim Schroeder, long-time CTC volunteer, past board member, wagon master, and CTC Hall of Fame member