Weekend Camping Trip Ideas
Thomas, a student at Belmont, and his Dad are planning a weekend trip in November. He says, "We were hoping to go camping and hiking for the weekend and I was looking at the South Cumberland website. We're looking for something that would require hiking in 2-5 miles (or further) and then maybe doing day hikes on Saturday, coming back to camp Saturday night and then leaving that Sunday morning. Do you have any suggestions and can you tell me how to make the reservations?"
Depending on the time you will be arriving on Friday, you might find this previous post helpful: http://www.friendsofscsra.org/2007/10/kentucky-meets-georgia-at-south.html
Here are a couple of ideas for you, Thomas.
On the Stone Door and Greeter Falls side of the Park, Alum Gap is the only easily accessible campsite, which is a little over 2 miles from the Greeter Parking area or a little over 3 miles on the Laurel Trail from the Stone Door Ranger Station. From Alum Gap you can do day hikes to Greeter Falls and Boardtree Falls, or hike down into Big Creek Gulf on the BC Gulf Trail, hike across the Gulf to Ranger Falls, climb back up through Stone Door, return on the BC Rim Trail. This should be enough to keep you busy for a weekend. Recent rains the past couple of days will hopefully pick up the stream flows for the falls. You should also have some decent remnants of Fall color - it looks like this coming weekend and the following weekend will be the peak of the colors on this part of the Plateau.
The other alternatives are from the Savage Gulf Ranger Station entrance. You have three campsites within 2 to 5 miles: Dinky Line (which is the least scenic of the options), Savage Falls or Stage Road. From Dinky Line you have day hike options on the North Plateau Trail to the Mountain Oak Trail and back along the North Rim Trail. Or you could backtrack to the Savage Day Loop. You can visit Savage Falls or do an out and back on the South Rim Trail.
The Stage Road campsite is the farthest hike in, and a good day hike would be to continue on the South Rim Trail to the Stage Road Historic Trail down into Collins Gulf to the Sawmill Campsite. The old road was the actual stagecoach road between Nashville and Chattanooga in times past, hand built by slave labor before the Civil War.
Regarding reservations, the back country camping permits are assigned on a first come first served basis, so an early arrival on Friday is a good idea. The Fall color season is one of the busiest times for backpacking in the Park. You can call the Stone Door or Savage Gulf Ranger Stations and ask how availability looks for the weekend. You have more campsites on the Savage side which improves the odds.
Phone numbers for the ranger stations are here, top of the page: http://www.friendsofscsra.org/helppage.htm
Cheers,
Ron Castle
Depending on the time you will be arriving on Friday, you might find this previous post helpful: http://www.friendsofscsra.org/2007/10/kentucky-meets-georgia-at-south.html
Here are a couple of ideas for you, Thomas.
On the Stone Door and Greeter Falls side of the Park, Alum Gap is the only easily accessible campsite, which is a little over 2 miles from the Greeter Parking area or a little over 3 miles on the Laurel Trail from the Stone Door Ranger Station. From Alum Gap you can do day hikes to Greeter Falls and Boardtree Falls, or hike down into Big Creek Gulf on the BC Gulf Trail, hike across the Gulf to Ranger Falls, climb back up through Stone Door, return on the BC Rim Trail. This should be enough to keep you busy for a weekend. Recent rains the past couple of days will hopefully pick up the stream flows for the falls. You should also have some decent remnants of Fall color - it looks like this coming weekend and the following weekend will be the peak of the colors on this part of the Plateau.
The other alternatives are from the Savage Gulf Ranger Station entrance. You have three campsites within 2 to 5 miles: Dinky Line (which is the least scenic of the options), Savage Falls or Stage Road. From Dinky Line you have day hike options on the North Plateau Trail to the Mountain Oak Trail and back along the North Rim Trail. Or you could backtrack to the Savage Day Loop. You can visit Savage Falls or do an out and back on the South Rim Trail.
The Stage Road campsite is the farthest hike in, and a good day hike would be to continue on the South Rim Trail to the Stage Road Historic Trail down into Collins Gulf to the Sawmill Campsite. The old road was the actual stagecoach road between Nashville and Chattanooga in times past, hand built by slave labor before the Civil War.
Regarding reservations, the back country camping permits are assigned on a first come first served basis, so an early arrival on Friday is a good idea. The Fall color season is one of the busiest times for backpacking in the Park. You can call the Stone Door or Savage Gulf Ranger Stations and ask how availability looks for the weekend. You have more campsites on the Savage side which improves the odds.
Phone numbers for the ranger stations are here, top of the page: http://www.friendsofscsra.org/helppage.htm
Cheers,
Ron Castle
Labels: Weekend Camping Trip Ideas
posted by Ron Castle @ 9:36 AM
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