Tennessee · Hiking

Hiking Trail

2.5 mi
round trip
749 ft
climb
1,770 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Nov
best months

This is a moderate hike of about 2.5 miles in Franklin State Forest in Tennessee, with a total round-trip distance of about 5 miles. The trail is an out-and-back, and the climb is gentle, with a total elevation gain of about 240 feet. The steepest part comes early, around 0.5 miles from the start, where the grade reaches about 8%. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Sewanee weather station show October highs around 68°F with lows near 50°F, and April highs around 67°F. That station sits a few hundred feet higher than the trail, so temperatures on the trail may run slightly warmer. Buggytop Cave Trail is about 5 miles away, and Lost Cove Trail is about 5.5 miles away. Paddlers can head to Battle Creek, about 7.4 miles off, and Caldwell Rim Trail is about 8.5 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Hiking Trail

    Best months: March–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      45° / 29°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      49° / 32°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      58° / 40°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      67° / 48°

      10 wet

    5. May

      74° / 56°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 63°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 66°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 66°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      78° / 60°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 50°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      58° / 40°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      48° / 33°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sewanee, TN, 9.5 mi away at 1,928 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Climbers Loop TrailPhoto: Tennessee Valley Authority, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Climbers Loop Trail

~21 min drive

1.48-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 1,048 ft elevation gain

Fiery Gizzard TrailPhoto: Tennessee Valley Authority, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Fiery Gizzard Trail

~21 min drive

11.67-mile point-to-point trail in Tennessee with 1,436 ft gain

HIKE

Tom Pack Falls Loop

~5 min drive

1.92-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 296 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Pot Point Loop

~42 min drive

20.98-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 3,487 ft elevation gain/loss.

Walls Of Jericho Trail (TN Trailhead)Photo: dmtilley, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Walls Of Jericho Trail (TN Trailhead)

~26 min drive

7.12-mile out-and-back trail in Alabama with 2,284 ft elevation gain and loss.

Walls of Jericho TrailPhoto: dmtilley, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Walls of Jericho Trail

~25 min drive

3.38-mile out-and-back trail in Alabama with 1,217 ft gain.

HIKE

Lost Cove Trail

~9 min drive

2.44-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 574 ft of elevation gain

HIKE

Mullens Cove Loop

~43 min drive

8.46-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 2,036 ft gain

South Rim TrailPhoto: dmtilley, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

South Rim Trail

~26 min drive

1.6-mile out-and-back trail in Alabama with 1,313 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Hiking Trail

~2 min drive

13.9-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 2,103 ft elevation gain/loss

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors