Hemlock Branch Campsite
Campground
Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail
Tennessee · Hiking · Near Red Bank
Mullens Cove Loop
- 8.5 mi
- round trip
- 3,026 ft
- climb
- 1,861 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Nov
- best months
Mullens Cove Loop is an expert-level out-and-back hike of about 17 miles in Tennessee's Prentice Cooper State Forest & Wildlife Management Area, managed by State Fish and Wildlife. The route runs from a starting point at about 1,644 feet to a high point of 1,861 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,222 feet. The climb is not gentle. The steepest stretch comes at about 5.3 miles, where the grade reaches 22%. That makes this a serious outing, and the round trip covers roughly double the distance of the single one-way figure. For timing, late spring and early fall are the most comfortable seasons. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show May highs around 74°F and October highs near 67°F, with September the driest month of the year at about 8 wet days. The loop sits among several other trails and climbing areas. Flying Squirrel Buttress and Upper Passes are climbing areas about 1.7 miles away. Persimmon Loop Trail and Pot Point Loop are hikes within about 2 miles.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after River Drifters
Restaurant
On your way back · 3 mi- If it rains
Children's museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Red BankBest time to go · Mar–Nov
Best time to visit Mullens Cove Loop
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.
Jan
46° / 29°
11 wet
Feb
49° / 31°
11 wet
Mar
58° / 39°
11 wet
Apr
68° / 47°
11 wet
May
74° / 57°
11 wet
Jun
81° / 65°
11 wet
Jul
84° / 67°
11 wet
Aug
82° / 67°
10 wet
Sep
78° / 61°
8 wet
Oct
67° / 51°
9 wet
Nov
57° / 40°
9 wet
Dec
48° / 32°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lookout Mtn-Point Park, TN, 9.2 mi away at 2,110 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Teke, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Browns Ferry Federal Road Trace
~12 min drive
0.62-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 43 ft gain and 130 ft loss.
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Pot Point Loop
~3 min drive
20.98-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 3,487 ft elevation gain/loss.
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Shelton Loop Trail
~4 min drive
5.1-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 509 ft elevation gain/loss.
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Cumberland Trail
~4 min drive
Tennessee's longest point-to-point trail through the scenic Cumberland Plateau.
Photo: Teke, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Blue Blazes Trail
~13 min drive
1.53-mile loop trail in Tennessee with 176 ft elevation gain/loss.
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Rainbow Lake Trail
~6 min drive
0.39-mile out-and-back hike at Rainbow Lake Trail in Tennessee
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Ritchie Hollow Trail
~5 min drive
5.96-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 2,714 ft elevation gain/loss
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Persimmon Loop Trail
~3 min drive
2.70-mile loop trail in Tennessee with 264 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Live Wire 1
~8 min drive
1.58-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 1,340 ft gain
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Prentice Cooper Yellow Trail
~5 min drive
6-mile out-and-back trail through Prentice Cooper WMA with plateau views.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
