Tennessee · Hiking

Perimeter Trail

19.5 mi
one way
1,368 ft
climb
1,948 ft
high point
Point to point
route
Mar–Nov
best months

Perimeter Trail is a 19.5-mile hike in Tennessee, about 2 miles from the town of Greenhaw. It is a point-to-point route with a steady climb, rising from about 1,927 feet to 1,948 feet and dropping to 1,565 feet along the way. The total elevation gain is 1,368 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 10 miles in, where the grade reaches 20%. The trail is rated easy. For comfortable weather, aim for late spring or early fall. Typical averages from the nearby Sewanee weather station show May highs around 74°F and October highs around 68°F, with September the driest month at about eight wet days. Horses are not allowed on this trail. Several other hikes sit close by, including Dicks Cove Trail at about a mile away and Wiggins Creek Trail and Bridal Veil Falls Trail within 3 miles. Boiling Fork Creek, a paddling route, is about 4.5 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Perimeter 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, 3.7 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

Route details

Distance
19.5 mi
Climbing
About 1,368 ft
Summit
1,897 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 7.5 hours

Questions about this route

How long is the Perimeter Trail on Otey View?

About 19.5 mi.

How much elevation gain is on the Perimeter Trail?

About 1,368 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Perimeter Trail?

It is rated easy.

How long does the Perimeter Trail take?

About 7.5 hours round trip.

Conditions and forecast on Otey View

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors