Tennessee Trails: A Legacy That Still Needs You

Trail Month may have ended, but the mission to protect Tennessee’s trails continues. Hiking remains one of the most popular outdoor adventures in Tennessee State Parks, with more than 1,300 miles of scenic paths connecting visitors to the state’s most breathtaking landscapes. Each trail faces challenges from erosion, fallen trees, and storm damage, reminding us of the vital importance of caring for the places we love to explore.

Tennessee State Parks Conservancy launched Trail Month to highlight the importance of ongoing trail care through the Trail Pack program—a dedicated effort to build, maintain, and protect Tennessee’s trails for generations to come. This month, we’re reflecting on the incredible places we explored and how your continued support can keep these trails open and thriving.

Celebrating Tennessee’s 80 Waterfalls

Trail Month celebrated the 80 waterfalls found across Tennessee’s state parks. From Fall Creek Falls, the tallest single-drop waterfall east of the Mississippi, to the hidden cascades of Rock Island, Fiery Gizzard, and Savage Gulf, each waterfall tells a story of Tennessee’s wild beauty.

These waterfalls are more than scenic wonders—they are part of our state’s natural heritage. The Trail Pack mission helps ensure that the trails leading to these destinations remain safe, sustainable, and accessible for all who seek adventure.

Discovering Pogue Creek Canyon’s Hidden Beauty

Trail Month also highlighted Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area, a 3,000-acre landscape of forest, sandstone cliffs, and towering bluffs shaped by the winding creek that flows underneath. Connected to Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, this serene escape on the northern Cumberland Plateau offers one of Tennessee’s most peaceful hikes.

Tools That Keep Trails Safe and Accessible

Thanks to innovative tools like the High-Efficiency Trail Assessment Process (HETAP), park staff collect detailed data mile by mile—recording trail length, grade, and potential obstructions. This information helps hikers stay safe and choose trails that match their skill level and ability. When you support the Trail Pack, you help provide more tools like HETAP to the dedicated teams who protect, maintain, and enhance Tennessee’s trails for everyone to enjoy.

Restoring Trails After Hurricane Helene

When Hurricane Helene struck Roan Mountain State Park in September 2024, it left the Bearwallow Loop Trail buried under massive fallen trees, upturned roots, and debris. Trail Pack supporters can help make restoration possible by funding crews to clear, repair, and restore this beloved trail. By joining the Trail Pack, you help Tennessee’s trail network recover faster and stronger when storms strike.

Training Tomorrow’s Trail Builders

Trail Pack donors are shaping the future of Tennessee’s trail system. Recently, the staff of Tennessee State Parks completed a 30-hour Master Trail Building Course, gaining hands-on experience in designing and constructing sustainable, multi-use trails. This type of training equips more staff to build and repair the trails we all love to hike.

Trail Improvements at House Mountain

At House Mountain State Natural Area, Trail Pack support is already making a visible impact. With help from the Southeast Conservation Corps, crews installed new drains, repaired tread, and cleared thousands of feet of trail corridor.

Rising 2,100 feet above Knox County, House Mountain rewards hikers with panoramic views and abundant wildlife. Thanks to funding from the Arconic Foundation and collaboration with state and local partners, this project improved access, safety, and the visitor experience—showing exactly how Trail Pack contributions come to life on the ground.

Accessibility Upgrades at Big Hill Pond State Park

Trail Pack donors also support critical accessibility improvements. At Big Hill Pond State Park, the boardwalk through the Dismal Swamp is being replaced, and the Turkey Call Trail is being rerouted to welcome more visitors. The first section leading to the new boardwalk will be rebuilt to accommodate all-terrain wheelchairs, allowing every hiker to experience the park’s unique wetlands and forested trails.

The Conservancy continues to identify high-priority accessibility upgrades across the park system, making Tennessee’s outdoors more inclusive than ever.

Where Nature and History Meet

Tennessee’s trails connect us not only to nature but to history. Red Clay State Historic Park, the last seat of the Cherokee government, preserves sacred ground. Its trail to Blue Hole Spring leads to a site that once supplied water for council meetings and remains sacred to the Cherokee people. Visitors can even engage with an AI-powered avatar that shares stories of Cherokee heritage and the Trail of Tears, bringing history to life on the trail.

There’s Still Time to Join the 2025 Trail Pack: Building Accessible, Sustainable Trails Across Tennessee

The Trail Pack is dedicated to building and maintaining Tennessee’s trails, bridges, and structures while training the next generation of trail builders. Through programs like the Master Trail Building Course, staff gain hands-on experience in planning and creating sustainable, multi-use trails that endure for decades. Trail Pack support also enhances accessibility across the park system—helping identify routes for trail-ready wheelchairs and giving hikers the information they need to choose trails that match their abilities.

Trail Month may be over, but the work is far from done. The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy remains committed to making the outdoors open to everyone—from paved paths to rugged backcountry routes. When you join the Trail Pack with a $35 donation or more, you directly support the restoration, accessibility, and stewardship of Tennessee’s trails. As a thank-you, you’ll receive a limited-edition 2025 Trail Pack sticker, knowing you’re helping to protect the paths that connect us to nature, to each other, and to the best adventures of our lives.

Join the Trail Pack today and keep Tennessee’s trails open, safe, and adventure-ready for generations to come.

Cover photo by Jeremy Rasnic