The Cumberland Trail
Upper Rock Creek Gorge Segment
 Water cascades over natural sandstone steps below a stream crossing on the trail. |
Trail Length: 2.3 miles (trail currently ends at point where a bridge will be constructed across Rock Creek - posted Nov. 2004)
Trail Rating: moderate
Trail Access: The Upper Rock Creek Gorge Trail segment is accessed from the Rock Creek Loop of the Cumberland Trail. The upper segment begins at the 2.7 mile mark from the Lower Leggett Rd. Trailhead or 0.5 mile from the Upper Leggett Rd. Trailhead. Directions to Trailheads from Chattanooga Tennessee: Take Hwy 27 North to the Sale Creek Community, then left on Leggett Rd. for 1.4 miles to the Lower Leggett Rd. Trailhead. To reach the Upper trailhead, continue on Leggett Rd. and climb the escarpment for 2.1 miles to a lightly graveled parking area on your left. The trailhead is only 50 ft. back down the road…look for the sign & blazing.
 November view of the gorge looking north from the Rock Creek overlook. |
Trail Markings: The entire Cumberland Trail is marked with white 2 x 6 inch blazes. Intersections or sharp turns in the trail are marked with double blazes of the same color & size.
Overlooks: Leggett Point & Rock Creek
Trailside Camping: A campsite is currently (as of Nov. 2004) located at the 2.1 mile marker along the Upper Rock Creek Trail. This site can accommodate a small group of folks and 2-3 tents max. The campsite is 4.8 miles from the Lower Leggett Rd. trailhead and 2.6 miles from the Upper Leggett Rd. Trailhead.
Other Features: Sound of Rock Creek's water rushing over and around the 'rocks' in the creek bed can be heard along almost the entire length of the trail. Much of the distance of this trail offers runs along the foot of sandstone bluffs. The winter view exposes even more of these impressive formations. There are cascades and waterfalls at almost every stream crossing on this section of the Cumberland Trail.
Users of this trail owe thanks to: The Cumberland Trail Conference & Bill Leiper of Sale Creek, TN, the Adopt-A-Trail volunteer for the Upper Rock Creek Gorge & Monty Matney of Harrison, TN, the Trail Steward for the Rock Creek segment of the Cumberland Trail. The BreakAway, Big Dig '03 & Big Dig '04 volunteers as well as the AHS Volunteer Vacations, AmeriCorp NCCC, & Landmark Volunteers who did an excellent job on the construction of sections of this segment of the Cumberland Trail.
 A view of Rock Creek downstream from the site of a future bridge which will carry the Cumberland Trail across the creek.. |
 Maple and hickory leaves add brilliant color to a cloudy November day along the Upper Rock Creek Gorge trail. |
The map at left shows the area of Hamilton County through which the Rock Creek Segment of the Cumberland Trail passes. The Upper Rock Gorge segment of the trail currently ends near the upper left of this map. This map, used with the trail map on the Cumberland Trail Conference Website, will give you an idea of the terrain.
More
Cumberland Trail Photos:
>>> Connector
Loop of the Rock Creek Gorge Segment of the Cumberland Trail
>>>
Possum
Creek Gorge Segment
of the Cumberland Trail
>>> Laurel
Falls Segment of the Cumberland Trail
