hiking along the Cumberland Trail (draft)
4. The Cumberland Trail in Cumberland County
Table of Contents
- Devil’s Breakfast Table to Peavine, 15.2 miles round trip, Strenuous
- Peavine Road to McGinnis Creek, 4.4 miles , Moderate
- Peavine Road to Whiteoak Branch Bridge, 2.6 miles roundtrip, Moderate
- Peavine Road to E. Keys Road (by road), 1.8 miles, easy
- E. Keyes Road to Yellow Gate Trailhead, 9.6 miles round trip, Moderate
- Yellow Gate Trailhead to Delozier Bridge, 3.4 miles roundtrip, Moderate
- Power Lines parking to Delozier Bridge, 2.0 miles roundtrip, Moderate
- Power Lines parking to Ozone Falls (by road), 8 miles, Moderate
- Ozone Falls Trail, 2 miles roundtrip, Strenuous
- Ozone Falls to Black Mountain Summit, 13.4 miles roundtrip, Strenuous
- Black Mountain Summit Loop, 2 miles, Easy
- Black Mountain parking to Hwy 68, 6.8 miles roundtrip, Moderate
- Hwy 68 to Windlass Cave, 3 miles roundtrip, Moderate
- Hwy 68 to Jewitt Rd (Brady Mt), 15 miles roundtrip, Strenuous
- Head of Sequatchie: Selby Loop + Devil Step Cave, 1.6 miles, Moderate
- Black Mountain Below the Bluffs, 1.0 miles, Easy
Northern Section
This is the official map of the Cumberland Trail in the northern part of Cumberland County: From Devil’s Breakfast Table to the Daddy’s Creek Trailhead(Yellow Gate).
4.1 Devil's Breakfast Table to Peavine Road
- Hiking Distance: 15.2 miles round trip
- Trail Length: 7.6 miles
- Rating: Strenuous
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: N36°03.523 W84°47.548
Trail Description
This section is eloquently described on the Cumberland Trail Conference website.
4.2 Peavine Road to McGinnis Creek
- Hiking Distance: 4.4 miles round-trip
- Trail Length: 2.2 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.000824, -84.825522
Trail Description
This hike allows people to explore a section of the Devil’s Bereakfast Table section without committing to the full 7.6 miles and a vehicle shuttle.
From the parking area on Peavine Road, cross the road, head north, and follow the winding trail. After 1.3 miles the trail crosses an old gravel logging road and after 2.2 miles you reach the wooden bridge over McGinnis Creek. Stop, rest, have a drink, enjoy the rocks and vegetation, and then retrace your steps back to your vehicle.
Driving Directions
This trailhead is exactly 3.0 miles from the corner of Peavine Road and Catoosa Blvd, (and Westchester Dr.) on Peavine Road in Fairfield Glade. Park on the right side of the road across from the trailhead
4.3 Peavine Road to Whiteoak Branch Bridge
- Hiking Distance: 2.6 miles round-trip
- Trail Length: 1.3 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.000824, -84.825522
Trail Description
Note 1: Take care that you take the trail south. Do not head north towards the Devil’s Breakfast Table. That is the wrong direction. Stop and turnaround!
This is a new trail constructed in the summer of 2025. The first half mile is easy with very little change in elevation. The second half mile is a little more challenging with some elevation changes and rock steps.
The final half mile is even more challenging with significant elevation and many large rock steps.
About 1.3 miles from the trail head you will come to a large metal bridge over Whiteoak Bridge.
Driving Directions
This trailhead is about 3.5 miles from the corner of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive (the last stop light) on Peavine Road in Fairfield Glade, heading away from Crossville, towards Hebbertsburg.
The trailhead parking is located on the right hand side of the road. It is not a parking lot, just pull-off at the side of the road. Do not cross the road. The trail entrance is on the same side of the road as the parking area.
4.4 Peavine Road to E. Keys Road (By road)
- Hiking Distance: 3.6 miles round trip
- Trail Length: 1.8 miles one way, along the road
- Rating: Easy
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.000824, -84.825522
Trail Description
This section of the Cumberland Trail is along Peavine Road and Hebbertsburg Road to the E Keyes Road trailhead because the park was unable to obtain permission to build this route on private property.
There is no space to park at the E Keyes Road trailhead.
An alternate route, on the west bank of Daddys Creek is under construction but it will not be complete until a bridge is constructed over Daddys Creek near the Fairfield Glade Overlook Trail. Trail 4.3 Peavine Road to Whiteoak Branch Bridge is part of this alternate route. There is no completion date published for the Daddys Creek bridge.
Driving Directions
This trailhead is about 3.5 miles from the corner of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive (the last stop light) on Peavine Road in Fairfield Glade, heading away from Crossville, towards Hebbertsburg.
The trailhead parking is located on the right hand side of the road. It is not a parking lot, just pull-off at the side of the road. Do not cross the road. The trail entrance is on the same side of the road as the parking area.
4.5 E. Keyes Road to Yellow Gate Parking
- Hiking Distance: 9.6 miles round-trip
- Trail Length: 4.8 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.987689 -84.829718
Note 1: More detailed information can be found on the Daddy’s Creek section of the Cumberland Trail Conference website
Note 2: There is no provison for parking at the E Keyes Road Trailhead so it may be more convenient to start at the Yellow Gate and hike the trail in the reverse direction.
Trail Description
The trail is clearly marked. Look out for the primitive campsite and the overlook. After 4.6 miles turn left on to the connector trail to the Yellow Gate parking lot.
Driving Directions
From East or West, take I40 Exit 329, Crab Orchard. From East, turn right; from West turn left toward the little town of Crab Orchard. Cross US 70 and the railroad track. Turn left on Main Street. In a short distance turn right on Hebbertsburg Road. In 5.2 miles pass the yellow gate parking area on the left. There is a large sign on the left at the trailhead that reads “Cumberland Trail Daddy’s Creek”. Continue another 1.2 miles to East Keyes Road on left. See a large TDEC sign for Keyes-Harrison WMA. Turn left onto East Keyes Road. Shortly on the left is an opening into the power line right of way. You can park here and walk East Keyes Road for about .3 mile to the trailhead on the left or continue about .3 mile to the trailhead on the left and park on the either side of the road but well off the road.
4.6 Yellow Gate Parking to Delozier Bridge
- Hiking Distance: 3.4 miles round-trip
- Trail Length: 1.6 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.967006 -84.834143
Trail Description
Just past the yellow gate you will see where the connector trail (yellow blazes) starts. Follow this trail for just over a quarter of a mile and then turn left onto the main Cumberland Trail (white blazes.) In 0.5 mile cross Hebbertsburg Road and continue into woods following the trail 1.25 miles to the Delozier wooden bridge. At the bridge stop and begin the return journey.
Driving Directions
From Crab orchard: From the I-40 interchange at Crab Orchard, head north, cross the railroad track and turn left for a short distance and turn right on Hebbertsberg Road. Drive 5.6 miles north on Hebbertsberg Road. When you pass the Eden’s Ridge entrance on the right side of Hebbertsberg Road the next dirt road on the left is the trailhead where you will see the yellow gate.
From Fairfield Glade: Head east along Peavine Road towards Hebbertsberg. After 4.5 miles turn right onto Hebbertsberg Road. After about two miles you will pass E. Keyes Road (The street sign is missing.) on the right and about 0.5 miles further on is the trailhead on the right where you will see the yellow gate set back from the road.
4.7 Power Lines to Delozier Bridge
- Hiking Distance: 1.4 miles
- Trail Length: 0.7 miles
- Rating:
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.948905 -84.852150
Description
The trail begins at Hebbertsburg Road just North of the TVA power line right of way. Descend gently with the power lines off to your right. Cross a small drainage in about 150 feet. The trail bends to the left. Shortly, there is a spur trail on the left leading down to a nice rock bluff and small rock house. A second spur on the left leads to the same feature a few yards further along. Continue on through older growth mixed forest.There is a nice stone bench on the left.
Switchback to the left and then in a few feet switchback to the right gently descending into older growth hardwood forest. In about 150 feet, cross three wet weather drainages in the next .1 mile. Notice the TVA power lines through the canopy uphill to the right. Cross the second of three drainages as the trail bends right.
Cross the third drainage as the trail descends into the ravine where it bends left and ascends again to near the crest of the ridge.
Begin to descend to DeLozier Branch. Note the young white pines on the left, the hemlock and mountain laurel.
When you reach the bridge at DeLozier Branch, stop and turn around and retrace your steps.
Driving Directions
4.8 Power Lines to Ozone Falls (by road)
- Distance: 8.0 miles
- Rating:
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates:35.948905 -84.852150
Description
Driving Directions
4.9 Ozone Falls Trail
- Hiking Distance: 2.0 miles
- Trail Length: 2.0 miles
- Rating: Strenuous
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.881776, -84.810082
Driving Directions
Address: 173 Fall Creek Rd., Rockwood, TN 37854
From I-40, take Exit 329 for Crab Orchard, then head east on US-70E for 4.5 miles to the Ozone Falls State Natural Area. Park on either side of the road where parking is available, being careful not to block roads or driveways.
Description
The trail parallels Rte 70 for 50 yards before turning left and heading below the falls. Steep rock steps descend to the base of the falls. USE EXTREME CAUTION, ESPECIALLY IF STEPS ARE WET. Follow the trail and at 0.2 miles, follow the sign towards Black Mountain. At 0.5 miles, cross a white bridge. At exactly 1.0 miles, turn around at the giant rock on the left side of the trail and retrace your steps and climb up the rock steps to the road. To visit the top of the falls before you leave, walk 100 yards from the large Ozone Falls State Natural Area sign.
4.10 Ozone parking to Black Mountain parking
- Distance: 1.0 miles
- Rating:
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates:
Description
Driving Directions
4.11 Black Mountain Summit Loop
- Hiking Distance: 2.0 miles
- Trail Length: 2.0 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.868440, -84.887748
Note: Drive carefully on Owl Roost Road as it is a single track road with few passing places.
Description
After parking the car, follow the signs to the Main Trail and the South Overlook. After enjoying the views at the overlook return to the Main Trail and head south along this section of the Cumberland Trail. You can take the staircase down off the summit if you want to admire the rock formations, then back up the stairs and turn left onto the loop trail to the northern overlook (which is overgrown and not very impressive). Continue along the loop trail, crossing over the access road. Note where the main, Cumberland Trail branches off the left but remain on the loop trail and return to the parking lot. The trails in the park pass close to steep drop-offs in many places so children should be supervised.
Driving Directions
Take Bat Town Road south from the Crab Orchard exit from I-140, Exit 329. After about two miles turn left onto Owl Roost Road where it is signed to the Justin P Wilson State Park. Take Owl Roost Road and Black Mountain Road for three miles to the parking lot at the summit of the mountain.
4.12 Black Mountain to Hwy 68
- Distance: 0.5 miles
- Rating:
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates:
Description
Driving Directions
4.13 Hwy 68 to Windlass Cave
- Hiking Distance: 3.0 miles
- Trail Length: 1.5 mile
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.870433, -84.929764
Description
Cross the road and start up the Black Mountain Trail. (Take care not to head south on the Brady Mountain Trail!) Hike trail steadily uphill for about one and a half miles to Windlass Cave. The cave iteself is closed to the public to protect the bats in the cave itself from the white-nose disease. Take a well-earned rest before turning around and heading back downhill to the trailhead to complete this 3.0-mile hike.
Driving Directions
Driving from Crossville: Take route 127 south. At the Homestead Tower leave route 127 and follow route 68 towards Grassy Cove and Spring City. After four miles pass Cox Valley Road on the left. Shortly afterwards identify the Brady Mountain trailhead parking on the right, just a shoulder along Route 68.
4.14 Hwy 68 to Jewitt Rd (Brady Mt)
- Hiking Distance: 15.6 miles roundtrip
- Trail Length: 7.8 miles
- Rating: Strenuous
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.870433, -84.929764
Description
The Brady Mountain Section includes a beautiful ridge-line hike with a panoramic lookout over Grassy Cove at Brady Bluff Overlook. Much of the trail follows old overgrown double-track roadbeds. It also crosses several such roadbeds that are not to be followed. Pay special attention to the white blazes. The trail follows Brady Ridge on a roadbed and the trail becomes much more obvious to follow.
Driving Directions
Brady Mountain Trailhead on Hwy 68; take TN 68 for 4.6 miles from the Highway 68/127 junction just east of Crossville, Tennessee. The trailhead is a large paved pull-off on the right at the top of the rise above Grassy Cove. Brady Mountain Trailhead serves as the southern terminus for the Black Mountain Section and the northern terminus for the Brady Mountain Section.
4.15 Head of Sequatchie: Selby Loop + Devil Step Cave
- Hiking Distance: 1.6 miles
- Trail Length: 1.4 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Street Address: 270 Glyph Parkway, Pikeville, TN 37367
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.794242, -85.012695
ABOUT THE HEAD OF SEQUATCHIE
NOTE: The Head of Sequatchie is a state park with restricted opening hours: currently 9:00 am to 4:30 pm daily.
The Head of Sequatchie is an area of the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park admired for its serenity and beauty. Named for the headwaters of the Sequatchie River, the Head of Sequatchie boasts hiking, history, and pristine beauty serving as a snapshot of a time since passed.
Enjoy the birthplace of the Sequatchie River, which rushes forth as the only natural water outlet of the pristine Grassy Cove to the north as a result of the karst topography of the area. The beginning of the Sequatchie Valley, which stretches into Alabama, is an excellent place for picnics, outings, and gatherings of all sorts.
Description
Leave the parking lot over the bridge and go to the visitor’s center ( stop in if you wish) and then turn right towards the park office and the Head of Sequatchie cave. Cross the bridge and turn left to join the Selby Loop. After less than a quarter of a mile turn left and take the trail to the overlook of Devilstep Hollow Cave. Retrace your footsteps to Selby Trail and continue around the loop until it brings you back to the Head of Sequatchi cave. Return to the parking lot and maybe take a short side trip to the Sherrill Cemetery where rests the first sheriff of Cumberland County–Craven Sherrill (descendant of Katherine “Bonnie Kate” Sherrill, wife of John Sevier).
Driving Directions
270 Glyph Parkway, Pikeville, TN 37367.
Take Hwy 127S south out of Crossville. At the Homestead Tower, keep right on Hwy 127S. Continue about 5.7 miles, passing Cumberland Mountain State Park and Basses Creek Bridge.
Turn left onto Brown Rd, a tar and chip road. Follow for 0.8 miles to a T-junction; turn left onto Rhea Rd. Drive for 0.5 miles to a T-junction; turn right onto Old Hwy 28 S. Drive carefully 2.5 miles down this narrow, winding road. Turn left on Glyph Parkway at the Head of Sequatchie sign.
Follow this road to the paved parking area at the bottom of the hill.
4.16 Black Mountain: Below the Bluffs
- Hiking Distance: 1.0 miles roundtrip
- Trail Length: 0.5 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates:35.868440, -84.887748
Description
Don Deakins reports that the CT in 2018 officially recognized a casual trail used for years by visitors. Now designated the “Below the Bluffs Trail”. The 2,375′ lower loop connects from the kiosk to the main trail less than 500′ south of Gateway Stairs. Route shown in red on the map below.
Driving Directions
Take Bat Town Road south from the Crab Orchard exit from I-140, Exit 329. After about two miles turn left onto Owl Roost Road where it is signed to the Justin P Wilson State Park. Take Owl Roost Road and Black Mountain Road for three miles to the parking lot at the summit of the mountain.
