A Hike at Cumberland Mt SP, TN

For pictures and comments of all the parks we visited, click on "Campground Pix/Notes" at left.

9 Apr 10:  T'was a beautiful day on the Cumberland Plateau to enjoy a hike.  It's great to be back far enough north to find some woods, hills, rocks and streams to wander among.  Cumberland Mountain SP offers about 15 miles of hiking trails.  Today, while staying at the park campground, we followed the three mile Pioneer Trail around the lake.

The Pioneer Trail begins behind the Park Office, which is located near the bridge and dam that create Byrd Lake.  The dam was built by the CCC and is the largest masonry structure ever built by the CCC.

The trail follows along the shore of the lake.  A trail crew needs to get out on the trail to clean up numerous blow-downs which one has to clamber over or under.

We found a couple of mallards sunning on a log.
As the lake narrows nearer its up-stream end, we find rock outcroppings and distant white flowering trees.

Another rock outcropping with a small stream coming over the rocks down to the lake.
At one point the trail is almost in a tunnel under the mountain laurel.

Another fascinating outcrop with a huge pine tree on its top edge.

Halfway along the trail is this suspension foot-bridge across the stream.  If one wants a longer hike with an additional 3 miles, don't cross the bridge; instead continue upstream.  Eventually the trail will loop back and join up with the shorter loop at the other end of the bridge.
Yours truly.
Yet more rocks along the river.

Blossoming trees along the river.

Join us for our second hike the next day.