Tom's Loop

The Piney Creek area of the Davy Crockett National Forest has 53 miles of well-marked trails that meander through the gently rolling forest lands. To make the trails useful for those on foot, the hike is designed as a loop, utilizing the orange and blue horse trails, combined with a short section along forest service roads. The directions shows a counterclockwise loop that covers the road section first, but it can be done in either direction.While the starting point is not an official USFS trailhead, there is a small parking area at the start, and plenty of clearance on the road for more cars. The trails are wide, clear, well-marked, and lightly-used. We have always had them to ourselves. Because these are horse trails, there are no bridges across the creeks. While the creeks are usually easily crossed, after a heavy rain, some crossings may be wet foot or impassable. This hike can be combined with other loops in the area for a long weekend of day hiking or running. The whole trail system can be used for a more freeform backpacking trip.

The area was timbered by the Central Coal and Coke Company (4-C) many years ago. The remains of the lumber old mill are located at the nearby Ratcliff Lake Recreation area where you can also camp or stop by for a swim in the lake after a hike.