Near Cumberland Mountain State Park Loop
Suspension Bridge crossing creek
Near Cumberland Mountain State Park Loop
rock hopping to cross the creek
Near Cumberland Mountain State Park Loop
Mill House Lodge
Near Cumberland Mountain State Park Loop
Byrd Creek and the trail on the right
Near Cumberland Mountain State Park Loop
View of Byrd Creek and returning trail on the other bank.

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Driving Directions
Hike Route

Cumberland Mountain State Park Loop

3.8 (4 Ratings)
A very nice, well-maintained trail system.
7.7
mi
Distance
595
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingFall ColorsRiver/CreekSpringViewsWaterfallWildlife
Access Issues
No bikes

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
7.71mi
Distance
595ft
Elevation Gain
602ft
Elevation Loss
55%
Max Grade
1,911ft
High Point
1,697ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
This route starts at the welcome center and finishes at the waterfall bridge (almost a complete loop). The hike starts and finishes on the back of the Byrd Creek. From the welcome center, start on the yellow path heading north along the Byrd Creek Trail. After about 1 mile, you can turn left to stay on the yellow-blazed trail and back to the start or keep to the right to add ~5.5 miles on the blue-blazed Overnight Trail. After the 5.5 miles of technical obstacles of rocks, roots, bridges, climbing over fallen trees, and crossing streams, you'll link back up with the Byrd Creek Trail for about a mile. The Byrd Creek Trail will finish with a choice of taking one of the legs of the red-blazed Cumberland Plateau Trail to the mill house for an awesome view of the bridge and spillway.A PDF of the map is available at here.
History & Background
The construction was started in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. WWII Hero Sgt. Alvin York was the project superintendent.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

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Contributors
Eric Ward