Cumberland Mountain Trail

Cumberland Mountain Trail is a more difficult OHV route suited for riders seeking a longer mountain-style ride along the southwestern edge of the Sundquist Unit in North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. The trail follows rugged Appalachian terrain and connects with multiple interior routes before eventually terminating near Short Mountain Road, making it an important corridor between the forested trail network and the surrounding road system. The surface is primarily dirt and native forest soil with sections of exposed rock and uneven ground that reflect the region’s steep mountain landscape. Riders should expect gradual climbs, narrow wooded sections, and occasional ruts formed by water runoff and regular trail use, all of which can increase the challenge depending on conditions. Cumberland Mountain Trail serves as a key link within the broader OHV system, allowing riders to travel between deeper interior trails and external access points while exploring the forested ridgelines of the Sundquist Unit. ATVs and other permitted OHVs including side-by-sides and UTVs are allowed where indicated by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency trail signage. Weather can significantly affect trail conditions, with rain often creating muddy or slick sections that require careful throttle control and traction management on steeper slopes. The wildlife management area remains open during hunting seasons, though state regulations require at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange on the head and upper body when outside a vehicle or camp during deer and elk gun or muzzleloader seasons, and riders should remain aware that forestry or mining operations within the WMA may occasionally result in truck traffic or changing trail conditions.