TTA Backpack Cumberland trail

 

Eight of us backpacked the Graysville and Laurel/Snow pocket wilderness segments of the Cumberland trail. It was a very hot weekend! We started at Roaring Creek trailhead and headed North. Enjoying the waterfalls, overlooks, and rock formations. We set up camp about a mile before Hwy 30 with a good water source, flat area, and a campfire. Sunday we contiued on across Hwy 30 and dropped down into the Morgan Creek gorge. Wonderful display of wildflowers all the way down the mountain. We crossed Morgan Creek and followed Richland Creek up to the campground and back down to the parking area. It was around 16 miles.

Backpackers were: Sara Pollard, Cynthia Skidmore, ,Cindy Strang, Curtis Thomas, Bryan Tauchen, Jean Breuer, Craig McBride, and Lora McBride.

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Laural Snow Falls Wilderness Pocket

Today's hike turned into an ice hike. The trail was clear, but there was ice on all the rocks and around the falls. Very pretty!

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Laural Falls

 

We went to the Pocket Wilderness in Dayton. We explored the area around the Coke Ovens, Monkey Head falls and then hiked to Laural Falls for lunch. Nice day out.

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Laurel Snow Pocket Wilderness

A little adventure on a beautiful day. We headed to Laurel Snow Pocket Wilderness for a hike. We hiked to Snow Falls and back. Lora especially liked the creek crossing. 

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Laurel Falls - CT

Lora and I did a day hike to Laurel Falls.  We headed to Dayton after church and went to the Laurel Snow Pocket Wilderness trailhead.  There were probably 35 cars at the trailhead so it was a popular day to hike.  There were rock climbers and hikers out.  We hiked up Richland Creek and over the Laurel Creek bridge.  The creeks were up and the water falls were looking good.  We did Laurel falls and then climbed up to the top of the bluff.  We got to do an old fashion foot washing in Laurel creek on the way to Bryan Overlook.  There were actually other hikers crazy enough to do the same.  On the way back to the trailhead we did some trail maintenance trying to cover up and block all the shortcuts that people have to make.  What is wrong with following the trail?

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Cumberland Trail- Laural / Snow Segment

9 miles- Easy with some big climbs

Lora and I hiked this Segment of the Cumberland trail. It starts at the trailhead and follows Richland Creek along an old rail bed for the first mile and a half. On this section you after you cross the first two bridges you hike right past Richland mine. The trail eventually leaves Richland creek and turns into a footpath. You climb up and take a bridge over Laurel Creek. At this point you come to the split in the trail. To the right is the trail to Laurel Falls and to the left is the trail to Snow Falls.

We hiked to Snow Falls first. You pass a large flat campsite that is right on Richland Creek. After that you cross the 60-foot metal bridge over the creek. You then start the numerous switchbacks going out of the gorge. You will be able to see Laurel Falls as you climb.

After you leave the gorge, you follow the edge to Dunn Overlook, which gives you a wonderful view of the gorge, and Laurel Falls. You then head through the woods until you cross Morgan Creek, which you have to ford. Once across Morgan Creek and get your feeling back in your feet, you will hike through another campsite and around the bend to 35-foot Snow Falls. There is a trail that will take you to the bottom if you follow the old road. It will be off to your left. Lora and I ate lunch on a flat rock at the bottom of the falls.

After lunch we headed back. We did another old fashion foot washing in Morgan Creek, which yes, it does build character. When we got back to the split we climbed the numerous switchbacks to 80-foot Laurel Falls. There are many smaller falls under Laurel Falls. It’s all down hill after this if you head back to the trailhead.

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