Tennessee Hiking Big South Fork - Lodge Based

Our adventure begins this morning in Knoxville, Tennessee, where we meet our guides and fellow travelers. Following a brief orientation, we hop in the van for a 1.5-hour shuttle to the historic town of Rugby, TN, on the Cumberland Plateau. Founded in the 1880's. Rugby is the oldest living historic village in the US. Named after Thomas Hughes' alma mater in England, Rugby was conceived as a class-free, agricultural community for younger sons of English gentry and others wishing to start a new life in America. Today Rugby is both a living community and a fascinating public historic site run by Historic Rugby. En route to Rugby we stretch our legs with a short hike out to Gentlemen's Swimming Hole where we have a chance for a dip on a hot day. Later we explore Rugby with a private tour of the historic structures including a library filled with first addition books from the 17th century. This evening is spent in a lovely inn where we enjoy an authentic Southern dinner. The inn keepers will regale us with tales of their family who lived in Rugby during its heyday. Lunch and dinner Included.

Hiking: 2.1 miles; Elevation gain/loss: +/- 305'; Transfer: 1.5 hours

We enjoy a hearty breakfast before a short transfer to our trailhead in the Big South Fork. Slave Falls is named after the escaped, enslaved people who would hide in the many caves and rock outcroppings, as they were following the Underground Railroad. This amazing trail takes us by several awe-inspiring rock outcroppings to the 60' falls surrounded by a grotto. We'll lunch on the bluffs overlooking the falls before a quick transfer to the Twin Arches trailhead. The Twin Arches are one of the largest natural bridge formations in the world—one arch tops out at 103' and the other at 62'. We load up our packs with overnight items (20 - 25 pounds) and continue our hike to the backcountry Charit Creek Lodge, only accessible by hiking or horseback, and get checked into our rustic cabins. After dinner, we'll take a tour of the property, learning about the life of the original settlers. Enjoy a campfire under the dark skies of the Big South Fork. All meals included.

Hiking: 4 miles; Elevation gain/loss: +321'/-871'; Transfer: 1 hour

Wake up to a hot beverage and delicious breakfast before heading out for today's hike. An easy four-mile round trip hike up the Hatfield Ridge Trail brings us to the Charit Creek Overlook. We enjoy lunch with unspoiled sweeping views and get a birds-eye view of the lodge below. We'll head back to the lodge for a chance to splash around in a swimming hole or explore more of the Sheltowee Trace before another delicious home-cooked family-style dinner. After dinner, we'll do a short night hike along the river before heading to our cabins for a peaceful night's sleep. All meals included.

Hiking: 5 miles; Elevation gain/loss: +/- 656'

Enjoy a hike from the Charit Creek Lodge up the Twin Arches trail for our final breathtaking view. We say goodbye to Charit Creek Lodge and hike out of the valley and transfer to the Blue Heron Mining Community. Blue Heron is a former coal mining community on the banks of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River that has been recreated and is maintained as an interpretive history area in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. As we walk along the banks of the beautiful Big South Fork, we'll wander through the Ghost Structures of this abandoned mining town and learn about the importance of mining to this region's economy. As we lunch on the banks of the river, we'll get a deep appreciation for the people who came before us and the wisdom of the Park Service who is working to restore and protect this critical watershed. Following our exploration, we'll head back to Knoxville arriving in the late afternoon. Breakfast and lunch included.

Hiking: 1.5 miles; Elevation gain/loss: +689'/-89'; Transfer: 3.5 hours