South Cumberland Recreation Area - Savage Falls - Member Hike

Hike Name: South Cumberland Recreation Area - Savage Falls
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Nearby Town: Monteagle
Rating: 4 stars
Directions: To get to South Cumberland State Park, take exit 134 off I-24, take a right to Monteagle, turn left on Hwy. 41, drive three miles and the visitors center is located on the left.
Total Hike Distance: 4.20 miles
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Permit Required: Yes
Hike Type: In & Out, Backtrack Hike
Hike Starts/Ends: Savage Ranger Station
Trails Used: Savage Day Loop, South Rim Trails
Backcountry Campsites: Yes
Backcountry Water Sources: Streams, Rivers
Management: State Park Service
Contact Information: South Cumberland State Park
Route 1, Box 2196
Monteagle , TN 37356
931-924-2980
Stone Door: 931-692-3887
Savage Gulf: 931-779-3532
Best Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Users: Hikers, Dogs
Road Conditions: Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary: South Cumberland is one of the newer Tennessee State Parks and almost all of it lies atop the Cumberland Plateau. The park is made up of ten different areas located in four different counties. The Visitor Center is located between Monteagle and Tracy City on Highway 41 where visitors can get information, directions, and trail maps for their hike.

This overnight backpacking trip to Savage Falls starts at the Savage Ranger Station and follows a well marked trail across two suspension bridges to the Savage Falls Campsite. From here, it is a short walk to the falls where the stream is also the water source for the campsite. We did a side hike to Rattlesnake Point to view the eastern arm of Savage Gulf which which made this a 4+ mile backtrack hike.
<b>Heading In</b><br> Here we are on the Savage Gulf Loop bound for the Savage Falls Campsite.
<b>Savage Falls</b><br> It's a beautiful place with steep cliffs to the left and right as you view the falls ahead.
<b>Visitor's Center</b><br> This is the parking area in front of the visitor's center. The Savage Gulf Loop Trail starts just ahead on the right next to the visitor's center.
<b>Suspension Bridge</b><br> This is the second of two suspension bridges we crossed on our hike. The park service (and volunteers who assist in trail maintenance) have done an outstanding job at Savage Gulf.
<b>Savage Falls Campsite</b><br> This is one of a number of designated campsites at Savage Falls. We were the only campers tonight with temps down to 1 degree (with wind chill) 14 degrees otherwise.

Map:

Hiker:

Black Crowe


1,300 points

Recommended

Trip Reports

  Date Rating Duration Hiker
South Cumberland Recreation Area - Savage Falls - January 19, 2008 January 19, 2008 4 stars 2 days Black Crowe

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