South Cumberland State Park, Tennessee’s largest at over 30,800 acres, is comprised of nine units scattered over four counties. The largest of these units is the 18,000-acre Savage Gulf State Natural Area in Grundy County. Owned by the state since 1973, it protects one of the last-known stands of virgin timber in the eastern U.S. and contains approximately 55 miles of hiking trails. Several trails, providing a half-dozen or more hike options, can be accessed from the Stone Door Ranger Station.

Hikes available from the Stone Door trailhead range from less than half a mile on wheelchair-accessible pavement to long, strenuous backpack treks and various levels in between. 

Stone Door Trail

At just less than a mile each way, this easy trail, paved for the first 0.2 miles to the Laurel Gulf Overlook, passes a walk-in campground and takes you to the Stone Door Overlook, with its expansive gulf views.

Big Creek Rim Trail

Beginning at the Stone Door, this trail follows fairly close to the bluff for 3.2 miles to the Alum Gap Campground, passing several scenic overlooks along the way, and is an 8.2-mile out-and-back hike.

Big Creek Gulf Trail

Dropping down through the Stone Door, this 4-mile trail has a somewhat-rugged descent to the bottom of Big Creek Gulf, then follows Big Creek, eventually ascending out of the gulf using an old logging road for a more gradual climb, ending near the Alum Gap Campground. From here, you’ll probably want to take either the Big Creek Rim Trail or the Laurel Trail back to your starting point.

This would be a 9-mile hike if you return on the Big Creek Rim Trail, 7.8 miles if you take the Laurel Trail back to the ranger station. A recommended side trip is the 0.4-mile spur trail to Ranger Creek Falls, reached 2 miles after you’ve left the Stone Door.

As this involves crossing Big Creek, it can be tricky in times of high water, but the creek is usually dry at this point. At 2.6 miles from Stone Door, a short spur trail leads to the Sinks, where the water of Big Creek usually disappears underground.

                                               

Laurel Trail

At 2.9 miles, the Laurel Trail goes from the Stone Door Ranger Station to the Alum Gap Campground. It takes a more inland route, going through less dramatic, slightly rolling forest terrain. The Laurel Trail makes a good return option for either the Big Creek Gulf Trail or the Big Creek Rim Trail. For the latter, that would make a 7-mile hike.

Connector Trail to Cator Savage Cabin and Sawmill Campground

For those looking for an even more rugged hike, the Connector Trail splits from the Big Creek Gulf Trail 0.9 miles below the Stone Door and crosses the area where the three gulfs meet and where the Sawmill Campground is located. Cator Savage’s cabin makes a good destination for an 8.6-mile round-trip day hike. Cator Savage, a descendant of Samuel Savage, for whom the gulf is named, built his cabin around 1910.

Recommended Shorter Hike

For those looking for something more level and in the 5-mile range, I recommend taking the Big Creek Rim Trail for 1.6 miles beyond the Stone Door to the Sinks Overlook and returning via the same route. The overlook is unmarked on the trail but is shown on the trail map and is hard to miss, as it’s directly on the trail.

Finally, an added bonus to any of these hikes would be to take the 0.3-mile loop trail from the ranger station to Laurel Falls.

For more information about the park, visit the Friends of South Cumberland website.

View a trail map here. 

Get directions here.

Trail maps can be picked up at the Stone Door trailhead, as well as at the South Cumberland State Park Visitors Center in Monteagle.

Article written by Bob Butters