Cumberland Trail-North Soddy Creek Gorge Section

The Soddy Creek Gorge Section of the Cumberland Trail is a dramatic stretch that passes through the Little Soddy Historic Mining Area and crosses three watersheds. The trail passes abandoned mines, offers views of deep valleys and high bluffs, and shows off the impressive work of the volunteers who built this section, including numerous rock steps and wood steps that climb a rock face along Board Camp Creek. In November 2015 the temporary bridges on Deep Creek and Big Soddy Creek have been replaced. The 100 foot long suspension bridge over Big Soddy Creek is an impressive feature of this hike. In the area around Deep Creek, you may notice evidence of rock mining that had the potential for destroying the area but which was stopped through efforts of the CTC. Trailheads: The southern terminus of this section is on Hotwater Road. The CT crosses Hotwater Road, but there’s very little parking there; so this hike begins at the Hotwater Road/Little Soddy Trailhead. Take US 27 north to TN 319, Hixson Pike Exit, and take a left to the intersection with Dayton Pike. Turn right and go 0.7 mile to Durham Street and turn left. In 0.6 mile, you’ll come to Back Valley Road. Turn right for one block to the intersection with Hotwater Road. Turn left on Hotwater Road. The parking area is 2 miles up Hotwater Road on the left at the intersection with Sluder Lane. The trailhead is approximately 200 feet back down Hotwater Road on the right side. The northern end of this section is on Heiss Mountain Road. From US 27 north of Soddy-Daisy, take TN 111 and ascend the Cumberland Plateau and proceed to the Jones Gap Road exit. Turn north on Jones Gap Road and immediately turn right onto Heiss Mountain Road, a paved dead-end road that parallels TN 111; you’ll see a small store at the turn. Parking is along the road about 0.5 from the store. The sign for the Cumberland Trail heading north is near the end of the guardrail, which is the start of the Possum Creek Gorge Section.