For the past four years, I’ve run a travel blog on my own, but now I feel it is time to share my love for traveling with the community surrounding my home, Nashville and Lipscomb University.
Every other week I am planning to share a location that’s not too far from Lipscomb and makes for a perfect-length weekend or day trip. This being a long weekend for students, I have picked a destination that’s a bit farther from Lipscomb, but still a perfect day trip.
This week I would like to introduce, The Obed.
The Obed National Park is located in Wartburg, Tennessee, a little under two hours from Gatlinburg. I had never heard of the park until a friend of mine shared a post on Instagram of a stunning view in the park. Obed is known most for its challenging whitewater rafting, rock climbing, camping and hiking trails. There are several trails at the park, including Lilly Bluff Trail, Emory River Nature Trail, Point Trail and the Cumberland Trail. Lilly Bluff is an overlook point of the Cumberland River Gorge, and the overlook trail takes you right to it. The overlook trail is only 0.3-miles long.
This next trail is my favorite and is called The Point Trail; it is a 3.8-mile round trip trail and a moderate to strenuous hike with climbing and the crossing of creeks. The Point Trail dips down into Melton Mill Branch and involves a moderate amount of easy climbing. Point Trail contains many turns and a beautiful scenic overlook of the gorge as well.
The Bridge Trail is 0.5-mileslong and crosses the river through beautiful, jungle-like scenery. The Boulder Field Trail is a 0.4-mile trip and leveled at “easy” winding around sandstone boulders. Climbers face up to the boulders and test their climbing skills on the sandstones. The other trails include the Nature Loop, Alley Ford and the difficult-rated 14.2 miles one-way Devil’s Breakfast Table-Rock Creek trail. Devil’s Breakfast continues from the Cumberland Trail and overlooks the river as well. This one takes a bit more time, so I don’t recommend it as a day trip. But it would be perfect for a weekend backpack trip.
Things I recommend to bring on your day trip hike.
- Lots of water; be sure to stay hydrated! Possibly bring a snack in case you decide to spend extra time viewing the overlook points.
- A camera. You will want to capture those beautiful views and overlooks.
- Make sure you have good shoes on. Tennis shoes will work, but you want to make sure you have shoes with lots of traction since sandstone doesn’t provide the best footing.
- A flashlight or headlamp. Obed is an International Dark Sky Park, so if you get caught out there at night you will need a flashlight. The starlight is always beautiful, but not the brightest to guide you through a dark hike.
Safe Travels,
Mckenzi