Hike Fiery Gizzard Trail — South Cumberland State Park in Tennessee

What to bring

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TL;DR: The Fiery Gizzard Trail is widely regarded as one of the best backpacking trails in the southeastern United States — 12.5 miles of rugged sandstone gorges on the Cumberland Plateau with waterfalls, swimming holes, rock shelters, and sheer cliff faces. Named after a Davy Crockett campfire legend. Rocky terrain with scrambling, creek crossings, and venomous snakes. Most hikers do it as an overnight backpack. Day-hike sections from either end are possible.

What to Expect on the Trail

The Fiery Gizzard Trail runs point-to-point from Tracy City to Grundy Lakes in South Cumberland State Park on the Cumberland Plateau of southeastern Tennessee. The trail descends into and climbs out of deep sandstone gorges carved by Fiery Gizzard Creek, a stream that has spent millions of years cutting through the plateau’s ancient rock. The gorge walls tower overhead, the creek cuts through layers of exposed sandstone, and the waterfalls appear at intervals that keep the scenery from ever feeling repetitive.

The name is attributed to Davy Crockett, who allegedly burned his tongue eating a turkey gizzard at a campfire along the creek. Whether the story is true — Crockett did live in the area — the trail lives up to the dramatic name. The terrain is genuinely rugged. The trail climbs over boulder fields, descends into creek beds, passes behind waterfalls through rock shelters, and squeezes through narrow slots between cliff faces. This is not a groomed path through the woods. It is a route through a gorge that happens to have a trail in it.

The waterfalls are the signature features. Blue Hole Falls, Sycamore Falls, and multiple smaller cascades appear along the route. Blue Hole is a swimming hole large enough and deep enough for genuine swimming — one of the best wild swimming spots in Tennessee. The rock shelters — overhanging cliff faces that create natural caves — provide rain shelter and lunch spots with gorge views. Several of the rock shelters show evidence of use by Native Americans going back thousands of years.

The trail has about 1,500 feet of cumulative elevation gain, but the profile is not a steady climb. It drops into the gorge, climbs out, drops again, and climbs again. The steep descents and ascents between the plateau rim and the creek level are where the difficulty concentrates. The rocky footing throughout requires constant attention.

How Hard Is This Trail, Really?

Challenging. The 12.5-mile point-to-point distance, the 1,500 feet of cumulative gain, the rocky terrain, and the creek crossings combine to create a trail that demands fitness, trail experience, and appropriate gear. Scrambling is required in several spots — hands-on-rock moves over boulders and through narrow passages. The creek crossings can be ankle-deep to knee-deep after rain, requiring confident footing on slippery rock.

Most hikers do the Fiery Gizzard as a 2-day backpack with a night at one of the primitive campsites along the route. The campsites are basic — cleared areas near the creek with fire rings. No water treatment facilities — bring a filter. Strong day hikers can do the full trail in 8 to 10 hours, but this pace does not allow time to enjoy the swimming holes and waterfalls that make the trail special.

Day-hike sections from either end provide the Fiery Gizzard experience without the full commitment. The Tracy City trailhead provides access to the upper gorge and Blue Hole Falls in about 4 miles round trip. The Grundy Lakes end reaches the lower gorge section. Either half-day option gives you waterfalls, gorge scenery, and rocky terrain.

Cottonmouths and copperheads are present in the gorge — watch where you step and where you place your hands on rock scrambles. The snakes are most active in warm weather and near water. Encounters are uncommon but the habitat is ideal and awareness is essential.

Best Time to Go

Spring (March through May) delivers the best water volume for the waterfalls and the most comfortable temperatures for the physical demands. The wildflower bloom in the gorge is excellent. Fall foliage (October through November) on the Cumberland Plateau comes later than the Smokies and the gorge walls create sheltered microclimates where color lingers. Summer is hot and humid, but the swimming holes at Blue Hole Falls make summer visits worthwhile for hikers willing to accept the heat. Winter is cool and the bare canopy improves gorge views.

Before You Go

The Tracy City trailhead is off Route 56 in Tracy City, Tennessee. The Grundy Lakes trailhead is off Highway 41. For point-to-point hikes, arrange a car shuttle between the two trailheads (about 15 minutes apart by car). No entrance fee. Primitive camping is free at designated sites along the trail. Restrooms at the Grundy Lakes parking area.

The trail is well-blazed but the gorge terrain can be disorienting — download a map before your hike. Cell service is unreliable in the gorge. Bring a water filter — the creek water is the primary source for overnight hikers. Trekking poles help significantly on the rocky descents and creek crossings. Sturdy boots are essential; sneakers and trail runners do not provide adequate support on the scramble sections.

Dogs are allowed on leash but the scrambling, creek crossings, and snake habitat make this a poor choice for most dogs. Strong, trail-experienced dogs can manage it. Small or elderly dogs should not attempt the full trail. The drive from Chattanooga is about 1 hour. From Nashville, about 1.5 hours.

Word from the Trail

The Fiery Gizzard Trail is the southeastern backpacking trip that hikers who have done it recommend to everyone and hikers who have not done it have never heard of. It does not have the name recognition of the Appalachian Trail or the fame of the Smokies. What it has is 12.5 miles of gorge terrain that rivals anything on the East Coast — waterfalls you can swim in, rock shelters you can sleep under, cliff faces that make you stop and look up. The Cumberland Plateau does not advertise itself. Fiery Gizzard is the trail that proves it should.

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