Overnight loop around Knoxville or Chattanooga area.

[stilllife]

Will be in the area in two weeks and want to do an overnight loop. 10 Miles or less. Suggestions much appreciated.
Thanks.

[Gambit McCrae]

Fall Creek Falls has 2 nice loops around 10-14 easy miles.

[stilllife]

Fall Creek Falls has 2 nice loops around 10-14 easy miles.

Is that a State Park?


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[cneill13]

I have the perfect trail for you - Mullen's Cove Loop

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/tennessee/mullens-cove-loop-trail

[stilllife]

Thanks cneil, a lot of reviews say that the trail is hard to follow.

[HooKooDooKu]

10 miles total or 10 miles per day?

I've got a lot of experience with Great Smoky Mountains National park and can try to make suggestions for you there.

In GSMNP, an overnight "loop" of about 5mpd doesn't exist.
You either have to settle on an "out-n-back", or make one of the two days significantly more or significantly less than 5mpd.
If you like creeks, one idea that pops to mind is to hike to campsite #49 from the Smokemont front country camp ground.

10mpd will open you up to several loop hikes, especially if you don't mind a day being as little as 6 miles or so.
On of my favorite campsites is #13 with mountain top views at the near-by Gregory Bald.
There is a 7mile/6mile loop to #13 from the Cades Code (north) side of the mountain.
There is a 8mile/7mile loop to #13 from the TwentyMile (south) side of the mountain (and the best/worst way to get there from the west side is to drive "Tail of the Dragon".

Keep in mind, camping in GSMNP requires a permit and reservations for the campsite. You can get your permit/reservation online here:
https://smokiespermits.nps.gov/index.cfm?BCPermitTypeID=1

[Gambit McCrae]

Is that a State Park?


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Yes it is and the park does a good job at leaving you alone in backcountry.

Virgin falls is another outstanding option in Sparta, TN i have done it about 100 times. Must have a permit at both places

[Tennessee Viking]

Big South Fork
Prentice Cooper SF
Frogs

[Time Zone]

Thanks cneil, a lot of reviews say that the trail is hard to follow.


It's not that bad. Adjacent / contiguous Pot Point Loop (also about 10 miles) is maybe slightly harder to follow. Meaning, there was one time, in late fall with leaves fully covering the trails and undergrowth died back, that I had to spend 10-15 minutes trying to find the next blaze. I was alone, but I found it OK.

On Mullens Cove, I recall that there were a few tricky spots where a turn in the trail was incongruously marked with one blaze, and a straight-ahead was marked with two. I think there may be a hairpin switchback too that isn't so evident. In any case, to me, the standard bearer for "hard to follow" is Obed, and nothing else comes close.

Ransom Hollow Overlook is not to be missed. Not sure if the leaves will have changed by the time you get here but if they were starting, it could be an even more impressive view.