Skip the Crowds: Explore Tennessee’s 5 Quietest Trails and Parks This Month

There is something so soothing about getting deep into the wilderness and listening to the sound of a waterfall and the symphony of birds chirping in the canopy of trees above. Whenever you are needing to turn down the volume and find your way into a remote place here are five Tennessee hiking trails I found to be both relaxing and completely free from other people. Each location on this list we traversed and we had the whole forest to ourselves. These hidden gems are secretive little slices of Volunteer State paradise so get ready to be surrounded by nothing by mountainous forests.

1. Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, Jamestown

Jamestown is a small town that houses some of the most unique parks in Tennessee, one of those being Pickett CCC Memorial State Park. This little gem of a natural playground was a delight to visit with beautiful waterfront views and perfectly placed picnic tables which made for an excellent lunch spot. The beach is a welcome sight on a warm day and my daughters jumped at the opportunity to splash in the water. You can hike for miles around in the quiet wilderness but my all-time favorite spot is Hazard Cave. This massive underground entrance is impressive all by itself but leading to it you are greeted with fascinating rock formations. The familiar packed dirt of the trail gives way to fine sand at the cave entrance and you can even explore the depths of the cool cave. This park is well worth the visit and during our hikes, we only saw a couple of people we passed by and when I hiked the Island Trail I didn’t see a single person hiking. 

2. Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area, Jamestown

Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area is just a few miles down the road from Pickett CCC Memorial State Park but offers up something entirely different. We traveled on the Messa Top, Upper Canyon Trail to Killdeer Arch. Along the way, we witnessed the amazing overlook, adventurous staircases, and small boards traversing large cracks in the cliff walls, but what really wowed me was the second half of the hike. Going further into the canyon we were greeted with the most bizarre and otherworldly rock formations I had ever seen. You could almost describe the cliff face like Swiss cheese or if you have a darker mind like me, it almost looked like ghostly images and faces. Every nook and cranny was filled with the most exciting views as we hiked through arches, passed caves, and even witnessed columns of rocks like we were deep underground. While we were hiking we only passed one couple the whole time so we had the entire trail to ourselves. 

3. Colditz Cove State Natural Area, Jamestown

Sticking with the Jamestown hidden gems another great area is Colditz Cave State Natural Area. This quiet wilderness is home to Northrup Falls which feels like something out of a fairytale. This waterfall flows from a cove-like rock structure which when viewed from the base brings hikers to a large stone bowl with the falls being the focal point. The trees thin out above it allowing plenty of sunlight to illuminate the flowing water and it is simply breathtaking. The trail was also an adventurous trip through the forest making it an exciting and fun hike. We saw only one other couple by the pool of Northrup Falls when we were there and that was after we were finishing off the last of our pictures.

4. Lost Creek Cove State Natural Area, Sparta

Going further south another great spot for hiking is the small town of Sparta. We drove off the typical routes in the area and kept following long roads far away from civilization to get to the Lost Creek Cove State Natural Area. Once we left the pavement we found ourselves surrounded by trees then we parked at the trailhead for Lost Creek Waterfall. This short and simple little hike is more of a walk down some stairs but the payoff is phenomenal. This waterfall is cut into the rock and once it hits the ground it flows into a cave making it look like the water just disappears. The jungle-like setting of the surrounding forest really sells itself as an oasis in the woods. Right behind the waterfall is the Lost Creek Cave which is a massive bonus if you are an underground explorer. We enjoyed the area all by ourselves and we only saw one family coming down to the waterfall as we were leaving.

5. Sewanee Natural Bridge, Sewanee

Sewanee Natural Bridge is another spectacular sight in the Tennessee wilderness located only minutes away from the University of the South. The hike from the trailhead is also very short which will allow you to get to the arch in no time at all. A simple walk down the stairs and you will soon find yourself on top of the bridge! This to me, was the coolest experience because we got to trek the thin rock 25 feet in the air. Once on the other side and after we climbed down we got to witness just how big this natural formation really is. It was a stunning sight from both the top and the bottom. When we hiked this trail we were the only ones at the bridge but I suspect that when school is in session this trail might be a little bit busier. 

No matter what Tennessee Hiking trails we end up taking during any one of our trips I always love it when I get to enjoy it alone with my family. There is something special about being the only one a the base of a waterfall or being surrounded by nothing but the glorious forest. These are always moments I will cherish for the rest of my life and being alone with my family makes it even better. If you want to go on a trip to these amazing parks and trails yourself I suggest you do what we do and download the AllTrails app. This one little tool has helped us stay on the trail especially when we are all by ourselves with no one to ask for directions.