TN-TACF's Hike to the Summit of Frozen Head Mountain
(Photos by Joe Schibig unless noted otherwise, September 29, 2007)

A view from the top of Frozen Head Mountain (photo by Clint Neel)
 

Before climbing to the top of Frozen Head Mt. from Armes Gap, the group
took a short hike on Chimney Top trail and found some chestnut sprouts.

 

A close up of an American chestnut leaf (photo by Sean Fisher)

 


The mountaineers.

Fall flowers and butterfly.
 

The group rests at an old spring house close to the top of the mountain.

Mr Weaver (gentleman on the left) is in his 80s and hikes like a youngster.
(Photo by Sean Fisher)
 

The mountain climbers reach the summit and  have spectacular views in all directions.
(Photo by unknown hiker)





Don't lean back, Jack.

Wind mills in the distance (photo from Sean Fisher)

Please visit the TN-TACF website

The  Invitation and Directions:

What:  TN-TACF Hike at Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, TN

When:  Saturday, September 29 at 10AM (Central Time)

What to Bring:  Picnic lunch, water, trail mix, hiking boots, sunscreen

Meeting place:  Frozen Head Park Visitor Center at 10:00 Central Time

Activities:  Assemble at the Visitor Center, then take a short hike on the trail just behind the visitor center to see some American chestnut trees. We will have lunch (bring your own snacks, drinks, etc.) at the picnic area.  After lunch, we will drive up Hwy. 116 to Armes Gap and hike from there to the fire tower on Frozen Head Mountain. This is roughly a two mile hike with some nice mountain views (elevations: Armes Gap  2139 feet; Fire Tower 3324 feet; net climb 1185 feet). See http://mensetmanus.net/frozen-head/frozen1.shtml for additional information and photos of the trail to the fire tower from Armes Gap.  You can see a trail map of the park here.

Directions: 

From Nashville (2 hrs, 45 min): Take I-40 East past Crab Orchard to Exit 340 (Airport Road/ TN-299 N).  Turn left (north) on TN-299 and go 12-1/2 miles and turn slight left (northeast) onto TN-328 / J Lon Foust Hwy at Oakdale.  Go 4 miles and when you tee into US-27 / TN-29 / Morgan County Hwy turn left (north).  Go 4 miles and turn right on Petite Lane (next road past Leonard Williams Rd) and immediately turn left (north) onto Liberty Road.  Go 1-1/2 miles and when you tee into TN-62 turn left.  Go ½ mile and take the second right onto Flat Fork Road.  Go 4 miles and we will meet at the Visitor Center just inside the park gate. 

From Knoxville (1 hr, 15 min):  Take I-40 West for 11-1/2 miles to Exit 376A (I-140 E/ TN-162 N/ Pellissippi Pkwy) and go right (northwest) toward Oak Ridge.  After 6 miles Pellissippi Pkwy / TN-162 N will become TN-62 W/ Oak Ridge Hwy/ Illinois Ave and continue another 12 miles which will take you through Oak Ridge.  In Oliver Springs turn right to continue on TN-62 / Winter Gap Rd and go 14 miles.  Turn right onto Flat Fork Rd which is past Liberty Rd but before Wartburg and go 4 miles to the Visitors Center just inside the park gate. 

From Chattanooga (2 hrs, 20 min):  Take I-75 North toward Knoxville and merge onto I-40 West toward Nashville.  Go 4 miles to Exit 364 (TN-95) and turn right (north) on TN-95 toward Oak Ridge.  Go 6-1/2 miles and merge onto TN-58 S/ Oak Ridge Turnpike toward Kingston.  Go 1 mile and turn right (north) onto TN-327 / Blair Road.  Go 6 miles and turn left (west) onto TN-61 / Harriman Hwy at the tee.  Go 4-1/2 miles and turn right (north) onto US-27 / Bitter Creek Hwy.  Go 8 miles and turn right on Petite Lane (next road past Leonard Williams Rd) and immediately turn left (north) onto Liberty Road.  Go 1-1/2 miles and when you tee into TN-62 turn left.  Go ½ mile and take the second right onto Flat Fork Road.  Go 4 miles and we will meet at the Visitor Center just inside the park gate.