I took Frank up to Frozen
Head State Park for a fall hike and not going to lie it was one of the best
fall hikes I have been on since moving to East Tennessee. The only one I
would rate better was the Rich Mount Loop in the Smoky Mountains around the
second year we moved down here. Today the weather was perfect with a slight
breeze and crystal, clear blue skies. Since we have been in somewhat of a
drought, the colors are not popping quite like usual, but they are still
beautiful with most being a golden yellow with a few red ones worked
in.
When hiking in familiar
locations I try to find new routes or tweak trails to make it a little
different from previous hikes. On this hike I hit a new section of trail to
make a loop just over ten miles. Below are the trails I hit to make this
loop.
(1) North Old Mac
…............ 3.55 miles (2) West Lookout
Tower …... 6.33 miles (3) Flat Rock Story
Book …... 0.45 miles
The section of West
Lookout Tower from North Old Mac to the Bird Mountain junction was a section
I have not hit before. That section of the trail is not too bad and is part
of an old dirt/gravel road with some pleasant views and nice places to stop
and rest or snack. But the section that goes from the Bird Mountain junction
to the campground is downhill with big rocks. That combination makes it
really rough on the ankles and knees, especially with an overzealous dog like
Frank. From the campground you can hit part of the Flat Rock Story Book trail
to get back to the main trailhead parking lot.
I have plans at some
point to do the circumference of the park but will need to split that up for
a day or two. I need to get out to some of the backcountry spots and scout
out the water sources as sometimes water is hard to find in the park.
Overall, this was a beautiful day and another great hike for the books. If
you have not been out to Frozen Head, I would suggest checking it out at some
point.
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