Today’s hike is courtesy of avid Hike Chattanooga Facebook group poster Jeremy Parker. If you haven’t joined the group of more than 6,000 members yet, we highly recommend you do so for some great suggestions and tips of hikes in the area.
Sewanee Perimeter Trail
- Type: Loop
- Distance: 21.5 miles
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Time: One AllTrails reviewer said it took them about 8.5 hours to hike the whole loop.
- Traffic level: Low-moderate
- Drive time from downtown: 1 hour
- Dog-friendly: Yes
- Directions and more information
When we asked Jeremy what were some highlights of the trail, he listed several:
– There are multiple entry points with varying difficulty levels so it’s great for everyone.
– You will most likely not see more than one or two people while you’re hiking.
– There’s diverse plant life in the warmer months and some spots with great views.
– He also claims it might be the most well-marked trail in the Chattanooga area.
“Great for people worried about getting lost,” he said.
With the trail being more than 20 miles long, Jeremy also mentioned some good spots for parking to shorten it. The first is at the Perimeter Trail Trailhead off Sewanee Highway. There’s 2.25 miles of sidewalk walking/running if you go counter clockwise from this point. The second starting point is at the Cross.
If you are interested in learning more about backpacking, Jeremy is partnering up with Rock Creek on Friday, Jan. 21, at 5:30 p.m. to teach an Intro to Backpacking course. Register and find the event information here.
Happy trails!