Bearwaller Gap Trail

LOCATION

Bear Waller Gap Trail follows along Cordell Hull Lake. It travels from the Defeated Creek Campground to the power plant. There are great views of the lake and two campsites.

DIRECTIONS
I-40 to the Carthage exit. Travel north 7 miles to Hwy 263 then take a right on Hwy 85 going East. Follow the signs to Defeated Creek Campground. You can also got to the Cordell Hull Dam and hike from that end.

DESCRIPTION
• Beautiful views
• Rocky trail
• Abundant wildlife

ACTIVITIES
• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Fishing
• Kayaking at campground

ISSUES
• Steep elevation changes
• Mountain bikes on parts of path
• Snakes

POSITIVES
• Great views
• Fishing opportunities
• Trail is secluded from a lot of hikers

SYNOPSIS
My family and I haven’t been hiking lately and decided to try this trail. After a short drive from Nashville, we arrived and set out. The beginning of the trail on the campground end was not marked well but we managed to find out way. We hiked in for 2 miles, ate lunch over the lake on a bluff, and returned. We never saw another hiker (maybe it was because the temperature was 30 degrees). Our next hike we will begin on the dam side and work our way back to the bluff where we ate lunch.

LINKS
http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/op/cor/rec/bearwaller.htm