Cumberland Trail, TN – Suck Creek Rd to Edwards Point and back

This is a twelve mile in and out hike.  It is a two hour drive from the park and ride. 

The first two miles in are strenuous, as well as the last two out, but the rest of the hike is easy.  So we have four hard miles and eight easy ones. 

We start by crossing a bridge over South Suck Creek.  Then it's up over a ridge and back down to North Suck Creek, where we cross the 225 foot long swinging footbridge.  Then we go up to Mushroom Rock and turn right. 

From there it is four easy miles to Edwards Point along the bluffs of the Suck Creek Gorge.  We rock hop several small streams that pour into the gorge as we begin to pick up some really good views. 

We will eat lunch at Edwards Point, where we have a 225 degree view that includes Lookout Mountain, Signal Point, the Tennessee River Canyon, the Suck (no, I am not making this up, that is where Suck Creek flows into the Tennessee) and the buildings of downtown Chattanooga, among them the headquarters of the Krystal hamburger chain. 

Then it is on back the way we came in.

After 1.5 miles look for Burger King on the right.  That is where we will make our pit stop and gather all the cars to caravan to the trailhead.

Leave the Burger King, and continue for a  very short distance on US 127 North.  Take a left turn on Suck Creek Road or TN-27 West.  Go about seven miles.  Look for the hiker crossing sign.  That is our trail.  Go past there about four tenths of a mile and there is a parking pull over on the right.