North Old Mac Mountain Trail

North Old Mac Mountain Trail offers a demanding ascent of Old Mac Mountain in Frozen Head State Park, beginning along a rushing mountain creek before turning uphill onto a steep ridge. The lower section follows a clear tributary stream through hemlock-dominated gorge forest, crossing the creek multiple times on stepping stones. The upper section climbs relentlessly through increasingly remote hardwood forest to reach the Old Mac Mountain summit ridge, where filtered views hint at the expansive vistas available from nearby Frozen Head Mountain. The trail passes through some of the most botanically rich forest in the Cumberland Plateau, with spring wildflower displays including large-flowered trillium, yellow trillium, and Dutchman's breeches that carpet the forest floor in April. Frozen Head State Park protects one of the largest blocks of old-growth forest remaining on the Cumberland Plateau, and the largest trees encountered on this trail can exceed 200 years in age. The park's high annual rainfall creates near-rainforest conditions in protected coves, with mosses and liverworts covering every rock surface. No entrance fee is charged. This trail is part of the complex network used by the legendary Barkley Marathon, adding to its mystique among serious hikers and runners.