Fiery Gizzard Trail

Fiery Gizzard Trail has earned a reputation as the most challenging and rewarding day hike in Tennessee, traversing the Fiery Gizzard Creek gorge system over 12.5 miles of rugged sandstone terrain. The trail descends from the Cumberland Plateau rim into one of the Southeast's most spectacular gorges, named according to local legend from an incident involving frontiersman Davy Crockett who supposedly burned his tongue on a piece of gizzard while hunting in the area. The route follows the creek through a narrow, boulder-choked gorge with towering sandstone walls, passing numerous waterfalls, swimming holes, and dramatic rock formations. Blue Hole, a deep azure pool at the base of a sandstone cliff, is perhaps the most photographed natural feature along the trail. The point-to-point format requires a car shuttle between the Grundy Forest trailhead in Tracy City and the Fiery Gizzard trailhead in Palmer. The cumulative elevation change of 2,200 feet comes in repeated steep descents and climbs rather than a single sustained grade, making this continuously demanding rather than merely long. No entrance fee is charged. This trail is typically done in spring or fall due to summer heat. A backcountry permit is recommended for overnight stays at designated campsites along the route.