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Located just east of
Crossville and just west of Knoxville, the Cumberland Trail offers a
quiet alternative to the Appalachian Trail and Smokey Mountain National
Park. This is the Grassy Cove
Segment that is just south of I-40 and a short drive from Knoxville and Nashville. The hike requires a shuttle or is a decent
out-and-back day hike. The trail
is not too rocky or too wet, but covers enough altitude. You start down in the valley
(Cumberland Trailhead) off of Hwy 68 (from the Crossville Exit). If you shuttle you need to drop the
other car off on the south end of the Brady Mountain Trail
(alternatively, you could out-and-back the Black Mountain Trail to the
north). Right away you climb up
to the top of Brady Mountain and can kind of see the
farmland below to the west and east along the ridge. On top there’s
plenty of giant boulders to take a rest on (see below). A little bit further along the ridge
is Brady Bluff—kind of hidden off on a side trail that is on the
east side. Brady Bluff offers
some pretty great views (see below) of the farmland valley between the
Cumberland Ridge and the Smokey Mountains. (more
info)
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The top of Brady Mountain
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The climb up Brady Mountain
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