Greeter Falls
Location: 35.4342651, -85.696228
Parking
Location: 35.4460182, -85.6564789
Follow Stone Door Trail
This easy trail begins at the Stone Door Ranger Station and follows a paved path to the Stone Door overlook. This trail is about a 1 hour hike. (Restrooms, water and telephone).
0.0 Begin at Stone Door Ranger Station Parking Lot.
0.2 To the left is Laurel Gulf Overlook with view of Laurel Creek gorge and Stone Door bluff to the right.
0.5 A small stream, sometimes dry.
0.9 Trail Junction (Big Creek Rim to right (Alum Gap Camp 3.2), Big Creek Gulf & Stone Door straight ahead), Stone Door overlooks left & straight.
Stone Door overlook
Location: 35.4401487, -85.6491137
From here take the Big Creek Gulf Trail
This rough, challenging trail leads through the gorge below and to the west of Stone Door. Hikers may return via Laurel or Big Creek Rim trails. This trail will wear you out. An over night stay at Alum Gap Camp is recommended. Small boulders and rocks must be traversed at many places on this demanding trail. This trail is about a 4-5 hour hike.
0.0 Trail begins from Stone Door Trail above the overlooks, then steeply descends through the Stone Door passageway to some wood steeps. This is a favorite spot for top rope repelling.
0.1 The descent continues down extremely rocky slopes. This is the most difficult part of the trail.
0.9 Connector trail to left, Big Creek Gulf Trail to right.
Intersection with Connector Trail
Location: 35.4378128, -85.6452866
-0.9 Connector trail to left, Big Creek Gulf Trail to right.
1.2 Old logging road to left leads to several resurgent springs where the creek re-emerges after a 2 mile underground stretch.
2.0 Ranger Falls to left. This side trail leads to the falls and sink of Ranger Creek. Round trip to falls is one mile.
(distances from beginning for BCG Sec 1)
side trail to Ranger Creek Falls
Location: 35.4277229, -85.6572647
This side trail leads to the falls and sink of Ranger Creek. Round trip to falls is one mile.
After returning from the falls, continue on Big Creek Gulf Trail:
2.0 Ranger Falls to left. This side trail leads to the falls and sink of Ranger Creek. Round trip to falls is one mile.
2.6 Sinks Trail to left; this short spur leads to where Big Creek usually disappears under an imposing, unstable limestone bluff.
3.5 An old landslide has opened a view of the surrounding cliffs, the largest being 'Big Bluff' to the west. After a steep ascent the trail rejoins the logging road.
4.0 Laurel trail begins to left, Big Creek Rim trail to the right. Alum gap camp area.
(distances from beginning of BCG Section 1)
Ranger Falls
Location: 35.4215965, -85.6607132
Sinks
Location: 35.4300804, -85.6670914
trail to the left
landslide view
Location: 35.4319801, -85.6786041
Alum Gap Campsite
Location: 35.4341469, -85.6837921
Camp details: Camp has pit toilets but no piped in water. Water can be filtered from near by stream if conditions have not been dry.
In the morning, take Big Creek Rim trail back to the parking lot.
(in REVERSE order)
This easy trail follows the edge of the plateau above the Big Creek Gulf. It begins from the Stone Door trail and ends at Alum Gap Camp Area. Some nice overlooks can be accessed along this 3.2 mile trail. Camp sites 8 & 9 lead to a nice overlook. Camp has pit toilets but no piped in water. Water can be filtered from near by stream if conditions have not been dry. Closest water when dry is Greeter Falls 1.4 miles. This trail is about a 2.0 hour hike
0.0 Trail begins form the Stone Door Trail near the overlook.
0.3 Split Rock Overlook, Stone Door cliffs to far left.
1.6 Sinks Overlook, at the bottom of the gorge a limestone cliff marks the area where Big Creek goes underground most of the year.
2.5 Pine Rock Overlook
2.7 Big Creek Overlook, the stream can be seen down and to the right. A beautiful intricate bluff is also to the right.
3.2 Alum Gap Camp Area. The junction of Laurel trail, Greeter trail and Big Creek Gulf trail.
overlook
Location: 35.4401836, -85.6498003
descent
Location: 35.4394144, -85.6489849
on Big Creek Gulf trail heading to bottom
Big Creek Gulf
Location: 35.4345193, -85.6469893
Alum Gap campsite
Location: 35.4343095, -85.6833386
large airy campsites overlooking gulf. i think there were about 12 sites
Greeter Trail overlook
Location: 35.4318618, -85.6856561
Greeter Falls
Location: 35.4340297, -85.696106
Starting at the parking lot, this route takes Stone Door Trail to Big Creek Gulf (camp at Alum Gap) to Big Creek Rim, back to Stone Door Trail and the parking lot. Dogs are allowed on leashes. No bear sightings reported - no bear vault needed. Water is available for filtering. Register at trailhead.
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