John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged trails · everything

www.islands.com

Between Nashville And Chattanooga Is Tennessee's Wildly Underrated State Park With Scenic Trails And Lakes

Fiery Gizzard State Park is one of three new Tennessee state parks carved out of the sprawling South Cumberland State Park between 2022 and 2025, and at roughly 7,800 acres it's the largest of the trio, inheriting the famous Fiery Gizzard Trail, waterfalls, gorges, and Grundy Lakes. The piece is a practical primer covering trail options and difficulty, rock climbing rules at Foster Falls and Denny Cove, fishing and non-motorized boating on the lakes, primitive camping costs, nearby towns like Monteagle and Tracy City, and swimming/beach access — useful for anyone planning a visit now that the old South Cumberland name and boundaries no longer apply. Worth keeping as a trip-planning reference for this lesser-known but highlight-packed replacement park.

Permalink hikingcampingunderratedtravel

www.islands.com

Between Knoxville And Atlanta Is An Underrated Georgia Mountain Lake With Scenic Camping And Trails

Georgia's Lake Winfield Scott gets pitched as a quiet, uncrowded alternative to Atlanta and Savannah tourism, tucked in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest near Vogel State Park. The piece covers the practical stuff worth remembering: the 18-acre CCC-built lake allows only paddle/electric boats and fishing with a license, three connecting trails (including links to the Appalachian Trail) form a 6-mile loop rated highly on AllTrails, and campsites split into north/south loops plus a 10-person cabin. It also lays out booking logistics — reservable April–August, first-come-first-served otherwise, $26-50/night, three-night minimums on holiday weekends, and roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Atlanta's airport.

Permalink hikingcampingtravelstate parks

www.backpacker.com

The 37 Best Waterfall Hikes in America

This is a roundup piece that compiles four previous waterfall-hike lists into one reference: a 20-fall national ticklist (top pick Alamere Falls, CA), a personal-favorites list highlighting spots like Ricketts Glen, PA, a Colorado-specific list of 12 falls curated by a local guidebook writer, and a bonus list of frozen winter waterfalls like the Apostle Islands ice caves. It closes with practical safety tips—checking flow conditions, wearing proper footwear, and avoiding common accident scenarios near ledges and swift water—making it useful as a season-spanning planning resource rather than a single curated list.

Permalink hikingtravelnational parkswaterfalls

www.outsideonline.com

The Best Trails Around Asheville, According to a Local Hiker

Sandra Aguirre founded Latinos Aventureros, a 7,000-member bilingual hiking group in western North Carolina, after discovering that mountain hiking helped her recover from depression following her divorce. What began as personal hikes with her three children evolved into weekly group outings focused on introducing the BIPOC community to outdoor recreation across the Blue Ridge Mountains region. The piece includes Aguirre's personalized guide to Asheville, featuring her favorite spots for coffee, swimming holes, sunsets, restaurants, and breweries.

Permalink hikingnorth carolinatravelwaterfalls

www.outsideonline.com

Highway 19E Is the Most Underrated Road Trip

Highway 19E, a 60-mile stretch of North Carolina and Tennessee backroad north of Asheville, connects eight major outdoor destinations within 25 minutes of the main road, including Mount Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi), Linville Gorge, Grandfather Mountain, and sections of the Appalachian Trail known for exceptional hiking and scenery. The piece details each attraction—from strenuous mountain hikes and wilderness camping to waterfalls, mysterious Brown Mountain Lights, and world-class trout fishing—with practical information about trailheads, difficulty levels, permits, and seasonal considerations for planning a multi-stop adventure through southern Appalachia.

Permalink hikingcampingnorth carolinaroad trips

www.outsideonline.com

The Best Hike in Every State

This is a state-by-state guide to the best single hike in each of the 50 United States, selected by the publication's writers and editors based on considerations like scenic beauty, terrain variety, and distinctive features. Each entry includes a brief description of the hike's route, elevation gain, length, and what makes it noteworthy—whether that's waterfalls, alpine views, cultural landmarks, or wildlife encounters. The selections range from accessible short walks like Michigan's Pyramid Point (easy family-friendly dune views) to challenging multi-day backpacking routes like Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness and the John Muir Trail in California.

Permalink hikingtraveladventurenational parks

www.mensjournal.com

Nine Trails Added to U.S. National Trails System

The Interior Department added 340 miles of new trails across nine states to the National Trail System, bringing the total to over 91,000 miles, with all nine newly designated trails classified as National Recreation Trails rather than the longer scenic or historic trail categories. The additions range from a one-mile garden trail in Alabama to a 158-mile water trail spanning Wisconsin and Illinois, and include greenways, nature parks, and mountain biking destinations designed to support outdoor recreation and local economies.

Permalink hikingnational parksnewsoutdoor

www.youtube.com