Join us for this fun hike and swim at one of the best "blue holes" in the area!!! This is my all-time favorite (remote) swimming hole, mainly because of its remoteness, and the tremendous privacy factor that can be enjoyed there. It has a huge rock for climbing out of the water, and for sunning.

This hike will start at a make-shift trail head located at the back end of the soccer fields parking lot behind Signal Mountain High School and will follow standard hiking trails at the beginning, followed by wider ATV trails leading up to Mushroom Rock where we will pick up the Cumberland Trail and start to descend the side of the mountain until reaching North Suck Creek which essentially divides Signal Mountain and Suck Creek Mountain.

A good portion of the hike requires hiking on, beside, and across the creek itself in order to get to the large swimming hole. You may get your feet wet on the hike into and out of the swimming hole, so be prepared for that please. Also, the total hiking distance is not the issue on this hike as much as the terrain that we will be hiking on will be. It may be more rugged with roots, rocks, mud (mostly weather dependent) and creek crossings than most beginner hikers might be used to experiencing, so please be prepared for that as well. I estimated the hike between 4-5 miles round trip, but it is probably actually more like 3-4 miles. It will most likely end up feeling more like 4-5 miles by the time we hike back up and out to the parking lot again.

I started by limiting this hike to only 20 members, but we can consider upping that number if interest demands that at a later date. I am just concerned about hiking in such a remote area with so many people whose hiking experiences might be very widely varied.

Required Items: Hiking Shoes and Warm Weather Hiking Attire, Water - 2 liters, Lunch and Snacks
Recommended Items: Camera, Swimming trunks, Trekking Poles, a Smile!

Distance: 4-5 miles
Type: -- Down and Back, Swim
Terrain: Moderate
Rating: Moderate
Expected Pace: Moderate 2mph
Expected Duration: 4-5 hrs including time for views, swim and driving

The actual addresses given for both Nolan Elementary School and Signal Mountain Middle High School are both 2650 Sam Powell Dr, Signal Mountain, TN 37377-1296 but it did not allow me to enter that address in here for the meetup location. However, if you use a GPS unit in your vehicle, you can probably just enter it in there and it should direct you to the right place (hopefully). If not, try entering the address of 4424 N Shackleford Ridge Road (which is pretty much the intersection of Shackleford Ridge Rd and Edwards Point Rd) into your GRS device and then follow my written directions from there. It will be your next left hand turn onto a road.

I plan on being at the trail head parking lot by 10 AM to meet and greet everyone arriving by 10:30 AM.

If anyone has any trouble finding Sam Powell Trail, you can call me via my cell device at (423) five-o-three, fourteen fifty-three and I should be able to help direct there over the phone.

Drive time from downtown Chattanooga: 20 Minutes

Carpool Location:TBA

Carpool Costs: Your driver will determine the actual costs, and divide among riders. Please be courteous and pay your driver. Bring cash!