Signal Point to Mushroom Rock

4.12.14    Our Saturday hike for the Soddy Daisy Chapter was listed as Signal Point to Signal Mountain High School.  Approximately 8 miles.  Strenuous.  Our hike leader for this trip was George Bonneau and he coordinated the staging of vehicles at Signal Point as well as Signal Mtn. High School.  I believe this is one of the more popular hikes around the Chattanooga area since it has awesome views of the Tennessee River Gorge from several different vantage points.  Also it’s the southern tip of the Cumberland range and the southern terminus of our beloved Cumberland Trail.  With that said we only had five devoted hikers sign up for this trek.  That may have been due to the almost perfect weather we experienced and with the promise of rain by the first of the week it would have been an opportune time to catch up on some early Spring chores around the house.  Personally my motto is why work around the house when there is a great hike to take advantage of… the work will always be there waiting on you but the call of the trail with great company is overwhelming.

We exited the Signal Point Overlook and descended the steps to reach the trail below.  Once on the trail you’re challenged with several segments of rocky sections of trail on this side of the Middle Creek Gorge and a great view of the seasonal Julia Falls across the Gorge which happened to be running fairly well today.  Next we made it to the Middle Creek Suspension Bridge and began ascending steadily upwards towards Lockhart Arch where finally the trail sort of levels off and you’re treated to hiking along ledges, between boulders and several small creek crossings which includes the Julia Falls Creek as we were travelling towards Edwards Point.  We finally made it to Edwards Point and were greeted by none other than a gaggle of ATV’ers  whom I believe mentioned they were from a club around Cleveland and Harriman, Tn.  It was entertaining to watch several grown men crawl over to the rocks’ edge at Edwards Point to look down below while we were having our lunch/snack for the day.  It a shame that this beautiful Overlook is littered around the area with aluminum beer cans.  I guess the easy access to Edwards Point makes it prime for this type of treatment when no one is looking.  We then packed up and headed for Mushroom Rock and since this portion of the CT was new to me I was eagerly awaiting what new wonders I would find along the way and I wasn’t disappointed.  It began with some Overlooks of Raccoon Mtn. & Suck Creek Gorge and then there was an abundance of Rhododendron and Mtn. Laurel which was just beginning to bud out for their picture perfect viewing in late Spring, the multiple seasonal creek crossings and finally the arrival at Mushroom Rock and a new surprise awaiting us there.  I arrived ahead of the others and found tucked on a rock ledge, below the boulder on top, an Official Geocache box – the first I've come across along the CT.  After a short water break we headed out along an unmarked trail/road bed leading to the Signal Mtn. High School parking lot where we called it a day.   I hope many of you took advantage of the trails in your area today for a little rejuvenation of the soul!  Happy Hiking Everyone!  For some beautiful pictures, click here or on the Signal Point tab above.

Larry