Oct 22, 2026. Bearwaller Gap Trail (about 12 miles out-and-back with around 2300 feet of elevation gain) and Turkey Creek Nature Trail (just over 1 mile with 88 ft of gain). Both are NRTs.

Proud of my knees for handling today. Both now wear K-tape, and one sports a brace. Neither are completely happy at the moment, but each put forth solid effort during these hikes, and together they carried me through.

Bearwaller Gap Trail runs along Cordell Hull Lake in north-central TN and goes up and down a myriad of PUDS. One climb in particular was fun – straight up and forever with no switchbacks. Saw lots of deer, including three that did not hear me coming in spite of my crunchy footsteps. One noticed me when I stopped moving, and it let out a loud snort which means, I suppose, “Ack! Run Away!” The three took off. Thinking of the bear in WI that did the same thing when I quietly turned a blind corner and almost ran into it.

I have not done this much elevation gain in one day in quite a while, and most of me felt strong and good after the hike. Tired, but good. I even climbed to the overlook by the trailhead parking area when I got back to the car and took in the sights of the lake from up high.

Drove to the nearby Turkey Creek Nature Trail by the Cordell Hull Lake Visitor Center and made quick work of the paved loop and its unpaved extension. This was a simple jaunt through the woods adjacent to the VC.

There is another National Recreation Trail in the Cordell Hull Lake vicinity, but it was made for horses and remains an equestrian trail. Though hiking on it is not technically disallowed, I’ll leave equestrian trails for the equestrians.