March 3, 2005 - Collins Gulf Loop

  

On March 3, 2005, I went on my most strenuous hiking trip yet. I decided to go on the Collins Gulf Loop Hike. The trip goes down Collins Gulf, then briefly takes Connector Trail to Stagecoach Historical Trail. The Stagecoach Trail goes up the to the East Rim of Collins Gulf, which is where the Collins Gulf Trail actually starts. But at this point, the trail follows the East Rim of Collins Gulf. I had never been on the first five miles of this trail. The Collins Gulf Trail alone is 9.9 miles long.
Trail map below
I got started at the Collins Gulf Access at 8:10am. As usual, the first stop was at the Collins Gulf Overlook. I will hike all the way down this gulf and then come back on the East rim (right side of photo).
The temperature outside on this morning is in the 20's, so I had to deal with the ice problems on the way down to Suter Falls.

I found the creeks and streams to have slightly more flow than I normally see due to recent rain and snow.

Before reaching Suter Falls, I reach the loop junction. I will end up right back at this very spot sometime later in the day.
Suter Falls was spectacular as ever.

Even with slight increase in flow, I was able to cross the creek without any problems and without getting wet.
Horsepound Falls - The Collins River
This time I was determined to find and get a photo of the Horsepound sink. After seeing the Fall Creek disappear into a cave, I hiked up the dry Collins Riverbed in search of the sink. I didn't have to go far. I got to see Horsepound Falls from a different angle than one normally sees (left photo). In the right photo is where the full flow of the Collins River sinks underground. It was really a strange sight, and I had the feeling I was walking on quick sand around this area.
After reaching the end of the Collins Gulf Trail, I took Connector trail over to Stagecoach Historic Trail. This trail follows an old toll road that was authorized for construction in the 1840's to connect McMinnville and Chattanooga. This  section of the road has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The trail climbs 800 feet in 1.6 miles. During most of the ascent, Stone Door can be seen way off in the distance. The last time I was on this trail was 9 years ago.

This waterfall, appropriately named Skinny Falls can be seen about 2/3's of the way up the Stagecoach Historic Trail.

In the photos below, you can see the rock walls that where constructed 175 years ago to hold up the road!
I had hiked about seven miles when I reached the rim of Collins Gulf. Along the East rim of Collins Gulf, the trail has several great overlooks. The best one was no doubt Horsepound Point (photo below). Horsepound Falls, although out of view from the overlook, is directly below this cliff, about 500 feet down into the gulf. In the background, you can see where Savage and Collins Gulfs meet.
This cliff on the other side of the gulf is actually the Collins Gulf Overlook, where this journey began. And of course where it will end. It will be about another four miles before I reach that point.
After hiking on the rim for about five miles, the Collins Gulf Trail rapidly descends down to a suspension bridge crossing the Collins River. From this point, the Collins Gulf Overlook is just over a mile away. But it is a very difficult mile. A series of boulder fields must be crossed to get there. The fact that a lot of these boulders where still covered in snow made it even slower.

Finally I reached the loop junction. Again, I can hear the rushing water of Suter Falls. Even with the outside temperature reaching into the mid 50's, there is still plenty of ice. Finally I reached the Collins Gulf Overlook.
I hiked a total of 14.7 miles in eight and a half hours.