BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.4.1//EN TZID:America/New_York X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York BEGIN:VEVENT UID:403@t48.org DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211008T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211010T193000 DTSTAMP:20230404T094651Z URL:https://t48.org/events/virgin-falls-tn-backpack/ SUMMARY:Virgin Falls + Fall Creek Falls (Day Hikes) // Sunrise Campground C amping (Family Adventure Only) DESCRIPTION:20211008 Virgin Falls + Fall Creek Falls (Day Hikes) - Sunrise Campground Camping (Trip Sheet)\nCHPC to Sunrise Campground Directions (Go ogle Map Online)\n2021 Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church to Sunrise Cam pground - Google Maps (PDF)\n2021 Virgin Falls Natural Area Map na_virginf alls (PDF)\nSunrise Campground to Virgin Falls Trailhead Parking Lot Direc tions (Google Map Online)\n2021 Sunrise Campground to Virgin Falls Trailhe ad Parking - Google Maps (PDF)\n\n\n \;\nThe hike into Virgin Falls\, which will total around 9 miles going in and out\, should be considered a strenuous hike. The trail descends around 900 foot in elevation along a pa th that in many areas is rocky with uneven footing. Please allow 5 to 9 ho urs for the hike. And it is recommended to start the hike early in the day \, in order to give yourself plenty of daylight. Know your physical abilit y! And be prepared with water\, food\, and clothing for the season. All hi kers should let a family member or a friend know of their hiking plans\, a nd expected time back home. At 1.5 miles there is a cable crossing at Big Laurel Creek: if the creek is flooding\, please do not attempt to cross! O verall\, please check the forecast before heading out on this hike.\n\nHik ing to Virgin Falls and back to the parking area is a five to eight hour h ike depending on your pace and whether you hike to the Caney Fork Overlook and/or the Caney Fork River. The trail leaving the parking area meanders down to the Big Branch of the Big Laurel Creek through an upland oak-hicko ry/chestnut oak hardwood forest crisscrossing a fern dominated upland drai nage. Upon descending into the gorge the vegetation changes to hemlock and mixed mesophytic forest which includes maples\, oaks\, tulip poplar\, hic kories\, buckeye\, basswood\, cherry\, yellow birch\, sycamore\, and many more species. Mountain laurel\, magnolia and several ericaceous shrubs (su ch as various wild blueberries) are common along the trail. The trails pas s by small rockhouses\, boulder fields\, sinks\, caves\, and waterfalls on route to Virgin Falls where the trail ends. The distance to Virgin Falls is four miles one way. There are designated camping sites off the trail (s ee map). There is no camping allowed above Virgin Falls. Virgin Falls Stat e Natural Area is located in the Scott's Gulf area\, and adjacent to the B ridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness\, which also has some great tra ils. The Virgin Falls area was originally set aside in 1973 as a Pocket Wi lderness by the Bowater Pulp and Paper Corporation. It was purchased from a private landowner by the State in 2012\, partially with a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The deep gorges\, rich vegetation\, spark ling waterfalls\, and streams make this area a favorite hiking and backpac king destination. All natural and cultural features are protected. Please be sure to respect the resources\, and to take out all waste brought in. I f camping\, please leave your campsite in as good as\, or better shape tha n you found it.\n2021 Gilbert Gaul Tril Map fcfGG (PDF)\nSunrise Campgroun d to Gilbert Gaul Trail Parking Lot Directions (Google Map Online)\n2021 S unrise Campground to Gilbert Gaul Loop Trail Parking Lot Google Maps (PDF) \n\nGILBERT GAUL LOOP: Park at the gate of Group\nCamp #2. The trail begin s on the left of the paved\nroad and follows an old dirt road for a level .8 miles.\nStay straight at the beginning of the hike where\nanother old r oad branches off to the left (this is a\nreturn). The dirt road goes downh ill into an open\nfield\, close to the site of the Gilbert Gaul homestead\ ,\nand finally on to the head of the lake. Here the road\nends and the tra il really begins leading off to the\nleft. Follow the lake for 1.1 miles t o the Frazier Ran\nShelter. It is then 1.35 miles from the shelter to the\ ncabins. Shortly before reaching the cabins\, the main\ntrail leaves the l ake and goes up a gentle hill for .2\nmiles. This section of the trail was nicknamed the\nfern line. At the top of the hill go right on another\nold road and it’s .45 miles back to the trailhead.\nNOTE: 1. The trail is n ew however\, it follows a road\nor a lake so it should not be hard to foll ow. 2. The\ntrail can also be accessed from the end of the Villas\n(cabins ) but this trailhead should only be used by Inn\nor Cabin guests\nGilbert Gaul Trail Parking Lot to CHPC Directions (Google Map Online)\n2021 Gilbe rt Gaul Loop Parking Lot to Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church - Google Maps (PDF)\n CATEGORIES:Adventure,Family Adventure LOCATION:Sunrise Campground\, 300 Fall Creek Camp Road\, Pikeville\, TN\, 3 7367\, United States X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=300 Fall Creek Camp Road\, Pikeville\, TN\, 37367\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Sunrise Campground:geo:0,0 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York X-LIC-LOCATION:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20210314T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR