Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness

Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness Is Wild. The urban wilderness is gaining national recognition for it’s expansive multi-use trail system and learning resources all of which are practically downtown Knoxville. The trail system boasts over 100 miles of trail connecting five primary areas including: Ijams Nature Center, William Hastie Natural Area, Anderson School Trails, South Loop Trails and the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area.

“I love the Urban Wilderness area!” said Karen Smothers. “When I get off work downtown I can be here in minutes. I can take a leisurely walk, get a hard core work out on my bike, take a class at Ijams or just immerse myself in nature. Who could ask for more in the middle of a major metropolitan area?”

There are many miles of trails that traverse city, county, state and private lands connecting parks, neighborhoods, schools, natural areas and historic sites. The trails are rated from easy to very difficult so know your abilities to stay out of trouble.

The South Loop area is perfect for all hiking skill levels with a nice 12.5 mile loop that will bring you back to your vehicle. The area is comprised of 1,000 plus acres and more than 70 miles of trail. This area offers a variety of terrain and we recommend checking the difficulty level before starting out. Access can be found at 2915 Island Home Ave., 3518 Island Home Pike, 1302 Margaret Rd., 3140 McClure Lane and 5907 Burnett Creek Road
Knoxville, TN 37920.

William Hastie Natural Area boasts natural surface trails that provide unique challenges to hikers, bikers and trail runners. There are more than four miles of single track mountain bike trails to challenge the adventurous riders  and gentler double wide tracks for the less adventurous. Access to this area can be found at 1302 Margaret Road.

The Anderson School Area trails have an easy grade though a pleasant wooded valley which leads into the Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area. This portion of the wilderness does traverse private property so please respect property owners rights while enjoying these trails. Access can be found at 4808 Prospect Lane.

The Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area is a mix of ancient game trails, hunting trails and recent trails created by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. The paved Will Skelton Greenway is also included in this area connecting it to Ijams Nature Center and other natural surface trails. The trails provide challenges for multiple skill levels so be sure and check the level of difficulty before starting out. This is an active hunting area so be mindful during hunting season and dress appropriately. This area can be accessed at 3140 McClure Lane 5907 Burnett Creek Road.

Ijams Nature Center may be considered the crown jewel of the wilderness area. A long time Knoxville staple for outdoor education and experiences. Ijams’s boasts many miles of trail and regular programs and activities for its patrons. Keep check on HeySmokies.com daily events calendar for scheduled activities. Ijams Nature Center is located at 2915 Island Home Avenue.

Smoky Mountain Corvette Expo

Smoky Mountain Corvette Expo at LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee will be a roaring good time. The expo is scheduled for March 15th and 16th, 2019. This Smoky Mountain special event will have FREE parking at the event center. Show up early and stay late for the flight judging, swap meet, sales corral, park-n-show, diamond awards and more.

The Corvette Dragon Cruise is always a fan favorite and this year it includes the latest addition to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a ride on the newly completed middle section of the Foothills Parkway. The parkway connects beautiful Wears Valley to Walland Tennessee and is one of the most scenic drives in the state! The cruise length is 56.3 miles and the start time is 4:30 p.m March 15, 2019. The cruise is expected to last approximately one and a half hours.

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Smoky Mountain Saint Patrick’s Day Events

Smoky Mountain Saint Patrick’s Day Events. You don’t need the luck of the Irish to find plenty of fun this Saint Patrick’s Day. These ancient mountains are steeped in Scotch-Irish history and tradition. Even the landscape brings to mind the emerald green hills of Ireland. Here are a few holiday hints that will point you toward your pot of gold on one of our favorite holidays.

The Fox and Parrot Tavern in Gatlinburg offers a variety of delicious holiday craft beers in a friendly atmosphere. This tavern has long been a favorite for locals and for good reason. Their bill of fare boasts such Irish staples as corned beef and cabbage along with other menu items that includes delicious steaks and chicken dishes. Discerning diners will find something to please their palate and can wash it all down with a cold, green beer.

The Facebook group Smoky Mountain Hikertrash is hosting a group hike to beautiful Ramsey Cascades. This amazing waterfall is found in the Greenbrier area of the Smokies and is one of the tallest waterfalls accessible by a maintained trail in the national park. The hike, an eight mile round trip, traverses some of the most beautiful old growth forest in the region. The hike is considered strenuous and participants should be prepared for any type weather. The hike, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2019, begins at the Ramsey Cascades trailhead and ends at approximately 4:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring lunch, snacks and water as well as basic hiking essentials.

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park Announces New Chief Ranger

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Announces New Chief Ranger. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials tapped Lisa Hendy as the Park’s first female Chief Ranger. When she assumes her new position in April, Hendy will oversee employees in the Resource and Visitor Protection Division who perform law enforcement duties, wildland fire operations, emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, backcountry operations, and staff the emergency communications center.

Hendy is well qualified for the job and brings a wealth of experience. She has served at several parks with complex ranger operations including Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Arches National Park, and Rocky Mountains National Park. She is currently the Chief Ranger at Big Bend National Park.

“Lisa has demonstrated incredible leadership in managing law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue operations at some of the nation’s busiest parks,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “She’s built strong programs by investing in local partnerships with neighboring agencies to help make areas safer for visitors and residents. She is going to be a great addition to the park’s management team.”

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Healthy Black Bear Returns Home.

Healthy black bear returns home. Willow Bear returned to National Park by Appalachian Bear Rescue. Willow Bear (named upon arrival at ABR) was returned safely to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after several months of rehab at Appalachian Bear Rescue.

Willow arrived at the rescue facility on June 5, 2018, after a man from Cocke County discovered two cubs that had been hit by a car. After placing a call to ABR, the man waited at the scene for two hours hoping the cub’s mother would return. When she did not (and given the condition of the two small bears) he took them home. ABR contacted the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, TWRA,  which dispatched an officer who transported the cubs to the University Of Tennessee College Of Veterinary Medicine.

Unfortunately Willow’s sibling did not survive and doctors held out scant hope

for little Willow who was judged to be about four months old and weighed only 8.8 pounds. Willow was so unresponsive it seemed unlikely she’d survive the examination. But Drs. McEntire and Cushing, and their entire team were determined to try and save her.

Suspecting a skull fracture, the vets sent her for x-rays which revealed that at some point in her short life, Willow had suffered a broken rib, since healed. There was no evidence of damage to her skull and an ultrasound found no fluid in her abdomen. The doctors administered a saline solution to hydrate her…and almost immediately she was able to stand. Severe dehydration will often render a cub immobile and all it takes is fluid to revive them. The vets advised the curator they wanted to keep Willow overnight for observation.

This precaution proved unnecessary. The curator had no sooner arrived back at the facility when he got a call informing him that Willow was active and ready to relocate to ABR.

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