Savage Gulf State Park (South Trailhead) — Attraction in Dunlap

Absolutely beautiful hike. Be careful of rocks. A lot down to Suter falls, which forms a unique natural amphitheater and is gorgeous. Be careful of the steep dirt grade there which leads down to the bridge. Don't be too proud to use your hands and knees if you have to. Another mile of rocks along the mountain rim, then you get a well worn path of descending switchbacks before you reach Horsepound falls. The sign for Horsepound is misleading as it points to an old washout gully which was the original descent point. Look slightly to the right and you'll see the four by fours used to make landings. Once you get back up from Horsepound, take a right at the sign and continue down the main trail and you will come to the shallow river. If you look closely, you can find a large cave opening there with an underground lake. Small, but amazing in itself. There are bear warnings at the beginning of the trail. Take them seriously. Bring repellent or at least a good hunting knife for emergency preparation. Do a little bear encounter research before you go. But honestly, we've been twice and have seen no trace of them. All falls have their own inherent beauty, but Horsepound and Suter are slightly more magical, a lot like Falls of Jericho and Virgin Falls, also in Tennessee. They are remote and moderately difficult to get to, which makes the payoff...

The beginning of the trail is a peaceful smooth trail but rather misleading for what’s to come. Be prepared for amazing, breathtaking views and a lot of maneuvering through tumbled rocks. Some have been set like steps by the kind forest rangers (or wildlife management team 🤷🏻‍♀️) but the majority of the trail I felt like Frodo or Sam climbing the face of Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings. I will have to admit that even though much of the trail was more difficult than anticipated, it was equally stunning and beautiful. We went the full treck to Horsepound falls and it was definitely worth the mud and rock climbing. I’m just glad we did it while it’s still too cold for snakes to be hiding under...

This is one of my favorite parks. This has hikes of all levels. There is even a paved trail to a nice overlook for people with mobility issues. It has top rope climbing with rappelling. This does have some moderate to difficult hikes but it is pretty easy to see them and turn around. Some of the cleanest bathrooms I have ever seen but note, there is no place to shower. Super friendly and knowledgeable staff. They have added a new pavilion with several charcoal grills that was great. I might just make my meals there instead of at the camp...