Big Soddy Creek Gulf — Attraction in Soddy-Daisy

The creek is gorgeous and one of my favorite spots in town to visit. But please god, if you visit here stop leaving trash !! I’ve been visiting almost weekly for a year and it’s gotten bad lately. Makes me so mad that people just leave trash all over this beautiful place. And they have trash cans !! I wish the people who run the park would ban picnicking honestly. There’s unfortunately often broken glass, cans, wrappers strewn about. On the weekends people set up for hours with loud music and can’t be bothered to clean up after themselves. I love that this park is beginner friendly I I have been able to bring older and even elderly family members here. But unfortunately the ease of this park brings in people who don’t actually care about the park. I’ve never seen this at other trails and parks I go to. Please keep the area clean for your neighbors and the animals !! I would love if this place could be patrolled more and that offenders be held accountable for their mess. Oh and there’s often dogs off their leashes too. I’m sorry, I don’t care how well trained your dog is. That’s a safety issue. There’s a lot of entitlement with the crowds who come here and it’s very unfortunate. There’s a lot of wonderful , kind, a courteous people who come here, but there’s a lot of people ruining the place too. I feel bad for the staff that has to do...

Big Soddy Creek Gulf, March 25, 2023

On Friday, Bob and I took Milo and Sophie for a walk along Big Soddy Creek Gulf in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. The wide trail runs between the sandstone cliffs and a large creek rivaling some rivers in the state. With the recent rains, the creek was running fast, and there were rivulets of water seeping off the cliffs. Some trees were beginning to bud, but most were still bare, making a path usually shaded very sunny.

The sun is the catalyst for the emergence of early spring flowers, and we saw large displays of Carolina jessamine cascading off the trees and rocks. Contrasting with the bright yellow were the deep-pink redbud flowers. The cliffsides were painted with violets, blue phlox, wood sorrel, and rue anemone.

I even saw one blooming trout lily and a budding red buckeye. A sure sign of spring was in the wet furrows beneath the rocks, where I caught a glimpse of a small frog and spotted a school of tadpoles in the water and a trio of tiger swallowtails pudding in the mud.

Milo and Sophie didn’t seem to notice the flowers or butterflies but were focused on the other dogs and their people companions on the trail. There were many great smells for them to investigate, and they kept Bob busy zigzagging along the trail.

It was a beautiful day...

This trail is nothing short of amazing and magical, especially if you have small children. So when you first arrive, there is a big gravel parking lot if you drive to the right around the corner under the bridge there is a smaller parking lot that is closer to the entrance; The trail starts just behind the big yellow gate that you can’t drive through. It’s not by any means ADA compliant, but I could still get my wife in her wheelchair and down the trail to the swimming hole and picnic area. The first swimming area you’ll see is a bit treacherous and you have to climb down not good for kids because it is deeper, but not much further is the main swimming hole once you see the Porter potty on the right you’ll know you’re there! I can’t wait to come back and get wet this summer. The water rushes and has such a gorgeous sound, and there was butterflies everywhere. It is so beautiful it’s the best swim spot I’ve been to yet after 2 years living in Chattanooga. Also the train on the bridge can be very loud so if you bring an infant maybe pack some ear...