If you want a true multi-day wilderness adventure, the trails leading from the Savage Gulf East trailhead can provide it.  There are many ways you can thread together an exploration of the eastern half of Savage Gulf, but this itinerary is one good way to explore the territory and enjoy two nights of camping adventure.

The hikes that begin at Savage Gulf East are long but rewarding — so remember to pack plenty of food and water; wear sturdy hiking boots; pack a flashlight or headlamp (just in case); and don’t forget your hiking poles!  These hikes are not for beginners; work up to them, if you’re not used to hiking 9-12 miles per day.  Many of the other shorter, hikes in Savage Gulf are great for practice!

Day One is all about getting to the park, and getting settled in for the adventures to come.  So, for your first night, you’ll want to make a reservation to stay either at the Savage Station Campground, which is adjacent to the parking area at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead, or a couple of miles into the wilderness to stay at the Savage Falls Campground.  NOTE: All camping in the park requires a reservation, and sites fill up well in advance.  So make your reservation at https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/savage-gulf/campsites.

Depending on what time you arrive, you may want to take a short hike before setting up camp for the night. From the Savage Gulf East trailhead, begin by hiking about 1-1/4 miles of the Savage Day Loop, out to its junction with the South Rim Trail.

Just after you start out on the South Rim Trail, you’ll cross a cable trail bridge across Savage Creek. About a half mile out, you’ll come to Savage Falls, a compact but beautiful waterfall with a scenic plunge pool.  In the springtime, this area is filled with blooming rhododendron. Nearby is the Savage Falls Campground, your other option for Night One in Savage Gulf.  In any case, make your campsite reservation at https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/savage-gulf/campsites.

On Day Two, take the historic Stagecoach Trail toward the large end of Savage Creek canyon, there are many beautiful overlooks, at miles 1.3, 1.6, 2.8, 4.0, 4.1, 4.3 and 4.5.  Around Mile 3-1/2, look for the site of an old moonshine still, on the left.

Near Mile 6, you’ll arrive at the intersection with the Stagecoach and Collins Rim trails.  This could be a good time for lunch; or, if that's enough hiking for Day Two (and you'd like to have time to explore this area further) you have the option of booking a campsite at the Stagecoach Road Campground, which is located near the trail intersection.  Be sure to take a second look at the overlooks; as the sun angle changes during the day, it reveals entirely new vistas and details in the Savage Creek canyon below.  Around miles 3 and 4, a good bit of what you’re looking at in the canyon is what’s known as “old growth forest” — areas where the trees have never been harvested for timber; meaning, they’ve grown to their full, mature size.  Look around at the trees where you’re standing — most of them are “second growth,” meaning this area has been cut at least once and likely two or three times since the arrival of European settlers in this area, in the 1820s.

Assuming you've elected to camp at the Stagecoach Road Campground, Day Three begins an even bigger adventure, taking you to some of the lowest and highest points in Savage Gulf.  You begin by descending the winding, stacked-stone and very historic Stagecoach Road.  Many of these "dry stack" retaining walls were said to be built by enslaved laborers, before the Civil War.  It is a testament to their skill that these walls, which contain no cement or external reinforcement, still stand to this day.

At the bottom of Savage Gulf, the Stagecoach Road trail intersects with the Connector Trail, aptly named because it connects many of the other major trails in Savage Gulf State Park.  From here, you can go to just about any other part of the park, but for the purposes of our itinerary, turn right and follow the Connector Trail across Savage Creek and then uphill.

After a steep, rocky ascent on the Connector Trail, you’ll arrive at Hobbs Cabin and Campground.  This cabin belonged to Joe Hobbs, an early settler of Savage Gulf, who lived here over 100 years ago.  You can either use the campground, or stay in Joe Hobbs' actual cabin (subject to availability; again, reserve early if you want to stay there!). As you spend the evening here, try to imagine what it must have been like to live here on a daily basis — a challenging, yet beautiful place to call home.

On Day Four, from the Hobbs Cabin Campground, you have two choices: (1)head out to the North Pleateau Trail, and explore some of the highest terrain in the park; or (2) "stick to the rim" and take the North Rim Trail, which has some great views of the Savage Creek canyon.  

Both trails will ultimately bring you back to your starting point at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead. You may even wish to add a fourth night to your itinerary and stay at either the Savage Station or Savage Falls Campground (perhaps whichever one you didn't use at the beginning of your journey).

If you choose the North Plateau Trail, you’ll quickly come to the overlook of Coppinger Gulf, one of the more remote canyons in the Savage Gulf area. About 4-1/2 miles along on the North Plateau Trail, you’ll enter an area of outstanding (nearly “old growth”) hardwood forest.  You’ll also traverse areas of dense mountain laurel, and cross several old jeep roads. 

About six miles in, you’ll notice a wider, very flat, straight trail bed.  This is the remnant of an old narrow-gauge logging railroad grade from the early 1900s, known as the ‘Dinky Line’, which was used to bring huge logs out of areas being timbered at that time.  

If you've had enough for this day, you can stay at the nearby Dinky Line Campground, and have a short hike out to your car the next morning.

Instead, however, if you choose the North Rim Trail, you'll get to look at the Savage Creek canyon from the side opposite of where you hiked on Day Two.  You’ll be hiking this trail back toward the trailhead, so the mile markers will “count you down” as you head toward your final destination.

Because you’ll be following the rim of Savage Creek canyon, there will be many small streams and nearly a dozen breathtaking overlooks along the way. About three miles in, you’ll come to the Yellow Bluff Overlook; at 200 feet in height, this is Savage Gulf’s tallest bluff.

Not far past the Yellow Bluff Overlook, you’ll arrive at the intersection with the Mountain Oak Trail, a short (0.8 mile) connector between the North Rim and North Plateau trails.  If time permits, explore the Mountain Oak Trail, which has some of the best stands of shortleaf pine in the Savage Gulf area.

Returning to the North Rim Trail, turn left to continue your return to the trailhead.  About 4-1/2 miles in, you’ll come to an overlook created by a cliff fall (rockslide) which wiped out everything from plateau top to creek bottom in January of 1984.

A mile beyond the cliff fall are several nice overlooks of Savage and Meadow creeks; and half mile further, you’ll cross the cable trail bridge across Meadow Creek, which ought to look familiar; you crossed it, headed in the opposite direction, yesterday morning.

A quarter mile past the bridge, you’ll once again pick up the Savage Day Loop Trail; you’re about 2 miles from the “finish line”, back at the trailhead kiosk at Savage Gulf East.

No matter which campgrounds or trail options you choose, this is a  full four days of adventure and fun in one of the most pristine wilderness areas in eastern North America.  Take only photos, leave only footprints, and collect tons of great memories along the way!