Chronicling the Fiery Gizzard Reroute
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In 2015 and 2016, park Rangers and volunteers undertook a massive effort to reroute nearly two miles of the famed Fiery Gizzard Trail in South Cumberland State Park.
Totaling almost two miles in length, the reroutes involved crossing two canyons, skirting dramatic rock bluffs, installing a new bridge across McAlloyd Creek, building several wooden and many stone staircases, and even making repairs to the reroute after a fall, 2016 wildfire scorched over 300 acres along a portion of the reroute project. Also, here is a good article by Bob Butters that recaps the effort. A series of video updates chronicled the progress of the effort. Click on the links below to view the updates: Update #1 - Winter, 2016 Update #2 - Spring, 2016 Update #3 - Summer, 2016 Update #4 - Fall, 2016 Bonus video: Watch the crew doing "block wrangling," moving staircase stones into position on the trail. |
Volunteers lower the last stone onto a new staircase on Phase Two of the Fiery Gizzard reroute.
Funding and/or materials for the Fiery Gizzard Reroute Project were generously provided by the Lyndhurst Foundation; Tennessee Trails Association; REI Tennessee; Sequatchie Valley Electric; and the Friends of South Cumberland. Thanks also to Ellen Stamler for providing an access road to aid in delivery of materials and equipment. Special thanks to the many amazing volunteers who logged nearly 10,000 hours in the course of helping our park staff bring the reroutes to completion!
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