Wade Mountain Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Waterfall · Wildflowers

This hike features a little bit of everything--paved greenways, well-worn doubletrack, and forested singletrack. In your exploration of Wade Mountain, keep an eye open for a seasonal waterfall and interesting rock formations on the slopes of Wade Mountain. There will be some tougher sections where you'll have to watch your footing, and the trail gets a bit overgrown (especially in the summer months). Though you won't have the views you get from hiking on the eastern side of the preserve, the forested trails make for a charming hike in their own way.

Keep an eye open for snakes, and check for ticks post hike.

From the trailhead off of Pulaski Pike road, start your hike on the Wade Mountain Greenway. The first 0.9 miles of this trail is a paved greenway before converting over into an actual trail. The last 0.3 miles of trail ascends just over 100 feet and intersects with the Cotton Valley Trail twice before ending at a "T" intersection with the Bostick Trail and Fossil Bench Trail. After the second intersection with the Cotton Valley Trail, the grade increases and is much rockier and more challenging.

From that "T" intersection, the Fossil Bench Trail heads south and the Bostick Trail heads north. For the loop as mapped here, pick up the Fossil Bench Trail. This trail runs along a natural bench on Wade Mountain on what was an old logging road. A majority of the trail is doubletrack with some large flat rocks that can be slippery when wet. At the 1-mile mark, the trail meets up with the other end of the Bostick Trail.

From the Fossil Bench Trail, once you turn onto the Bostick Trail, you'll encounter the most challenging (and fun!) part of the hike. This is where the trail converts over to singletrack and becomes much more rocky. There is a rock formation waterfall that after heavy rains and the wet season is quite the sight! When it's dry, it can be fun to climb around and explore as well.

The trail continues to zig and zag as it climbs quickly to its end at the Wade Mountain Greenway. The trail transitions from singletrack back to old, well-worn doubletrack logging road that ascends part way up Wade Mountain intersecting with the Wade Mountain Trail. There are some rocks and roots through section but nothing too challenging.

From this intersection, take the Wade Mountain Greenway to return to the trailhead.