August is pumping up the heat and humidity across the Blue Ridge which it why we just put out our Swimming Holes issue. Relief from the oppression can be scarce in the South, unless you are willing to search for it. But isn’t that what the weekend is for, anyway? Temps will actually be down slightly this weekend as tropical summer weather moves through, so it’s the perfect time to get out of the house and hit the trail for a weekend camping trip that is chock full of high elevation, stunning vistas, and of course, swimming holes.
The (other) John Muir National Recreation Trail in eastern Tennessee follows a portion of the route Muir took from Kentucky to Florida in 1867. It also follows the Hiwassee River, providing instant reprieve should the sun prove too hot to handle. Along with the river, the trail also highlights the lush Hiwassee River gorge via switchbacks up ridgelines.
Get there: The trail runs about 20 miles from the Childers Creek Parking Area upstream to Highway 68 with camping along Coker Creek.
