Bledsoe Creek Park, TN

Directions:  From Gallatin, TN, take TN25 east for about 5 miles.

Turn right at the Bledsoe Creek sign onto Ziegler's Fort Rd.

After about 1 mile you will see this park sign on the left. 

From J. Malloy's  60 Hikes Within 60 Miles.
Click any photo to enlarge it. 

This hike is a loop, so you can start at many different 

places. I like to begin at the park office, 

which you will see soon after you enter the park.  

I prefer to go clockwise around the park,

which allows you to walk up to the ridge with a gradual incline,

which is not as strenuous as the reverse hike. 

Take the trail (see photo below) until you reach the intersection

that goes to your right.  Take this right and walk through the

wooded area until you reach an intersection that is 

next to Ziegler Fort Rd.

Go right, cross the park road and you will be on Big Oak Trail.

My brother,Vic, at the trailhead heading south. 

The Big Oak Trail takes you through a beautiful forest.

At times there are many red cedars, and at other times you

are surrounded by deciduous trees. 

Snakeroot lining the trail. 

Snakeroot

This trail ascends slowly toward 

the High Ridge Trail. 

It's a gradual incline and easy to walk. 

Ascending to the High Ridge Trail.

A Fall Aster along the trail. 

On the High Ridge Trail.
You can see the Bledsoe Creek Embayment, below. 

Take a quiet break and enjoy the view 

from the ridge, before you head down to the bay. 

Mid-Autumn

Descending,

Getting cooler and darker --

Autumn wanes.

Begin the descent toward the embayment. 

Getting slightly darker and cooler.

A great view of the embayment.

This was taken at the bottom of the steps.  This is why I like to
 hike this trail clockwise.  It's a little rough going up this trail, 
but very easy going down. 

A beautiful walk along the shore.

A perfect day for a hike.
Can you see the egret in the background?

Close-up of the egret. 

Saw many of these mushrooms
along the shore trail. 

Many tall tulip trees (yellow poplars) in this area. 

This is just after the boat launch. 

A white-breasted nuthatch was making a lot of noise in the tree.

The Shoreline Trail with the campground on the right
and the lake on the left. 

A great egret flies near the kayakers.

This great egret caught many fish as we watched it.

This great blue heron flew right past us. 

A view of the bay of Old Hickory Lake.  

Brilliant colors of the Great Lobelia. 

Continue on the Shoreline Trail until it intersects

with the Birdsong Trail.

Stay left on the trail along the shore and you'll reach this
 observation deck (below).  Watch and listen to the birds. 

Can you see the Pond Sliders (Red-eared Turtles) on the log?
Watch this Video about Red-eared Turtles.

The un-named creek along the Birdsong Trail. 

Once you reach this creek you are just about at the end of your hike.  

There were many fish near this bridge.

I like the way the trees make a canopy over the creek, creating a slightly different ecosystem for the fish and other water creatures...one that is cooler and darker

.

This egret was resting on this tree limb that had fallen into the creek.  

The turtles were enjoying the warmth of the sun.

The turtles looked amazed as they watched the egret gracefully fly away.

Turn right just before you get to the park road and walk
 toward the trailhead where you began your hike. 

I saw these deer as I was packing-up the car.  The ones on the left and right were fawns;  you can see the spots on their back.  

This is a perfect hike for those of you who like both a wooded trail

 and a lake-side trail.  It's about a 3 mile hike and should take you
 about an hour and a half to two hours, depending on your pace.
  Take advantage of the campground and stay the night, or eat 
lunch at one of the picnic areas.  

Just get out and enjoy this sanctuary.