Franklin County: Railroad History, Trails, and Nature

Tims Ford State Park is located on Tims Ford Reservoir. Reservations are required for campsites in the park and can be made online. Check this requirement before booking. Tims Ford Lake offers boating opportunities, making water activities and other excursions distinct options to focus on during your trip.

Water, Fishing, and Golf

Woods Reservoir has five public boat access points, including Franklin County Access. Check access conditions before your arrival. Some of the best fishing at the reservoir is for largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, yellow bass, and channel catfish. The annual Franklin County Chamber Poker Run takes place on Tims Ford Lake. Event dates may change, so check the dates in advance. Bear Trace, a signature golf course by Jack Nicklaus, is also located in Tims Ford State Park.

Railroad History and Culture

From 1856 to 1985, the Mountain Goat Railroad carried coal and passengers between Palmer and Cowan in Grundy and Franklin counties on the Cumberland Plateau. In Cowan, the Cowan Railroad Museum is housed in the Cowan Depot. The museum is an official Tennessee State Railroad Museum; the depot is a local landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Together, the railroad and the historic building represent two distinct aspects of railroad history.

The Old Jail Museum houses Civil War and pioneer-era artifacts, as well as memorabilia of Dinah Shore. The museum is within walking distance of downtown Winchester. Another option for history enthusiasts is a public tour of Falls Mill, offered Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., seasonally from April through November. Check current tour hours before your trip.

The first High on the Hog Festival was held in Winchester in 1987. The committee then decided to hold the festival annually. In Cowan, the Artisan Depot Gallery & Gift Shop showcases art, handmade items, and unique gifts by artists from the region and surrounding area. It also hosts community art exhibitions and workshops. The program includes free Creative Connections workshops and special classes, such as glass fusing, gel plate printing, and leather journal making. The program may change, so check current offerings before visiting.

Rock Formations, Nature, and Hiking Trails

The Walls of Jericho form a bowl-shaped amphitheater with steep, vertical rock walls 200 feet high. Natural Bridge is a 25-foot-high sandstone arch with a 50-foot span, offering a viewpoint over Lost Cove. Point Disappointment provides views of almost all of Lost Cove.

At the Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter State Natural Area, the main entrance to Buggytop Cave is 100 feet wide and 80 feet high. The preserve also offers a two-mile, one-way hiking trail and cave tours. Check access conditions before your trip. The Sewanee Perimeter Trail is a 20-mile hike and is marked in blue. Side trails in Sewanee are marked in white. The hike to Bridal Veil Falls is a different length: 2.2 miles from Lake Cheston, round trip. Trail conditions can change, so it is worth checking before setting out.

The paved section of the Mountain Goat Trail between Sewanee and Monteagle is almost six miles long and open to pedestrians, runners, and cyclists. It begins in downtown Sewanee. Trail status may change as construction progresses, so check for updates. Its stated length, route format, and permitted uses differ considerably from those of the other trails mentioned.

The area’s plants and wildlife offer other ways to plan your trip. Hawkins Cove State Natural Area protects Cumberland rosinweed, a sunflower species found only on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau. Shakerag Hollow features wildflowers in spring. Owl Hollow Mill WMA is primarily accessible by boat; some areas can be reached on foot via Highway 50, west of Winchester. Bald eagles, ospreys, and various waterfowl are commonly found in the area. Check access conditions before your arrival.

Explore more destinations: Decherd, Sewanee, Henderson County, Carroll County, Williamson, Marshall County, Weakley County, Decatur County.

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