Brush Creek Mountain Trail

Back Country Horsemen of East Tennessee (BCHET), a nonprofit group, recently continued work on Brush Creek Mountain Trail. The work started in November, said Herb Heinze, a director with the BCHET, and it will be another month before it is completed. The trail is usable, he said.

“We’re planning on working this Saturday, if it’s not bad weather,” Heinze said. “It’s enjoyable. I think we all like to give something back to the community.”

The work includes raking, moving rocks, and clearing brush.

The Brush Creek Mountain Trail starts at the parking lot at Burnett Gap off Tennessee Highway 107 near the Meadow Creek Firetower Road.

BCHET, in partnership with the Cherokee National Forest, has constructed the parking area, which accommodates eight to ten horse trailers as well as other vehicles.

Burnett Gap is located in Cocke County off Highway 107 and provides access to Gum Springs and Meadow Creek Mountain trails northwest of Highway 107.

When completed, the Brush Creek Mountain Trail will go seven miles to White Oak Flats Road along the French Broad River.

BCHET also is working on a loop from the White Oak Flats Road back around to the beginning leg of the Brush Creek Mountain Trail. The loop will be about five miles.

Heinze said the trail is six to eight feet wide in most areas, and has overlook views. Views include that of streams, ridges and the French Broad River. He added that the trail has both difficult areas and easy areas.

Members of the Back Country Horsemen of East Tennessee take a break while recently working on the Brush Creek Mountain Trail.
The new trail was approved in November by the U.S. Forest Service. BCHET has been working closely with the Cherokee National Forest to develop a multi-use trail system master plan connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Damascus, Virginia.
The Brush Creek Mountain Trail is a part of that project.

A multi-use trail allows for use of horses, bikes and foot travel. Motorized vehicles are not allowed.

BCHET also helps maintain existing trails in the Cherokee National Forest. The group, which was organized in Carter County and expanded to Greene County in 2001, is looking for volunteers. Workdays are usually Wednesday and Saturday.

If interested, call Herb Heinze (423) 787-7476 or Tom Connor (423) 6387-9476. The group’s Web site is: www.bchet.org.

*As written for the Greeneville Sun February6, 2004