Loop Trail (Shoreline, High Ridge, Big Oak, and Birdsong Trails), page 2
Trail Notes
I did not ask at the closed Park Office, but I was confused about the trail names. In Robert Brandt’s "Middle Tennessee on Foot" he says that parts of the trail system have been re-routed.
I have four different maps, and none seem to agree. I guess when I finish the cloudhiking map, it too will differ from the others.
The dirt trails were litter free.
There was the customary litter washed up onto the shore from the lake. I did not see a "no littering" sign at either boat ramp.
The paved paths which have trash cans dispersed along the way, were slightly littered. There was not a lot of litter, just candy and chewing gum wrappers (and an easy fix) but I still thought it was odd with all the trash cans around.
It was a perfect day when we were there. The boat launches were seeing lots of traffic. I was told that the reason the State Park Boat Launches are so busy is that they do not charge a launching fee and everyone else does. I hope the users appreciate and acknowledge their free access.
The Park did not seem ( I walked the trails but did not tour the facilities) to have a pool and did not allow swimming in the Lake.
The trails were easy to follow, but they maybe need trail signs - the wooden type which could tell where the trail goes.
The Birdsong Trail was only .40 miles, but the mileage is just for the center loop of the trail. The mileage does not include walking to the loop or returning.
There was a directional post on the Birdsong Trail which had a green blaze arrow pointing in each direction!
All the facilities and the grounds were well maintained. I hate seeing litter, but that is a user problem, not maintenance.
There was a Sheriff’s Substation in the Park.?
A great stone fence marks the Park Boundary on the High Ridge Trail.
Most of the bridges in the Park were newly constructed and were covered. I really couldn’t figure out why.
I did not see anyone hiking on the trails (dirt). There were quite a few walkers on the paved paths (I counted 12, but could have been off by a couple.) The most walkers I saw were along the Park Road.
Judging from the field and the stage, the Park has regular performances.
Loop Trail Mileage
.00 to .05 Observation Deck to creek crossing
.05 to .15 Creek crossing to opening with playground
.15 to .30 Playground to Camper’s Dock
.30 to .50 Camper’s Dock to Bledsoe Creek
.50 to .70 Start of Bledsoe Creek to Camper’s Boat Ramp
.70 to .75 Boat Ramp to where the two trails starting from the Boat Ramp join
.75 to 1.05 Trails joining to old road
1.05 to 1.20 Old road to bench and start of climb
1.20 to 1.30 Start of climb to the bench on the hill
1.30 to 1.50 Bench to Bench (descend and climb to second bench)
1.50 to 1.60 Bench to corner of property line
1.60 to 1.70 Corner to Blue Trail Junction (Blue Trail leads .20 miles to the Park Road)
1.70 to 1.95 Blue Trail to bridge (descend to cross creek)
1.95 to 2.10 Bridge to Red Side Trail (climb hill)
2.10 to 2.15 First Red Side Trail to second Red Side Trail (Red Trails, First and Second, lead .10 miles to the Park Road)
2.15 to 2.30 Second Red Side Trail to bridge (descend to drainage)
2.30 to 2.40 Bridge to Park Road (paved path begins)
2.40 to 2.45 Park Road to intersection with paved path on the left (part of Birdsong loop)
2.45 to 2.55 Intersection to bridge and intersection with trail on right (trail leads .30 miles to public boat ramp)
2.55 to 2.60 Bridge to intersection with trail to the right (arrow on direction post just before Stage)
2.60 to 2.70 Intersection returning to Observation Deck
Map Link
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Bledsoe Creek State Park Trails - pdf
GPS
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Loop Trail in Text Format - bledsoeCreek.txt
Loop Trail in GPX Format - bledsoeCreek.gpx
Loop Trail in KML Format - bledsoeCreek.kml