Big Hill Pond

The Big Hill Pond Trail in Pocahontas, Tennessee was named for the state park it's located in. The Big Hill Pond State Park has an area of more than 5,000 acres, and it includes a 35-acre lake. The Big Hill Pond Trail spans a little more than eight miles, and you can complete this loop trail in about four hours. Bring your pooch along for your hike, but be sure to keep them on a leash and clean up after them as you go!

Before you begin your hike, you can stop into the ranger's station, where you can get a waterproof map and inform the ranger about how long you intend to hike. If you do encounter rain along the way, you'll be pleased to know there are four shelters along the trail to help keep you dry. Most of the trail is well-marked and easy to follow, but there are a few sections on the map that are outdated. Some visitors recommend bringing a GPS device as an added safety measure. 

At the beginning of the trail, you'll get to see thousands of azaleas in bloom if you visit in the spring, and as you go on, you'll come to a boardwalk that stretches for more than half a mile. For the duration of the hike, you'll be trekking through wooded areas, but you'll also traverse past swamps, and over rocky areas and other natural obstacles. In some areas, you may have to hop over small bodies of water, so plan your footwear accordingly.

In addition to the Big Hill Pond Trail, there are more than 20 miles of other trails to trek in the state park, as well as campgrounds, an observation tower, and fishing and paddling opportunities on the lake. There's so much for you and Sparky to explore at Big Hill Pond!