Tennessee (Lancing / Obed Wild and Scenic River / Frozen Head State Park)
Trip Summary
When you think of hiking in Tennessee, your mind automatically goes to the Smoky Mountains, right? Same for me, but when I read about the “6 Tennessee Hikes You Have To Experience to Believe,” there were a lot of places I didn’t recognize on the list–including the Obed Wild and Scenic River. This place was also highly recommended when I asked for suggestions for good hikes nearby, so one weekend, my husband and I decided to take the drive out to Lancing, Tennessee.
After using the AllTrails app (which I highly recommend) to plug in directions, we drove directly to the trailhead and were one of the first to arrive. The parking is actually quite expansive compared to the couple of parking spots on the side of the road you typically see for longer trails, so we knew that this place was quite popular. And for a good reason!
There are several trails here–one of the most popular being the Overlook Trail and the longer one being the Point Trail. They are separate trails, so we decided to see the overlook first before it got too crowded, and it’s a very easy and quick jot there. The overlook is also wheelchair accessible with wide paths where you can wander and take pictures to your heart’s content. The overlook also allows you to see the gorge and river below from several angles which makes the view all that much more breathtaking.
However, as gorgeous as the overlook was, the Point Trail is where it’s at! Even BETTER overlooks, rock formations, countless picture opportunities, and shade the whole way make THIS the trail you want to take when you visit. At just over four miles, the out and back trail is a moderate one and is a gorgeous way to spend part of your day!
Whether we were admiring the plant life, the rock formations, or the views, we had an absolute blast here! And the biggest (and BEST overlook) is actually a hidden one near the end of the trail on the right-hand side. Toward the last third of the trail, you are on a cliffside that overlooks the gorge below, and if you venture past a few trees and very carefully position yourself on the rocks, you are in for quite a treat. I have my husband to thank for spotting this overlook because I normally am very focused on the trail in front of me while he is a lot more observant of the sights around him. When he ventured off to the side, I pointed ahead where the actual trail was, and he motioned me to follow him. “Come look!” And after a few minutes of brushing tree branches aside, what a view we found!
So if you go, definitely venture off the trail toward the end. The drop-offs are steep, so be very careful, but oh, my goodness, the pictures you’ll get!
For its beautiful views, easy path, multiple picture opportunities, and plentiful parking, this trail gets my highest recommendation! I would totally hike it again and recommend anyone passing through the area to make the stop, too! Totally gorgeous spot that is not to be missed!
Obed Wild and Scenic River Trails: A+
But I am not done gushing praises yet! There’s more! When you’ve hiked a few miles, you’re hot and hungry, and you just want to sit down, rest, and maybe even look through all the pictures you took while having a beer, right? I know just the place for it! Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery!
I was intrigued when the vast majority of reviews on AllTrails recommended stopping at this place nearby after hiking the trails, so I thought we would do the same. The sign is easy to see from the main road, so we knew exactly where to find it after we finished up hiking.
The parking is also expansive, and there are all kinds of cute signs and decorations pointing you to the brewery. Everything from assorted frog decorations to plentiful seating areas and a stage welcome you to a lovely place to sit and enjoy a brew. Music plays as you order your drinks (which range from assorted beers to frozen rose and margaritas) and the delicious smells of food waft from their food truck (named Sauced Frog). They serve all sorts of food from hot dogs to nachos to pulled pork to puffins, and I remember being perplexed (and horrified) when I first saw puffins on the menu! But they are not birds, but rather delicious pastry balls that come in all kind of flavors. And they are the best part of the whole place!
You can get them savory or sweet, and I tried the spinach and cheese one while my husband ate the all cheese one–called Praise Cheezus! Both were sooo good! Afterwards, I got a sweet one to go–the chocolate and peanut butter one–and that was just as delicious! My husband even commented on how quickly I demolished it, ha! So if you go, get the puffins! I wish I bought more for the road–they were so good!
So definitely go to Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery while you are there! Whether you hike or not, this is a wonderful place to stay and spend the afternoon. The owners are such nice people, the food and drinks are delicious, and the decorations are just lovely. It is definitely one of the best breweries I have ever been to! A magical place nestled in the forest, it was definitely one of the highlights of our trip!
Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery: A+
Of course, that is not all the area has to offer! If you are spending a bit more time in the area, Frozen Head State Park is a cool place to check out. They have multiple trails–ranging in difficulty from easy to hard–and each offer excellent experiences and views! I hiked out here several times in the winter when the roads going to some of my favorite Smokies hikes were closed due to snow. Frozen Head doesn’t get near as much snow as the higher elevations in the Smokies, so it was a fun destination to visit and still get my hikes in.
Perhaps the most famous trail is the Lookout Trail–the lookout tower can be accessed on a number of trails (a lot of them intertwine, and you can hike bits of one trail and a bit of another quite easily), but the Lookout Trail is one of the easiest ones to take to see it. That is easy “comparatively” as the Lookout Trail is still 6.1 miles, but those miles aren’t terrible, and the elevation change is manageable if you have good shoes and pay attention to directions. Luckily, the cell signal is pretty good, so you can keep track of where you are going, but once the trail is obscured with leaves, it can be a little difficult to find the trail at points.
Those things aside, though, the lookout tower is impressive, even if the views are foggy! I say this because when I went, it ended up being a spooky hike with lots of fog, so there were not any views, but it was still fun to hike to the tower and climb up it. With it being cold and rainy, no one else was on the trail, so it was a quiet day, but sometimes those are the best hikes, because it’s just you and nature! So for the trail and the lookout tower, it gets my best recommendation!
Frozen Head East Lookout Tower Trail: A
If you want to challenge yourself with a slightly longer hike (but no lookout tower), there is the North and South Old Mac Mountain Loop. This one is 8 miles, but again the elevation gain is manageable. I have this trail marked lower then the lookout trail, because the path was even more difficult to keep track of after the leaves had fallen, and I had to backtrack a few times, because I had lost the trail. The southern part of this trail is more popular and the trail is nice and wide on these parts but then the northern part is steeper, narrower, and not as trafficked. Both parts of the trail had their own charm, but the signs were sometimes ambiguous, so I found myself liking the other trails better.
However, I will say that there was a neat hollowed out building on the side of the trail that I wasn’t expecting. A “dynamite shack,” it’s a building without a roof and whose walls are crumbling, so at least there was that–a fun picture opportunity on an otherwise, just okay trail. So check it out!
North and South Old Mac Mountain Loop: B
I still have a few more tails in the area to explore, so stay tuned for those! It’s a fun area to hike, so I definitely recommend spending the day in the area, hiking some trails, and enjoying a brew afterwards!
Favorite Experiences
The hidden overlook my husband found at the Obed was definitely the highlight of that trip! I wouldn’t have been able to find it on my own, and it was so nice because we were the only ones there to enjoy the view. The main overlook at the end of the trail is bigger and more spread out (a lot of people stop and drink/eat a snack before heading back), so it was a lot more crowded. The overlook is also pretty overgrown with trees and bushes, so the view is a lot more obstructed. So before that turnaround, follow some of the smaller trails to the right! Those trails are much smaller than the main one and almost seem like water runoff trails, but don’t worry–it’s evidence of foot traffic and leads to great things!
What I Wish I Knew
Luckily, the AllTrails app prepared me for everything, so I knew what to expect. I do recommend downloading the app for directions, because they take you directly to the trailhead versus if you were to follow directions posted online, they would take you to the Visitor’s Center which is in a different place. Also, while these trails aren’t extremely strenuous, you want to be in shape to enjoy them and wear some good hiking shoes (there are a lot of exposed tree roots and the trail gets muddy after a rain, so shoes with good tread are essential).
Also, I wish I knew how good those dang puffins were at the Lilly Pad Hopyard Brewery! I have never seen those on a menu before, so who knows when I’ll have the chance to try them again. I would have totally bought one in every flavor to take home, ha! They are delicious and are not that big, so you could easily snack on a couple if you visit!
I also post reels and TikToks regularly of all the places I’ve reviewed on here, so if you want to see some videos of what to expect, check out my social media here:
TikTok: @touristyteacher
Instagram: @touristyteacher
Facebook: @touristyteacher
Happy travels!
