September 1, 2026
Tessentee Bottomland Preserve Loop Trail
It was a cool and slightly foggy morning in the low 70s for this short, easy hike. Finding the trailhead is simple, and there is adequate parking available for several cars. Be sure to check out the information kiosk at the start which features very interesting history about the land and the preserve. The trails are exceptionally well-kept and not overgrown which was a pleasant surprise for late summer. There is great tree cover throughout the outer perimeter trail that provides nice shade and keeps the walk cooler. This bottomland area supports an extensive diversity of wildflowers along most of the path including massive patches of Jewelweed. In addition to the beautiful flowers, the trail features two great points of interest: an open viewing area where Tessentee Creek meets the Little Tennessee River and an old restored farmstead complete with its original apple house and smokehouse. Overall, this is a smooth, engaging hike packed with unique features to keep any hiker interested. Today's hikers: Edwin Pruitt, Beth McDonald, Pam Hembree, Matt Henderson & Toby, Ken Pardue, Claudia Pardue, Lynn Hotle, Beth Hawkins, Charles Hawkins, Jenny Bell & Mike Bell. ... more
The route
2.1 mi · 107 ft climbing · 1h 24m out, 1h 8m walking · 1.9 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
22 photos are shown on the map where they were taken — click one to see it full size.
Photos (22)
This farmstead was a pleasant plus to this hike. Thanks to The Mainspring Conservation Trust for obtaining and maintaining this property and opening these trails for our use. Today's hikers by the Little Tennessee River (L-R): Mike, Jenny, Charles, Beth H., Lynn, Claudia, Ken, Renée, Matt & Toby, Pam, Beth McD. and Edwin. A bit of fog this morning. Let's get started. Some neat information about this preserve. Can you believe these folks are actually following me? An early "what is this wildflower?" question. Richweed, "a traditional herbal medicine, garden design, and supporting local wildlife." Nice color-coded trail signage throughout the preserve. Hiking we will go, hiking we will go, hi, ho . . . you finish the rest. More wildflowers seen early in the hike. Top: Wingstem; LR: Downy Yellow False Foxglove; LL: Downy lobelia The most prevalent wildflower today was Jewelweed found throughout the sunnier sections of the trail. But there were lots more: UL: Large flower gaura; UR: New York ironweed; LR: Virgin's Bower; LR: Plume Thistle As we walk along, this is one of our first glimpses of Tessentee Creek that eventually flows into the Little Tennessee River. I believe Beth Hawkins spotted this Cardinal Flower on the west bank of the Little Tennessee River. Same Cardinal flower . . . ain't she a beaut! Toby's gone fishing in the Little Tennessee River. The blue in this Asiatic dayflower is so pure. Headed on the back, north, side of this loop. This massive oak tree has some age along with some loving poison ivy vines. Another view of the historic farmstead home on the preserve. And the family that lived there. Family photos were a special occasion then. As we finish our hike, these Hearts-a-Bustin' were spotted by Beth McDonald. Almost forgot this Buffalo nut, "a parasitic shrub that "sniffs out" the roots of other species, stealing its water and nutrients."