Backpacking Savage Gulf | Racing Sunset on Tennessee’s Most Beautiful Trail (Part 1)

Join me and my dog Fen as we begin a 3-day backpacking trip through Savage Gulf, one of the most rugged and scenic places in Tennessee. Starting at the Savage Ranger Station, we set off along the North Rim Trail late in the day after a long 6-hour drive — which meant I had to race the sunset to reach Hobbs Cabin before darkness and the park’s “no night hiking” rules kicked in.

Day 1 and Day 2 of this adventure were absolutely epic: miles of rim-top overlooks, sandstone canyons, fall colors, and some of the hardest terrain I’ve hiked — boulder fields, slick rocks, and ankle-deep leaves hiding every obstacle. We dropped into the gorge for a side trip to Ranger Falls before climbing our way up to Alum Gap to end an exhausting but unforgettable second day.

This video covers:
✔ North Rim Trail views
✔ Savage Gulf backcountry camping
✔ Hobbs Cabin
✔ The 6-Mile Connector Trail
✔ Ranger Falls
✔ Steep climbs, rugged terrain, and hard miles
✔ A challenging but beautiful route through Tennessee’s Savage Gulf State Park

If you enjoy backpacking, thru-hiking, trail dogs, gear talk, or exploring the Southeast’s best trails, you’ll love this one. Part 2 — the longest and most scenic day — drops next.

📍 Trail: Savage Gulf State Park, TN
🎒 Route: Savage Ranger Station → North Rim Trail → Hobbs Cabin → 6-Mile Connector → Big Creek Gulf Trail (Ranger Falls) → Alum Gap

⛺ Camps: Hobbs Cabin (Night 1), Alum Gap (Night 2)
📏 Miles in this Part: ~18 miles total across Day 1 + Day 2
🐶 Trail-friendly? Yes!

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