The Norris Municipal Watershed, situated adjacent to Norris Dam State Park, is a 2,300-acre area that is the watershed of Clear Creek; it is managed for water quality protection, sustainable forest management, and public recreation. A network of about 30 miles of forest roads and single-track trails are managed by the Norris Watershed Board.
For this hike, we will meet in front of Norris Middle School at 9 a.m. After a short stroll across the commons through downtown Norris, by the elementary school, we will take Deer Ridge Trail to Observation Point Trail. We’ll then walk a short distance to Observation Point, where we will have views of Norris Dam and the Cumberland Mountains in the distance. Back down the hill from Observation Point we’ll take Eagle Trail, much of which was constructed by the CCC in the mid-30s. This trail parallels the Clinch River before climbing up to the city.
A short walk on Hickory Trail Road will lead to a trail that goes to Eric Harrold Park; then we’ll walk down past the town center and back to the starting point. The hike, which passes through some nice old forest, is about 4 miles with some uphill sections.
