Winter Time Best time for House Mountain Hike!

With clear blue skies and fall leaves gone, the views are spectacular along the trails at House Mountain State Park.  Located out off Rutledge Pike (past East Knox Elem) this unusual outcropping offers a challenging hike but in three miles you can enjoy a lot of great views.   Some of my regular hike buds (Sharon Spezia, Carl Loy, Jerry Owens) joined some of the Biggest Winner team, my sister Tina and Gracie B my 11 year old.  This trail is also a popular for dogs and we had two along, Billy a standard poodle and my 5 pd yorkie named Rocky.  We headed up the west end trail which proves to have a half mile of real steep climbing but we took our time and enjoyed the short rest on top of the west overlook.  You can see back towards Knoxville.  Then you get to hike north/east along a relatively level part of the trail.  You see an old fire ranger station shed on top of the mountain off to the left of the trail then come to the Y where to take a right you head back down to parking lot but we kept going out to two big rocky overlooks.  The second one has a flag pole and old American flag.  The views are amazing as you can see for miles out over millertown pike area and on past that across Corryton, Oaks Farm etc.  Past this area the trail gets more narrow and there is a smaller outcrop area for views towards the east.  

Coming down the windy trail back to the parking lot, is steep and we took our time and saw many other families with kids and dogs along the route.  Even though we only did 3 1/2 to 4 miles we covered over 11,000 steps on my pedometer and had a great workout.  Kudos to our Three Biggest Winner team hikers. This was Amanda's first hike up to House Mountain, Melody has been working overtime (nurse) but still had no problem with this hike and Lee Ann had done part of this hike once and swore it was way to hard. But now after working out for 6 weeks and dropping some wt and gaining strength she was smiling at the top and LOVED the hike.  My 11 year old Gracie thought this was a "terrible idea" to hike on her break but was skipping, singing and having fun with the gang and the two dogs.  My sister was glad I "convinced" her to join us too. 

Sharing 7 Islands with Cousin Pam & Friends
My cousin Pam lives in Nashville in a Group Home (Sertoma) and came up to visit us over the holidays.
After getting to go to WBIR studio to watch Mornings with Fox 43 and getting bear hugs from "foxy men" at the studio (yes she loves men) we headed off to Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge Center close to Kodak off Midway road.  Pam along with my 5 pd yorky Rocky joined hiking buds Carl Loy, Sharon Spezia, Carol Osborne & dog Tara, & Pam and George McClain.   There are over 6 miles of wide natural trails and out of the parking lot a 200 meter climb to the top.  Pam used this as good excuse to grab hold of Carl's hand and practically didn't let go.  At the top there are nice views of the Smokies.  And we could see and hear all sorts of different birds.  Carol says in the mornings she sees many many deer. There are some nice overlook areas with benches which Pam and yorky Rocky enjoyed a few times.  Cutting thru a wooded trail you hit the lower fields that have paths leading to a peninsula where an Eagle resided a year and half ago.  You can head back to the main paved road and make it a short 2-3 miler or go around the edge of the property and add another 2 -3 miles.   Every time I go I try to leave time to hit the Tuckahoe Trading post for old fashion lunch specials.  Pam said she deserved the country fried steak but the rest of us tried to be good with the pinto's, green beans, slaw but had to all try the homemade peach cobbler.

But this is a neat area that is diverse w/ all sorts of wildlife (5 types of owls) and plants.  Ed McAlister @ River Sports also often leads canoe/paddling trips out of this area for Legacy Parks. www.legacyparks.org for more info too.

Melton Hill Park Great little park w/ trails, views and close to town

Melton Hill Park   Great Views, great mowed trails, and great for dog lovers too

Melton Hill park is not far from Knoxville or Oak Ridge.  I went there this fall with the elementary Cross Country program (KTC) but wanted to go back w/ my dogs and family.   It is off Hardin Valley road where you turn between Hardin Valley Elem and the big new Food City.  After half mile you turn left at first intersection and wind around country farm area for a few miles. Look for signs to park and soon you'll be there.   Over 100 acres and a over 2 miles of mowed trails.  We parked down by playground and boat launch area and headed to a little trail in the woods next to the water.  Then we came out on some mowed trails and crossed the man road and then hit an area where you can see the model planes flying.

There are picnic areas, trails for hiking & biking and then in warmer months boating and swimming too. 

Checked out Melton Hill Park
It is out off Hardin Valley Road.  You turn right between Elem School and NIce New FOOD City and then at next intersection turn left and just keep going untill you run into park.  It is on a penninsula with water all around and views of ridges past Oak Ridge.  There are 2 miles of mowed grass trails and some rocky, dirt trails close to the water behind play ground.  We parked close to water and volley ball courts then hit about 3/4 of mile of rocky trail and Gracie and dogs enjoyed the neat rock formations. Then we ended up on a mowed trail and came back out to playground.  We then headed up road like you are leaving again but crossed it and headed up the mowed trails and found the airplane field and watched some model planes being flown. After that we wandered down to waterfront on other side.  You look over the clinch and there is more melton hill park on other side only reached out off Bethel Valley road.  They have cross country meets out here in the fall (KTC) and they are really neat scenic trails which are perfect for those starting to hike or just out like us for a family Sunday afternoon walk. Dogs allowed and pretty sure bikes allowed too.  Lots of places to picnic and in summer boating, and swimming.