Monte Sano State Park CCC Trail System

Built by CCC crews in the 1930s, these forgotten maintenance roads snake through Monte Sano’s back country where stone shelters and fire towers still mark their handiwork. The main circuit follows old timber roads past Burritt Museum’s overlooks and drops into Three Caves limestone formations before climbing back through mountain laurel thickets. Stone Bridge over Indian Creek remains the route’s technical crux — water undercuts the Depression-era masonry during heavy rains.

Moderate difficulty with some loose rock sections and narrow shelf roads above the Tennessee Valley. Stock high-clearance vehicles handle it fine, though tires with decent sidewalls help on the sharper limestone. Spring and fall offer the best driving — summer gets muggy in the hollows, winter ice makes the stone bridge sketchy. No permits needed, but the state park charges day-use fees. Multiple dispersed camping spots exist along the ridgeline with views stretching to Wheeler Lake and the rocket city below.