This 8.7 mile hike will be a mostly downhill hike from Unicoi Gap to Coker Creek on the Benton MacKaye Trail and will have about a 1060 foot drop in elevation. The trail will follow the ridge line on Unicoi Mountain all the way to TN Highway 68. From there we will have a slight ascent and then begin the descent (steep in places) to Coker Creek.

The hike will run below Buck Bald. A short hike to the bald (round trip 0.8 mile) will give us 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains. As we descend to Coker Creek we will have views of the surrounding mountains and the Hiwassee River.

Unicoi Gap is near the Tennessee/North Carolina border and is a site on the historic Unicoi Turnpike National Historic Trail.This trail, which spanned the Cherokee Nation, reached from near Savannah to the Little Tennessee River. It is said to have been in use for over 1,000 years.

Plan to spend 5 to 6 hours on the trail for this hike. This will be a one-way hike and will require an auto shuttle.

We will be meeting at the Webb Brothers Float Service (also a Texaco station) in Reliance, Tennessee. The Address is 3708 TN Highway 30, Reliance, Tenn. 37369. The phone number there is (423) 388-2373.

We will be leaving the the meeting place at 10:00 AM sharp for the trailheads. So, please arrive earlier for directions and food.