Our Trails
Fairfield Glade Amherst Trail
- Distance: 1.9
- Rating: Easy
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.984164, -84.891675
Description
This is a 2.0-mile grassy road hiking trail located between St. George and Sherwood Lakes. This is an easy trail with very little change in elevation. Although most of the trail is on grassy roads, there are some sections along paved roads. There is limited parking just off St. George Drive on Castlebar Lane.
Driving Directions
From the Peavine Road/Stonehenge Drive stoplight, take Peavine Road towards Crossville. Shortly after passing Food City turn left on to St. George Drive. After 2.25 miles (about one mile after passing Lake St. George) look for the trail sign on the left at the grassy road Castlebar Lane (first left past Amherst Drive). Park on the grassy road.
Most roads are unsigned so follow the trail posts and signs.
Fairfield Glade Blue Loop
- Distance: 6.1 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.017500, -84.863055
Description
The trailhead is the Catoosa/Kingsbridge Parking lot on Catoosa Boulevard, but the trail can also be accessed via the Rotherham Drive or North Catoosa parking areas.
At 6.1 miles, the Blue Loop is the longest hike in Fairfield Glade. It is comprised of four interconnected trails: the Hemlock Trail, the Rotherham Trail, the Canyon Trail, and the McGinnis Trail, along with a short segment of the Good Samaritan Trail.
This is a strenuous hike due to its length and the significant elevation changes along the way. The lowest point is at the end of Lake Dartmoor on Rotherham Drive. The highest point is at the top of the Rotherham Trail near the water tower. In addition there are two significant climbs on the McGinnis Trail.
Driving Directions
Take Peavine Road east and then turn north on to Catoosa Boulevard. After 1.0 mile turn left into the Catoosa/Kingsbridge parking lot marked with Nature Trail sign.
Fairfield Glade Glastowbury Trail
- Distance: 1.0 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.982439, -84.878720
Description
This trail begins at the boat ramp at Lake Glastowbury. It is not the easiest trailhead to find but worth the effort! This 1.0 mile trail offers some nice views across the lake but most of the trail is a woodland walk.
Driving Directions
From St George Drive take Manchester Road then turn left onto Lafayette Lane. Just before entering the condo complex, turn right onto Hunterwood Lane (Signed to the boat-launch). Turn left to the boatlaunch and park at the trailhead.
Fairfield Glade Good Samaritan Trail
Description
The Good Samaritan Trail is named for the nearby Good Samaritan facility. The trail forms part of the Red Loop and Green Loop and Blue Loop and Yellow Loop. More information is provided in those trail descriptions.
Fairfield Glade Green Loop
- Distance: 4.2 miles
- Rating: Strenuous
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.031447, -84.850316
Description
This loop takes you on three trails: the McGinnis Trail, the Good Samaritan Trail and the Canyon Trail. Most of the hike is on dirt trails in the woods but there is a short section on a paved sidewalk. The trail can be hiked in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, take Peavine Road east for half a mile and turn left on to Catoosa Boulevard. After 2.8 miles turn into parking area on your right marked with a “Nature Trails” sign.
Fairfield Glade Hemlock Trail
Description
The Hemlock Trail is named for a majestic specimen hemlock tree that hikers will pass along the way. The trail forms part of the Red Loop and Blue Loop and more information is provided in those trail descriptions.
Fairfield Glade Kirkstone Trail
- Distance: 2.0 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.967267, -84.887149
Description
This is approximately a 2.0 mile loop hiking trail along gravel roads. The trailhead is at the junction of Marmaduke and Christopher a little way up the hill from the spillway on Lake Kirkstone. The route is marked with yellow stakes and arrows at road junctions.
Starting at the trailhead, turn right on to Christopher Lane. At the end of Christopher Lane turn left onto Marmaduke Drive. Follow Marmaduke Drive for about 1.5 miles back the trailhead.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, take Peavine Road east for half a mile and turn right on to Westchester Drive. Follow Westchester Drive for 2.4 miles and turn right onto Malvern Rd. Follow Malvern Rd. for 0.9 miles and turn right on to Marmaduke Drive. Park at the corner of Marmaduke Drive and Oakburn Court.
Fairfield Glade Library Trail
- Distance: 1.0 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.000000, -84.883333
Description
This is a “lollipop” trail. Start out behind the library, going either direction along the loop. Travel down the “stick” to Lakeview Drive, then retrace your steps until you reach the loop once more. Complete the loop to return to your car. Extend your hike by either following the signs at Lakeview Drive to reach the Seven Bridges Trail, or by exiting the trail along the blue-blazed path to reach Cromwell Lane.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, take Peavine Road east for 0.5 miles (away from I-40) then turn right on Snead Drive. Travel about 0.5 miles then turn right on Lakeview Drive. Travel about 0.5 miles to the FG Library parking lot on the right.
Trailhead is behind and to the left of the library building, near the restrooms.
Fairfield Glade McGinnisTrail
- Distance: 4.2 miles
- Rating: Strenuous
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.031447, -84.850316
Description
The McGinnis Trail is now part of the Green Loop which takes you on three trails: the McGinnis Trail, the Good Samaritan Trail and the Canyon Trail. These trails take you on a loop that returns to your car. Most of the hike is on dirt trails in the woods but there is a short section on a paved sidewalk. The trail can be hiked in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, take Peavine Road east for half a mile and turn left on to Catoosa Boulevard. After 2.8 miles turn into parking area on your right marked with a “Nature Trails” sign.
Fairfield Glade Overlook Trail
- Distance: 1.9
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.967933, -84.850431
Description
This is a hiker favorite and annual standard for the Hiking Marathon. The trail was extensively rerouted in 2017 to eliminate grassy roads and a logging road from the route. A 0.6-mile extension was opened in 2023, giving hikers the option to extend or shorten their hike as desired. This trail is a lollipop layout…hike the short stem, then turn left at the first junction to go around the 1.7 mile North Loop before returning along the stem. Alternately, turn right at the first junction, then right again at the second junction to explore the new, shorter 0.9-mile South Loop. Both loops intersect at the creek to create a 2.3-mile outer loop hike (or do a figure-8 for a total of 2.8 miles). However you choose to hike this trail, allow plenty of time to rest or enjoy the scenery.
Driving Directions
From the Peavine Road/Stonehenge Drive stoplight, take Peavine going east for half a mile. Turn right onto Westchester drive. After 3.0 miles, just after passing Dorchester Golf Club, turn left onto Windsor Road. Take the second right onto Wimberley Road then immediately turn left onto the gravel road. This road ends at the Overlook parking area and trailhead. After parking your vehicle and enjoying the views from the overlook enter the trail on the left.
Fairfield Glade Red Loop
- Distance: 3.0 miles
- Rating: Strenuous
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.024444, -84.868611
Description
This is the trailhead for both the Hemlock Trail and the Rotherham Trail. We strongly recommend that you hike this loop in the counter-clockwise direction as this avoids climbing up the very steep Rotherham Trail. Follow the red hike markers.
Proceed along the end of the lake to the trailhead sign for the Hemlock Trail. Follow the trail, past the majestic hemlock tree for which the trail was named, and after half a mile cross Rotherham Drive. After another third of a mile the trail parallels Catoosa Boulevard for a quarter of a mile before turning back into the woods. From there, proceed behind Bluff View Terrace and climb upwards for nearly half a mile to the Good Samaritan Trail. Turn left and follow the trail behind the Good Samaritan assisted living facility for a half a mile until you reach the intersection with the Rotherham Trail.
Turn left onto the Rotherham Trail and follow the trail as it descends steeply into the valley. After half a mile the trail turns left along the creek and levels out for an easy walk for the last half-mile to the Rotherham Drive parking lot where the hike started.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, take Peavine Road east for half a mile and turn left on to Catoosa Boulevard. After about 1.2 miles turn left on to Rotherham Drive. Drive down the steep hill and after 0.6 miles you will come to the parking lot on the left at the end of Lake Dartmoor.
Note: There is alternative parking available on Catoosa Boulevard at the junction with Kingsbridge Lane (Blue Hike Parking).
Fairfield Glade Rotherham Trail
Description
The Rotherham Trail is named for the nearby Rotherham Drive. The trail forms part of the Red Loop and Blue Loop and more information is provided in those trail descriptions.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, take Peavine Road east for half a mile and turn left on to Catoosa Boulevard. After about 1.2 miles turn left on to Rotherham Drive. Drive down the steep hill and after 0.6 miles you will come to the parking lot on the left at the end of Lake Dartmoor.
Fairfield Glade Seven Bridges Trail
- Distance: 2.0 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.998370, -84.870564
Description
This trail begins at the Methodist Church on Westchester Drive. It is a pleasant walk through the woods by a number of streams crossed by seven bridges. The trail is a lollipop configuration consisting of a half-mile stem and then a one-mile loop…return to the trailhead along the stem. You can extend your hike by including the 0.5 mile St. George Trail loop. The short connector between the two trails is approximately halfway around the loop.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive head east along Peavine Road for 0.5 miles. Turn right on to Westchester. Head south for 0.7 miles and pull into the first parking lot of the Methodist Church where trail parking is permitted. Cross the road to the trailhead.
Fairfield Glade St. George Trail
- Distance: 0.5 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 35.990278, -84.879722
Description
This short loop trail provides an extension to the popular Seven Bridges Trail. Neighborhood residents can walk to and access the trail via Snead Drive, while visitors can park at the trailhead on St. George Place.
Driving Directions
From Crossvillle, take Peavine Rd. going east. Turn right onto Westchester Dr. Continue 0.9 miles and turn right onto St. George Drive. In 0.2 miles, turn right onto St. George Place. The parking lot is on your right.
Fairfield Glade Stonehenge Trail
- Distance: 3.0 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.018751, -84.885131
Description
This is a 1.5-mile linear trail so the round-trip distance is 3.0 miles. The half-way point is the Heatherhurst golf club. The highest point of the trail is around the Lynhurst Drive area. Consequently it is a steady uphill climb from either end of the trail.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, head north on Stonehenge Drive for 0.9 mile to the trail-head parking lot, on the left, at the corner of Kingsboro Drive.
Fairfield Glade Thornhill Trail
- Distance: 2.0 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates:35.970189, -84.865531
Description
The trailhead is in the parking lot of the Dorchester Golf Club. The trail starts by carefully crossing Westchester Drive onto Thornhill Lane. Most of the trail is on gravel/grassy roads that are unsigned so follow the trail posts and signs. It is worth taking a short detour on the dam of Lake Malvern to admire the view. The trail consists of flat roads. The biggest hazard is some deep ruts that fill with mud and water after heavy rains.
Driving Directions
From the Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive stoplight, take Peavine Road east. After 0.5 miles turn right on to Westchester Drive. After 2.0 miles turn right into the Dorchester Golf Club parking lot. Park away from the clubhouse, near Westchester Drive at the trail-head
Fairfield Glade Yellow Loop
- Distance: 2.9 miles
- Rating: Strenuous
- Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 36.031389, -84.850000
Description
This hike takes you through the Fairfield Glade canyon. The trail was extensively rerouted a few years ago due to the construction of new homes in the area. The new route is much more hiker-friendly than the old route and we are sure you will enjoy it.
Driving Directions
From the junction of Peavine Road and Stonehenge Drive, take Peavine Road east for half a mile and turn left on to Catoosa Boulevard. After 2.8 miles turn into parking area on your right marked with a “Nature Trails” sign.