Ore Pit Trail in Montgomery Bell
1020 Jackson Hill Road Burns, TN 37029
7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
$$
playground, outdoor-adventures
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The Ore Pit Loop Trail (red blaze) begins near the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and is a 1.7 mile loop trail located near Burns, Tennessee in the Montgomery Bell State Park. It's got only a little up and downs, making it perfect for the whole family.
According to a source (hikingproject.com), "The Ore Pit Loop recognized for the large pits—as well as scattered pieces of the timeworn Laurel Furnace built in 1815 by Robert Napier—seen on either side of the trail. In the early 1800s, iron ore was discovered here and men came to work digging for iron and clearing the forests for fuel. However, the onset of the Civil War halted to that industry and the forest reclaimed the land."
It makes for a great morning, and there are multiple diversions to keep you interested along the way - a small stream at the beginning, an old cabin that you can peer into to see what life was like way back when, the Church, and several sheltering stopping points. There is even a playground you pass as you drive to the trailhead as well as a ball field.
Dogs ok on leash.