Rainbow Lake to Mushroom Rock

Turnaround Times

Rainbow Lake is a popular hiking spot on Signal Mountain, and seldom will you find the area to yourself.  Before the Great Depression, Rainbow Lake was a huge lake equipped with docks and row boat, just a burrows ride away from the Signal Mountain Inn (now part of Alexian Village).  Now, however, all that remains is a crumbling dam.

Dam at Rainbow Lake

It was a warm Tuesday with the temperature making its way up into the mid 50s.  Parking at the Rainbow Lake trailhead, we followed the gravel connector trail down Middle Creek where the Cumberland Trail crosses the creek via a swinging bridge.  This bridge can be quite slick when it is wet.  Once across the bridge a green trail will veer off to the right, this is Bee Branch Trail and will loop back to the parking lot.  Following the white markers you will begin to ascend out of the gorge.  You will pass Lockhart’s Arch, which is only really noticeable on the trek back (when you are able to see it out ahead of you).  Lockhart’s Arch is a nifty boulder with a, wait for it, arch in it where you can see the ground below it.  It’s not anything spectacular but cool all the same.  The trail continues wandering out along the ridgeline and the drifting back into the woods before it finally spits you out at Edward’s Point. 

Edward’s Point View

Edward’s Point is a popular location for hikers and ATVers alike.  Generally the people that ride in are friendly, but every once in a while you come across some sketchy folk who are up to no good.  Once you move past the overlook you will start to walk up a small hill and the trail markers will reappear to the left of the dirt road.  The trail will follow along the ridge, overlooking the Suck Creek Gorge, before it darts back into the woods.  There are several small creeks to hop over between Edward’s Point and Mushroom Rock, and Annabelle wanted to taste each one along the way there and back. 

Our turnaround time was 3:00 PM EST, at 3:15 we got to Mushroom Rock.  I don’t often encourage ignoring a turnaround time, but I knew I’d have enough daylight to make it back it I extended my turnaround time to 3:30 max.  Unfortunately, my left knee (the right one had a brace on) was starting to hurt as was my right hip flexor.  Annabelle was slowing down too; this was our longest hike in a long time.  By the time we arrived at Edward’s Point my knees were in serious pain, and I still had to climb down and back out of the Middle Creek Gorge.  It was painful, but I did make it out of the woods under my own power and luckily before the sun set.  Annabelle, that lucky dog, got to climb into the car and sleep on the ride back home.  After resting for a few hours my sore knees started to feel much better.

Trip Distance 11.28 miles roundtrip

2012 Total Mileage 17.2 miles

Cumberland Trail Mileage 8 mile