Picket Loop, Fort Henry Trails, Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Stewart County, Tennessee

(Click to enlarge pictures)

 

          The whole story of Forts Henry and Donelson is pretty well-told in histories of the Civil War. Suffice to say that the Union victories here were crucial in the march south and the securing of river traffic. Fort Donelson is pretty much intact and is the centerpiece of an impressive battlefield site, but Fort Henry is now submerged beneath the waters of Kentucky Lake. There is a splendid network of trails interweaving the area, however, which are all located within the Land Between the Lakes reserve, and you can at least get a feel for the terrain covered by the troops during the battles. At left you can see the historic marker pointing the way to what little is left of the Fort; at right is the informative kiosk at the Fort Henry trailhead.

 

     The path leading from the trailhead is a bit vague, as are several of the areas of the Picket Loop. I don’t think this is supposed to be along the trail proper; it looks like what was perhaps intended to be an interpretive trail with lighted (?) station markers. Still, it is interesting.

 

     Once you finally do locate the blue-blazed trail it’s worth the effort. Here, at point 23 (all of the Fort Henry trails are marked thus—it’s a nice touch) are the only visible reminders of the battle, a few scattered rifle trenches which unfortunately you can’t really see here. Fact is, you can’t really see the trail very well here either: the blazing is pretty sparse. If you feel like you’ve lost the trail, stop, back up, and look around. Chances are you’re not far from it. Keep that trail map and compass handy!

 

     An homestead’s old well (I guess, it’s probably not a sinkhole) along the Picket Loop.

 

     Taking a break not far from the junction with the spur that heads off toward Boswell Landing. While hunting is not generally allowed at LBL (except for a few seasonally organized hunts) there is still a lot of lead being flung about during deer season, so I figured maybe a little blaze orange would be in order. If nothing else, it makes it easier to spot the body…

 

     The aforementioned spur to Boswell Landing isn’t really part of the loop, but it’s worth the walk. Here’s a pair of “double trees” flanking a knobby oldster.

 

     Do trees feel pain? I don’t know, but it seems they do scar. This appears to be the healed area once concealed by a trail marker of some sort. And yes, it kinda resembles the Aflac Duck!

 

          A couple of views of Kentucky Lake from Boswell Landing. It was kind of unseasonably warm this particular morning—or at least it was when I took these pictures—and there was a heavy fog overlying the water that was quite striking.

 

          This is a cemetery out by Boswell Landing that also serves as a survey marker, apparently. There are several very old graves here.

 

               

Left to right: born just a few years after the war ended, this youngster barely made it past his first year…a pair of the namesakes of the Campbell Cemetery…and some unique grave markers fashioned from PVC pipe that may well outlast the headstones.

 

          Left: No motorcycles or horses, please! And many thanks to the Adopt-A-Trail volunteers. I’m not sure who these folks are but I sure do appreciate their work. Perhaps you’ll see our names on such a marker soon! Right: a uniquely-profiled tree not far from Boswell Landing.

 

     Point 24, and the handy fallen tree that serves as a resting place. The numbered intersections sure do make traveling this trail system a lot easier than standard trail signs, plus they allow you to “collect” points. I now have 13 of 26!

 

     It is remote, and it is quiet…and you are so often so alone. This, to me, is the ultimate lure of LBL.

 

          

Once past Boswell Landing the trail follows the edge of Panther Bay. It is still and silent here now; it would not be thus later!

 

          Being an impounded lake, Kentucky Lake tends to fluctuate in its level. These mud flats left behind by retreating waters do not look inviting at all, but I bet the wildlife enjoys them!

 

     Unfortunately, there’s a lot of trash left behind too, mostly, I suspect, courtesy of thoughtless fishermen.

 

          It’s rather a circuitous walk to the far side of this finger bay, but it does avoid the muck and mire, and if you’re lucky, you might spy some birds watering.

 

     What is the sound of two trees rubbing in the wind? It’s rather like some enormous turkey!

 

          Left: ferns along the return trail, and right, the very welcome signs of the trailhead approaching. The day had turned on me while I was on the trail; 63 degrees, misty and still had become 43 degrees, blustery and wet! It was not a good way to finish the day!

 

          Still, there is always a bright side to a dark view, and this was the payoff: a wrong turn on the drive out led me out to Boswell Landing, where I saw this turbulent sight…compare this view to the pictures of the lake at rest just above and you’ll see just how wild it had gotten. Rarely have I been so happy to be off a trail!

 

 

Back to the Pictures Page

 

Back to the Home Page