Franklin County: Lakes, Trails and Railroad History

Franklin County can be explored in many different ways: on the waters of Tims Ford Reservoir, along scenic trails, in historic railroad museums and at distinctive natural formations. Tims Ford State Park is located on Tims Ford Reservoir, and Tims Ford Lake offers opportunities for boating. Reservations are required for every campsite at Tims Ford State Park and can be made online. Those who choose a vacation rental or vacation home as a fixed base can tailor their trip entirely to their own interests, balancing nature, culture and active days.

Lakes, Boats and Nature Experiences

Five public boat access points are available at Woods Reservoir, including Franklin County Access. The body of water is also known for fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, yellow bass and channel catfish. A different character awaits you at Owl Hollow Mill WMA: It is mainly accessible by boat, while some areas can be reached on foot via Highway 50 west of Winchester. Bald eagles, ospreys and various waterfowl are common in the area.

The landscape itself also offers distinctive destinations. The Walls of Jericho form a bowl-shaped amphitheater with steep, 200-foot-high vertical rock walls. Natural Bridge is a 25-foot-high sandstone arch with a span of 50 feet and offers a viewpoint over Lost Cove. Point Disappointment provides views of nearly all of Lost Cove. In spring, Shakerag Hollow displays wildflowers, while Hawkins Cove State Natural Area protects Cumberland rosinweed—a sunflower species found only on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau.

Trails for Different Day Plans

There are specific options for hikes and excursions. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter State Natural Area offers a 2-mile one-way hiking trail and cave tours. The main entrance to Buggytop Cave there is 100 feet wide and 80 feet high. The hike to Bridal Veil Falls from Lake Cheston is 2.2 miles long and follows an out-and-back route.

Around Sewanee, colored markers help with navigation: The Perimeter Trail is marked in blue, while side trails in Sewanee are marked in white. The Sewanee Perimeter Trail can be hiked as a 20-mile route. The paved section of the Mountain Goat Trail between Sewanee and Monteagle is nearly six miles long and accessible to pedestrians, runners and cyclists. This section begins in downtown Sewanee.

Railroad History and Regional Culture

From 1856 to 1985, the Mountain Goat Railroad transported coal and passengers between Palmer and Cowan in Grundy and Franklin counties on the Cumberland Plateau. This history continues at the Cowan Railroad Museum. The museum is an official Tennessee State Railroad Museum and is housed in Cowan Depot, a local landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Old Jail Museum and Falls Mill offer further insights. The Old Jail Museum houses artifacts from the Civil War and pioneer era, as well as memorabilia related to Dinah Shore. It is within walking distance of downtown Winchester. Falls Mill offers public tours Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April through November. After the first High on the Hog Festival in Winchester in 1987, the committee decided to hold the festival annually.

In Cowan, the Artisan Depot Gallery & Gift Shop displays art, handmade crafts and special gifts from artists in the region and surrounding area. It also hosts community art exhibitions and workshops. Offerings include free community Creative Connections workshops as well as special classes such as glass fusing, gel plate printing and leather journal making. Those who want to make an excursion less active will find a cultural focus here alongside the nature and railroad themes.

Active Experiences and Choosing the Right Location

Bear Trace at Tims Ford State Park is a signature golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Tims Ford Lake also hosts the annual Poker Run organized by the Franklin County Chamber. These different focuses make it worthwhile to consider, before renting a vacation rental, which places should shape your stay: water and boating, hiking trails and viewpoints, golf, or museums and galleries. A central location may be suitable for visits to downtown Sewanee or Winchester; for nature-focused days, other bases within the county may be more suitable, without this implying any specific distance from or amenities of an accommodation.

The Visit Tims Ford Passport provides additional guidance. It helps visitors discover local businesses, restaurants, attractions and hidden gems throughout Franklin County. If you would like to expand your accommodation search to additional locations, you can also consider Decherd and Sewanee separately.

Other destinations in the same broader travel area include Johnson County, Sullivan, Cocke, Gibson, Rutherford and Washington County.

For the broader travel overview: Tennessee.