White House Cliffs Trail

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View from White House Cliffs1.JPG
Trail Name White House Cliffs Trail
Park Rocky Fork State Park
Nearest City Erwin
State Tennessee
Trail Marking Pink survey
Trail Use/Features Dnr dog.png Dnr hiking.png
Difficulty Rating Medium
Hiking Time 2 Hours0.125 Days <br />120 Min <br />
Distance:
round-trip/trail only
2.00 Mi3.219 km <br /> / 1.00 Mi1.609 km <br />
Trail Type In-and-Out
Climb/Descent Elevation 1,164 Ft354.787 Meters <br /> / -235 Ft-71.628 Meters <br />
High Point 3,330 Ft1,110 Yards <br />1,014.984 Meters <br />
Parking 36° 2' 53.64" N, 82° 33' 30.10" W
Trailhead 36° 2' 53.64" N, 82° 33' 30.10" W
Nearest Medical Erwin, TN
Trip Reports Click Here
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Trail Overview

In the Rocky Fork State Park TN state park area. A steep hike to first highpoint to enjoy some views of the surrounding mountains.

How to get there

From I-26 in Tennessee at Exit 46:

  1. From the Exit 46 Welcome Center follow the access road back under the interstate about 0.2 miles to its end into Clear Branch Road (street sign is often missing).
  2. If heading east on I-26 and not wishing to stop at the Welcome Center, simply turn right off the Exit 46 ramp and follow the access road a few hundred yards down to Clear Branch Rd. (west-bound traffic will turn left from the exit ramp onto the welcome ctr. access road)
  3. Turn right onto Clear Branch and head down thru the tiny community of Clear Branch, past the Clear Branch Church, and down the steep grade to the stop sign - about 0.8 mile.
  4. Turn left onto TN-352 (old US 23 - usually no sign here either) and go about 2.5 miles to Rocky Fork Road on your right.
  5. Follow RF Rd. about 0.8 mile up to the parking area at the blue gate on your left. The stream along Rocky Fork Road is very scenic, with lots of cascades, deep pools and giant boulders. Great trout fishing too.
  6. Park in the new large gravel parking area. The Whitehouse Cliffs Trail starts by the campfire area.

Route Description

NEW Whitehouse Cliffs Trail
A new trail starting from the parking area was built in 2018-2019 and opened to the public on December 28th 2019. A tremendous amount of volunteer hours was put it to make the new trail.

The trail is obvious and well marked. Just follow it steeply all the way to the top.

Distance (mi) Elevation (ft) Feature
0.0 2,455 Trailhead at Campfire area
0.6 2,937 During winter months, good close up view of cliffs themselves
1.0 3,340 Highpoint

Typical Conditions

Located at the Main Parking Lot near Campfire Interpretation Area. New Whitehouse Cliffs Trail route is completely new and is the REQUIRED, marked route to reach Whitehouse Cliffs Knob overlook.

Old Whitehouse Cliffs Trailhead and Trail
Route is CLOSED TO PUBLIC (located off of Rocky Fork Trail). Staff is letting nature/forest reclaim it for Ecological Restoration.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Not permitted on the watershed are horses, motor vehicles, fires or camping.

After the Hike

The welcome center provides restroom facilities and vending machines.

Misc. Information

Huckleberries were found on top - typically ripe in July-early August.

Maps

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Photos