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Run through the woods down to the River Batteries and views of the Cumberland River.


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Map Key

1.3

Miles

2.0

KM

84%

Runnable

532' 162 m

High

390' 119 m

Low

201' 61 m

Up

301' 92 m

Down

8%

Avg Grade (4°)

30%

Max Grade (17°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Historical Significance · River/Creek

Fort Donelson National Battlefield closes at sunset everyday, so check in at the visitor center for current hours as they change throughout the year.

Need to Know

There are no services along the trail. When the trail crosse the bridge toward the end of the run, it follows a streamed toward the Cumberland River. If it has been raining a lot recently, this area may be flooded, muddy, or have water on the trail, so make sure you have appropriate footwear.

Runner Notes

This trail is very steep in places, and there are lots of roots that pose trip hazards, so if you choose to run this, watch your step and be careful where you step as it will be easy to twist an ankle.

Description

The River Circle Trail provides a loop for the Fort Donelson Trail in Fort Donelson National Battlefield. The trail departs from the end of the Eddyville Spur Road and descends into the woods, at times steeply. The trail is well marked with blue arrows to keep you on track as the trail is a rough dirt track.

The trail drops down toward the Cumberland River, giving you glimpses of the river through the trees, but no unobstructed views. As you wander along the trail near the river, keep your eyes out for birds like blue herons, Bald Eagles, and a variety of ducks that call the river home. After about half a mile, the trail climbs steeply up the hillside and around some of the creek valleys that pour into the Cumberland River.

The trail then drops back down toward the river, crosses a wooden bridge, and again follows close to the river before it arrives at the junction with the Fort Donelson Trail. From here, you can continue forward to the Water Batteries, which offer you a great view of the Cumberland River. Here, you can learn about how the Confederate forces repelled Union ships on Valentines Day, 1862.

After taking in the views, you have a couple options. You can retrace your steps back to the visitor center, or take the Fort Donelson Trail back up to the Visitor Center, which makes the total run 3.8 miles. Or you can continue ahead on the Fort Donelson trail for another 1.6 miles and end back up on the back side of the visitor center instead of where you started.

While the trail does not have great views until the end, it is a good alternative to driving through the park, and allows visitors to stretch their legs after riding to get to the battlefield, while giving them an idea of what it was like to move around the area. There are several benches along the trail to provide a place to rest as you make your way downhill.

Flora & Fauna

There is a wide variety of animals that call Fort Donelson home. As you run the Fort Donelson and River Circle Trail, there are placards describing some of the animals that you might encounter on your run. There are deer, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, and bobcats that call the woods that you run through home. As you approach the Cumberland River, a large variety of birds can be seen. Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, and a large variety of ducks call the river home, so keep your eyes peeled for birds as you wander close to the river before you get to the Water Batteries.

Contacts

Shared By:

David Hitchcock

Trail Ratings

  3.0 from 1 vote

#11

in Central TN

#44046

Overall
  3.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#11

in Central TN

#823

in Tennessee

#44,046

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0 Since Jul 11, 2023
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Photos

At the end of the trail, you have access to the Water Batteries, where there are nice views of the Cumberland River.
Jul 14, 2023 near Dover, TN
At the bottom of the hill, a bridge crosses a small creek as it nears the Cumberland River.
Jul 14, 2023 near Dover, TN
At the end of the trail, the trail emerges at the Water Batteries, which have impressive views of the Cumberland River.
Jul 14, 2023 near Dover, TN
Benches can be found at a couple of points along the trail for people to rest.
Jul 14, 2023 near Dover, TN

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