Profile Trail Restoration
The Profile Trail is a meandering 3-mile pathway that provides peaceful woodland walks along our ridges and valleys. Following the trail’s unveiling in 1994, the natural world took root with dense vegetation and periodical flooding. In need of some TLC, the Scenic City Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association adopted this trail and made it their own passion project. In a multi-phase effort this year (2025), the group will restore the path through routine maintenance, updated wayfinding, and re-routing flooded areas. This work mirrors a greater mission to provide our community with quiet spaces for contemplative connection with nature.
The Profile Trail is a peaceful 3-mile walk in the woods. If you’re looking for an “off the beaten path” experience, this system offers the only single-track trail on our campus that winds through dogwood forests, wildflower coves, and untouched beauty. Unveiled in 1994, the Profile Trail was dedicated to the memory of Muffett Handly Brock (wife of former U.S. Senator Bill Brock) and her connection to our area. Over the years, the path has naturalized with creeping vegetation and rising water levels in Lookout Creek. In the winter and spring, seasonal flooding rendered the trail unusable to our visitors.
In need of some care and attention, The Scenic City Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association (TTA) adopted the trail system. TTA is a statewide organization of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who build, maintain, and promote the responsible use of Tennessee trails. Led by Randy Medley, our local chapter aims to restore the Profile Trail with maintenance, updated wayfinding, and the re-routing of damaged areas. Earlier this year in April, TTA blazed a new trail route from Lookout Creek to Oliver Freeman’s Hollow to replace the flooded section. On June 7th for National Trails Day, TTA returned to clear the length of the Profile Trail. With two teams at each end of the campus, they worked in tandem toward the center, clearing the path of encroaching plants, saplings, and fallen trees. They followed a streamlined system: (1) The line leader outlined the space using a weed eater, (2) Pruners cleared the larger plants, and (3) Sweepers and leaf blowers dusted off the trail.
Now that the Profile Trail is widened and clear, we invite visitors to enjoy the 3-mile moderate trek through the forest. We’re very thankful for the help of the Tennessee Trails Association for their hands-on effort and financial support through the Evan Means Grant. Going forward, the Scenic City Chapter will continue to improve the Profile Trail system by updating directional signs and maintaining the space. By the end of 2025, TTA intends to complete their restoration of the Profile Trail. Once established, the trail will maintain itself with routine foot traffic from visitors.
In the years to come, we’ll continue to strengthen the Profile Trail and our greater trail system. As we move into our Framework for the Future, we’re excited to prioritize campus navigation and visitor engagement along trails. Follow us to be the first to hear about important updates in the Framework.
The Profile Trail is named in honor of a local Indigenous tale. If you look through the Cherokee Eye on this trail system (shown below), you’ll see a chief’s profile looking toward the sky at Sunset Rock. The tale goes: A great chieftain once lay dying in Lookout Valley as the last member of his tribe. He called to the gods for a sign that he and his civilization would be remembered. As he prayed, a great storm washed over through the valley and shifted the land. The next day, the chief looked up to see his likeness carved into the rock shelf. The Cherokee who later settled the area brought food to the stone profile, calling it Du-Da Nun-Yu (or Father Rock). When colonization swept the region, white settlers dismissed the rock image and named the monument Sunset Rock instead.
This is the view through Cherokee Eye of the chieftain’s profile at Father Rock
