The Tennessee Conservationist features Fran Wallas’ Great Hikes in Tennessee State Parks in each issue of the magazine. Fran is an accomplished trailblazer and trailbuilder with a gift for sharing her experiences from a variety of pathways crisscrossing Tennessee State Parks. Drawing upon her first-person encounters with state park hiking and walking trails, Fran offers helpful insight ranging from each trail’s degree of difficulty to the types of unique natural features one should expect to find along that hike.
Fran
Wallas is an avid hiker. She works as an attorney for the
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in Nashville.
Join her as she hikes Tennessee's State Parks and enjoys our good nature.
2008 Great Hikes
| January-February 2008 Cumberland Mtn State Park  The narrow passage on Pioneer Trail at Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville. |
March-April 2008 Meeman-Shelby Forest SP  Cypress knees on Pioneer Springs Trail at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. |
May-June 2008 Old Stone Fort  Virginia Bluebells in bloom March-May at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester. |
| July-August 2008 Fall Creek Falls State Park  The trailhead of the Gilbert Gaul Trail at Fall Creek Falls State Park. |
2007 Great Hikes
| January-February 2007 Long Hunter State Park  Three Ways to Hike The Perfect Winter Trail at Long Hunter State Park |
March-April 2007 Standing Stone State Park  The Lake Trail’s in Bloom at Standing Stone |
May-June 2007 Burgess Falls SNA  The butterfly garden at Burgess Falls State Natural Area. |
| July-August 2007 Cumberland Trail  Sandstone rock house at the beginning of the Obed Wild and Scenic River Segment. |
September-October 2007 Roan Mountain  Chestnut Ridge Trail at Roan Mountain State Park in Roan Mountain. |
November-December 2007 Savage Gulf  A view from the Savage Creek Overlook in Savage Gulf. |
2006 Great Hikes
| January-February 2006 Pickett State Park  Pickett State Park’s Hidden Passage Trail is a Wonderful Winter Trek |
March-April 2006 Radnor Lake State Park  Radnor Lake State Natural Area Offers an Easy Hike for People Wild About Wildflowers |
May-June 2006 Frozen Head State Park  Frozen Head State Natural Area Offers an Overnight Hike With Scenic Detours |
| July-August 2006 Carter Natural Area  Buggytop Cave–A Cool Hike for a Hot Day |
September-October 2006 NB Forrest State Park  Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park – A Colorful Woodland Loop |
November-December 2006 Montgomery Bell State Park  A Six-Mile Overnight Hike For Beginners of All Ages |
2005 Great Hikes
| January-February 2005 Mousetail Landing State Park  Intermediate Overnight Loop Trail at Mousetail Landing State Park |
March-April 2005 South Cumberland  Beginner Backpacking Hike to Horsepound Falls |
May-June 2005 Cumberland Trail  Rock Creek Segment Offers A Shady Hike for a Hot Day |
| July-August 2005 Fall Creek Falls State Park  Fall Creek Falls Cable Trail - The Shortest Hard Hike |
September-October 2005 Big Ridge State Park  Big Ridge State Park - A Haunted Hike For the Halloween Season |
November-December 2005 Big Hill Pond State Park  Wetlands, Wilderness and Wildlife at Big Hill Pond |
Totaling nearly one thousand miles, Tennessee State Parks' trails reflect the state's great natural diversity and offer an incredible array of outdoor recreational opportunities.
