The Fort Henry Trails System provides some of the most scenic forest settings in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
With trail heads located in the southwestern section of the Land Between the Lakes, the trail system includes almost thirty (30) miles of trail through the varied terrains of forest elevations to bottomlands. In the forested areas you will find several wooded habits including maple, ash, and sweet gum bottoms, mature oak-hickory uplands, and indigenous shortleaf pine stands. As part of the adventure, your hike will follow historic routes traveled by General Ulysses S. Grant’s troop movements as they made their way from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson.
This trail system offers a variety of options for hikers; you can make your own loop, of shorter or longer distances, connect to the LBL North-South Trail, or try your hand at hiking the entire length of the trail. Fort Henry Trails are hiking only (pedestrian), and offer some of the best opportunities for seeing the areas variety of hardwood trees and pine forests, as well as LBL’s ever present deer and turkey populations, and of course, the trails are a great way to find some quite time with nature.
Trail Length: ~30 miles
Trailheads: Fort Henry Trailhead Parking off Road 232, South Welcome Station, Boswell Landing, or adjacent Parking Lot
Trail Connectors: LBL’s North-South Trail
Surface of Trail: Dirt Difficulty: Easy to Moderate; 250+ change of elevation; 29.3 miles of footpaths, logging roads, and gravel roads
Recommended Seasons for Trail Use: Spring, Fall (summer if well hydrated)
Facilities Available: Parking, accessible restrooms, picnic area with grills
Trail Camping: Overnight camping is allowed during your Fort Henry Trail hike. Campsites are required to be at least fifty (50) feet from the marked trail. Human waste must be buried a minimum of two hundred (200) feet from the marked trails. For overnight camping, an overnight Backpacking Permit is required; the permits are free and are available at the LBL South Welcome Station, Jenny Ridge Picnic Area, and LBL North Welcome Station Trailheads.
