AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Baker Creek Preserve

Best Medicine–Cruze Valley Run Downhill, 6 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 836 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Best Medicine–Cruze Valley Run Downhill, 6 sights is a 3.2-mile out-and-back in Baker Creek Preserve near Whites Village, TN. It climbs 836 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 21/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi860 – 1,175 ft5.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Margaret 35.93460, -83.87459
Nearest town Whites Village, TN
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Best Medicine–Cruze Valley Run Downhill, 6 sights

3.2 mi · ▲ 836 ft · 1 hr 29 min

Elevation 861–1,174 ft

Out & Back · Baker Creek Preserve

Trailhead: Margaret · 35.93460, -83.87459

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:12 AM · sunset 7:58 PM

Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Margaret, heading S.
  2. 0.2 miTurn right onto Rock Ledge, heading NW.
  3. 250 ftContinue straight onto Shadow Run, heading NW.
  4. 50 ftBear left onto Rock Ledge, heading NW.
  5. 150 ftContinue straight onto Shadow Run, heading NW.
  6. 50 ftBear right onto Rock Ledge, heading NE.
  7. 500 ftBear left onto Marj McClean, heading N.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Rock Ledge, heading NE.
  9. 150 ftBear right onto Marj McClean, heading NE.
  10. 0.2 miTurn left onto Toll Road Connector, heading N.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Victor Ashe, heading NE.
  12. 50 ftTurn right onto Toll Road, heading NE.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto Victor Ashe, heading NE.
  14. 50 ftBear left onto Toll Road, heading NE.
  15. 50 ftContinue straight onto Victor Ashe, heading NE.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Toll Road, heading NE.
  17. 50 ftContinue straight onto Victor Ashe, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftBear left onto Toll Road, heading NE.
  19. 400 ftContinue straight onto Party In The Woods, heading N.
  20. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Bud Crest, heading N.
  21. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  22. 150 ftContinue straight onto Barn Burner Downhill, heading W.
  23. 250 ftContinue straight onto Cruze Valley Run Downhill, heading N.
  24. 500 ftContinue straight onto Red Bud Crest, heading W.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cruze Valley Run Downhill, heading W.
  26. 50 ftBear right onto Red Bud Crest, heading SW.
  27. 50 ftSharp left onto Cruze Valley Run Downhill, heading SW.
  28. 0.3 miSharp right onto Red Bud Crest, heading W.
  29. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Bud Connector, heading W.
  30. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  31. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  32. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  33. 50 ftSharp right onto Sycamore Loop, heading SW.
  34. 50 ftSharp left onto Devil's Racetrack, heading SW.
  35. 100 ftTurn left onto Best Medicine, heading W.
  36. 250 ftContinue straight onto Papi's Way, heading W.
  37. 0.2 miBear right onto Devil's Racetrack, heading NW.
  38. 50 ftBear right onto Devil's Racetrack Rock Garden, heading NW.
  39. 150 ftBear left onto Devil's Racetrack, heading NW.
  40. 150 ftReach Shadow Run, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  41. 100 ftBear right onto Devil's Racetrack Rock Garden, heading NW.
  42. 150 ftBear left onto Devil's Racetrack, heading N.
  43. 50 ftBear left onto Papi's Way, heading N.
  44. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Best Medicine, heading NW.
  45. 250 ftTurn right onto Devil's Racetrack, heading NW.
  46. 100 ftSharp right onto Sycamore Loop, heading NW.
  47. 50 ftSharp left, heading NW.
  48. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  49. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  50. 50 ftSharp right onto Red Bud Connector, heading SW.
  51. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Bud Crest, heading NW.
  52. 50 ftSharp left onto Cruze Valley Run Downhill, heading NW.
  53. 0.3 miSharp right onto Red Bud Crest, heading S.
  54. 100 ftBear left onto Cruze Valley Run Downhill, heading S.
  55. 50 ftContinue straight onto Red Bud Crest, heading S.
  56. 50 ftContinue straight onto Cruze Valley Run Downhill, heading S.
  57. 500 ftContinue straight onto Barn Burner Downhill, heading SW.
  58. 300 ftContinue straight onto Red Bud Crest, heading SE.
  59. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Party In The Woods, heading NE.
  60. 50 ftContinue straight onto Toll Road, heading NE.
  61. 400 ftBear right onto Victor Ashe, heading N.
  62. 50 ftContinue straight onto Toll Road, heading N.
  63. 50 ftContinue straight onto Victor Ashe, heading N.
  64. 50 ftContinue straight onto Toll Road, heading N.
  65. 50 ftBear right onto Victor Ashe, heading N.
  66. 50 ftContinue straight onto Toll Road, heading N.
  67. 50 ftTurn left onto Victor Ashe, heading N.
  68. 50 ftContinue straight onto Toll Road Connector, heading N.
  69. 100 ftTurn right, heading N.
  70. 0.1 miBear left onto Rock Ledge, heading NW.
  71. 150 ftBear left onto Marj McClean, heading NW.
  72. 50 ftBear right onto Rock Ledge, heading NW.
  73. 500 ftBear left onto Shadow Run, heading SE.
  74. 100 ftContinue straight onto Rock Ledge, heading SE.
  75. 150 ftBear right onto Shadow Run, heading N.
  76. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rock Ledge, heading N.
  77. 250 ftTurn left onto Margaret, heading N.
  78. 350 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/best-medicine-cruze-valley-run-downhill-out-back-6-sights

Trail surface

69% dirt30% gravel1% paved

Weather

Sunrise 7:12 AMSunset 7:58 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.2 mi in (~37 min). Leave by 7:01 PM for the 7:58 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Margaret Trailhead

Hikes near Whites Village, Tennessee