Tuesday, October 27, 2015 3:17 pm

Several landowners own property through which the Fiery Gizzard trail has historically passed.

When the trail was created, it was not thought that formalized agreements were necessary for the trail to remain open.

Recently, after decades of the trail remaining open and intact, one landowner has chosen to exercise their right as a property owner and asked that the State Park and trail vacate their property. The landowner gave generous notice and the Fiery Gizzard is currently being rerouted. The reroute of the trail will be roughly 1.5 miles and bypass landowners who have asked that their land be closed to the public. The reroute affects the section between Raven Point and Foster Falls. Though more rugged than the trail that we are accustomed to, it will be a spectacular addition to the park. The new trail passes two waterfalls that were previously inaccessible, and there will be one additional overlook and an abundance of impressive scenery. The trail will not drop completely from the table to the bottom of the cove, rather, it will descend less than half way down and hug the slope. There will be sandstone steps on the steepest sections and bridges for the water crossings.

The Land Trust is committed to recreational and ecological conser-vation on the South Cumberland Plateau. The trust is committed to helping with the reroute of the trail as well as working towards permanence .

Beyond providing recreational opportunities to local and visiting users, the Fiery Gizzard Trail is an economic driver for the region and is an important part of the community. The current trail will close on Dec. 1, 2015 and the reroute is scheduled to be open in the spring of 2016. If you intend to hike the trail this winter, check with the park to see if the new segment is open before planning your trip.