🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: An Evening Kayak Float and a Black Bear Talk at Pickett, Bread-and-Butter Making and Embroidery at the Cordell Hull Birthplace, Yarn Ghosts at Fort Southwest Point, Campground Chills and Thrills at Cedars of Lebanon, a Backcountry Canyon Hike at Cloudland and a Pelt Petting Zoo on the Ocoee

Or: Paddle a Quiet Mountain Lake at Dusk, Learn Why Black Bears Came Back, Bake Bread and Churn Butter Like Grandma Did, Stitch Your First Embroidery, Make a Yarn Ghost the Pioneer Way, Trick-or-Treat Campsite to Campsite on a Hayride Night, Hike Deep Into a Georgia Canyon With a Ranger and Pet a Pelt by the Olympic River — Six New Day Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Thursday, October 22, 2026

Good morning, neighbor. Pour the coffee and grab a pencil. Here’s batch number fifty-nine of Hundred-Mile Happenings, our running list of unusual, family-friendly outings within about 100 miles of Dunlap. Same promise as always: when, where, how far, what it costs and who’ll love it, in plain words. And no repeats. Every one of these is new to the list.

This batch starts tomorrow and runs into late November. On Friday, Oct. 23, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park takes a dozen folks on an evening kayak float around Arch Lake, and on Tuesday, Oct. 27, a ranger there tells how black bears came back to the Upper Cumberland. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Cordell Hull Birthplace in Byrdstown teaches bread and butter making in the morning and beginner’s embroidery after lunch. On Monday, Oct. 26, Fort Southwest Point in Kingston hosts a free yarn-ghost craft with a bit of pioneer history. Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, brings “Chills and Thrills” in the campgrounds at Cedars of Lebanon, with hayrides and a costume contest. Then in November, Cloudland Canyon in Georgia leads a backcountry hike along Bear Creek on three dates, and Ocoee River State Park holds a free pelt petting zoo and an easy riverside trail hike.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Fri., Oct. 23, 5:30–7 p.m. (Central — our time): Arch Lake Evening Kayak Float, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, near Jamestown. $10; boats provided; only 12 spots.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 9 a.m.–noon (Central — our time): Bread and Butter Making, Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, Byrdstown. $5; sign up first.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 1–2 p.m. (Central — our time): Beginner’s Embroidery Class, same park. $5; ages 8 and up; sign up first.
• Mon., Oct. 26, 6–8 p.m. Eastern (5–7 p.m. OUR time): Spooky Yarn Dolls, Fort Southwest Point State Historic Park, Kingston. Free; sign up.
• Tue., Oct. 27, 10–11 a.m. (Central — our time): Bears at Pickett, CCC Museum, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park. Free (donation optional).
• Sat., Oct. 31, 4–8 p.m. (Central — our time): “Chills and Thrills” Halloween in the Campgrounds, Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Lebanon. $2 a person for non-campers, presale only.
• Sun., Nov. 8; Sat., Nov. 14; or Sat., Nov. 28, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Eastern (8 a.m.–1 p.m. OUR time): Bear Creek Backcountry Hike, Cloudland Canyon State Park, Rising Fawn, Ga. Cost: check before you go; call to reserve.
• Sun., Nov. 15, 1–2 p.m. Eastern (noon–1 p.m. OUR time): Pelt Petting Zoo, Sugarloaf Mountain Park (Ocoee River State Park), Benton. Free.
• Sun., Nov. 22, noon–1:30 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. OUR time): Rhododendron Trail Hike, Ocoee River State Park. Free; $3 parking.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: Kingston, the Ocoee and Cloudland Canyon are on EASTERN time. Pickett, Byrdstown and Lebanon are CENTRAL, same as us. For the Eastern ones, subtract an hour: Fort Southwest Point’s 6 p.m. craft is 5 p.m. our time, Cloudland’s 9 a.m. hike is 8 a.m. our time, and the Ocoee pelt program at 1 p.m. Eastern is noon our time. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 — set the clocks back Saturday night after Halloween. The one-hour difference between Eastern and Central stays the same after the change.

🛶 Paddle Arch Lake at Dusk — Then Come Back to Learn How the Black Bears Returned — at Pickett

Way up near the Kentucky line, Pickett CCC Memorial State Park is a 922-acre pocket of sandstone arches, rock houses and quiet water built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It has two new outings for you. On Friday evening, Oct. 23, Ranger Hatton leads the Arch Lake Evening Kayak Float, a quiet cruise around the little lake to take in the sights and sounds of a fall evening from the water. The park provides the kayaks, life jackets and paddles. Then on Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, a ranger at the CCC Museum tells the story in Bears at Pickett: the American black bear was once almost gone from the Upper Cumberland, and in recent years it has been growing back to a healthy population.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Kayak float Fri., Oct. 23, 2026, 5:30–7 p.m. Bears talk Tue., Oct. 27, 2026, 10–11 a.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, 4605 Pickett Park Hwy., Jamestown, TN 38556. The float meets at the boathouse; the bear talk meets at the CCC Museum. Park: (931) 879-5821.
• How far: About 98 miles, roughly 2 hours 25 minutes. For the float, leave Dunlap by about 3 p.m. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Kayak float $10; no refunds unless the park cancels. Bear talk free, with an optional donation. Sign up for both.
• Who’ll love it: Paddlers who like it calm, couples, photographers and anybody who’s heard a neighbor say “I saw a bear!” and wants the real story.
• Good to know: The float is capped at 12 people in 4 tandem and 4 solo kayaks, handed out first come, first served, and tandems need two people. Children must be with an adult. The park recommends a headlamp, because you’ll finish near dark, and then it’s a long drive home at night. Since this float is tomorrow, call the park first to see if spots are left.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Arch Lake Evening Kayak Float)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Bears at Pickett)

🍞 Bake Bread, Churn Butter and Learn Your First Embroidery Stitches at the Cordell Hull Birthplace

Up in Byrdstown, Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park keeps the log-cabin beginnings of a sharecropper’s son who became Secretary of State and won the Nobel Peace Prize. On Saturday, Oct. 24, it’s a day of old-fashioned home skills with seasonal ranger Lexie. In the morning, Bread and Butter Making teaches you to bake bread and make the butter to go with it, with the hope that you’ll go home confident enough to do it in your own kitchen. After lunch, the Beginner’s Embroidery Class covers the basic stitches (the running stitch, back stitch and split stitch, among others) plus a little history of hand embroidery.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Bread and butter Sat., Oct. 24, 2026, 9 a.m.–noon. Embroidery 1–2 p.m. the same day. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, 1300 Cordell Hull Memorial Drive, Byrdstown, TN 38549. Bread and butter meets at the park office; embroidery meets at the museum. Host: (931) 864-3247.
• How far: About 99 miles, roughly 2 hours 5 minutes. To be there by 9, leave Dunlap by about 6:45 a.m. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5 each. The park provides all materials. Sign up first so there are enough supplies.
• Who’ll love it: Home cooks, crafters, grandmothers and granddaughters, and anybody who wants to learn the skills our grandparents took for granted.
• Good to know: Bread and butter is recommended for ages 15 and up; younger children are welcome with an adult’s help. Embroidery is for ages 8 and up. Both are canceled in bad weather. Do both and you’ll have a full, easy day with a lunch break in between.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Bread and Butter Making)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Beginner’s Embroidery Class)

👻 Make a Yarn Ghost the Pioneer Way at Fort Southwest Point

On the hill above the Clinch and Tennessee rivers in Kingston, Fort Southwest Point State Historic Park marks the site of a frontier fort from the 1790s. On Monday evening, Oct. 26, rangers set up on the visitor center patio for Spooky Yarn Dolls, a “frightfully fun” craft where you make a yarn ghost or character to take home. Along the way you’ll hear the history of yarn dolls and why Tennessee’s early settlers used yarn instead of porcelain or wood.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Mon., Oct. 26, 2026, 6–8 p.m. EASTERN (5–7 p.m. our time). The park describes it as a 30-minute program within that window.
• Where: Visitor center patio, Fort Southwest Point State Historic Park, 1226 S. Kentucky St., Kingston, TN 37763. Host: (865) 567-3977.
• How far: About 81 miles, roughly 1 hour 45 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free. All supplies provided. The listing has a Register button, so sign up.
• Who’ll love it: Crafty kids, homeschool families, grandparents who remember homemade toys and anybody who likes a little history with their Halloween.
• Good to know: Recommended for ages 7 and up, and children must be with an adult. ⚠️ Check before you go: the listing runs 6–8 p.m. Eastern but calls it a 30-minute program, so call to ask what time to arrive.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Spooky Yarn Dolls)

🎃 Trick-or-Treat Campsite to Campsite, With Hayrides and a Costume Contest, at Cedars of Lebanon

Halloween night, Cedars of Lebanon State Park holds its annual “Chills and Thrills” Halloween in the Campgrounds. Campers decorate their sites (the best ones win free nights), and the public is invited to trick-or-treat from site to site. The park promises hayrides, special guests, a costume contest “and so much more! Oh and CANDY!” It also sets aside a sensory-friendly “soft” trick-or-treat hour for little ones and kids who do better with less noise.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 31, 2026, 4–8 p.m. Central Time — our time. Public parking opens at 4; festivities start at 4:30; costume contest at 5 at the Assembly Hall; sensory-friendly trick-or-treating 4:30–6; regular trick-or-treating 6–8. The park says times are tentative.
• Where: Cedars of Lebanon State Park, 328 Cedar Forest Road, Lebanon, TN 37090. No parking in the campground: non-campers park at the Nature Center lot, with overflow at the splash pad lot. Host: Ranger Shauna Bridgers, (615) 443-2769.
• How far: About 94 miles, roughly 2 hours 10 minutes. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $2 per person over age 2 for non-campers, presale only. Tickets went on sale Oct. 4 and are limited, so buy them before you drive.
• Who’ll love it: Little trick-or-treaters, families who want Halloween in the woods, and grandparents with a wagon.
• Good to know: It ends at 8, so it’s a late drive home. Bring flashlights or glow sticks. Remember to set your clocks back when you get home.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — 2026 Halloween in the Campgrounds, Cedars of Lebanon)

🥾 Hike Deep Into a Georgia Canyon Along Bear Creek at Cloudland Canyon

Just over the line in Georgia, Cloudland Canyon State Park sits on the west side of Lookout Mountain, with a gorge most folks only see from the rim overlooks. In November the park offers a guided Bear Creek Backcountry Hike on three dates, a chance to see a wild part of the park many visitors never reach.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sun., Nov. 8; Sat., Nov. 14; or Sat., Nov. 28, 2026, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. EASTERN (8 a.m.–1 p.m. our time).
• Where: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Road, Rising Fawn, GA 30738. Park: (706) 657-4050. Ask where to meet when you reserve.
• How far: About 57 miles, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes. To be there by 8 our time, leave Dunlap by about 6:30 a.m. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: ⚠️ Check before you go. The state’s tourism listing doesn’t post a price. One regional guide lists it at $12 plus parking; Georgia state parks charge a daily parking fee.
• Who’ll love it: Strong hikers, trail runners resting their legs, and anybody who has looked down into Cloudland from the overlook and wondered what’s at the bottom.
• Good to know: ⚠️ This is not an easy walk. The same regional guide describes it as a strenuous 7.5-mile hike with two water crossings and suggests packing lunch, water and dry socks. The Bear Creek trail can close after heavy rain. Call the park to reserve and to confirm distance and difficulty.

👉 Read more (Explore Georgia — Bear Creek Backcountry Hike)

🦝 Pet a Pelt by the Olympic River — and Walk the Easy Rhododendron Trail — at the Ocoee

The Ocoee River hosted Olympic whitewater in 1996, and Ocoee River State Park has two gentle November outings for you. On Sunday, Nov. 15, Ranger James brings native mammal furs to Sugarloaf Mountain Park for a Pelt Petting Zoo: “Have you ever wanted to pet the wildlife?” Sugarloaf sits below Ocoee Dam No. 1 and has a scale model of the Olympic race channel to look at. A week later, on Sunday, Nov. 22, he leads a family-friendly Rhododendron Trail Hike, about 3 miles in-and-back on an easy gravel trail along the river.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Pelt Petting Zoo Sun., Nov. 15, 2026, 1–2 p.m. EASTERN (noon–1 p.m. our time). Rhododendron Trail Hike Sun., Nov. 22, 2026, noon–1:30 p.m. EASTERN (11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. our time).
• Where: Pelts: the pavilion by the bathrooms at Sugarloaf Mountain Park, 2144 Hwy. 40 (U.S. 64), Benton, TN 37307. Hike: the Rhododendron Trailhead, across the bridge from the main parking area of the Olympic section on U.S. 64 (the Ocoee Whitewater Center). Ranger: (423) 769-5271.
• How far: Sugarloaf about 75 miles, roughly 1 hour 40 minutes; the Whitewater Center about 90 miles, roughly 2 hours. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Both free (optional donation when you register). The hike has a $3 per-vehicle parking fee at the Ocoee Whitewater Center.
• Who’ll love it: Kids who like to touch everything, nature lovers, and families who want a pretty, flat-ish river walk without a big climb.
• Good to know: For the hike, bring sturdy shoes, water, sunscreen and snacks; minors need an adult. Both listings have a Register button, so sign up.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Pelt Petting Zoo)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Rhododendron Trail Hike)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Fri., Oct. 23 (TOMORROW), 5:30–7 p.m. (Central — our time): Arch Lake Evening Kayak Float, Pickett. $10; 12 spots; call first.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–2 p.m. (Central — our time): Bread and Butter Making, then Beginner’s Embroidery, Cordell Hull Birthplace, Byrdstown. $5 each; sign up.
• Mon., Oct. 26, 5–7 p.m. OUR time (6–8 Eastern): Spooky Yarn Dolls, Fort Southwest Point, Kingston. Free; sign up.
• Tue., Oct. 27, 10–11 a.m. (Central — our time): Bears at Pickett, CCC Museum. Free.
• Sat., Oct. 31, 4–8 p.m. (Central — our time): “Chills and Thrills” Halloween in the Campgrounds, Cedars of Lebanon. $2 presale only.
• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.
• Sun., Nov. 8; Sat., Nov. 14; Sat., Nov. 28, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. OUR time (9–2 Eastern): Bear Creek Backcountry Hike, Cloudland Canyon, Ga. Strenuous; call to reserve.
• Sun., Nov. 15, noon–1 p.m. OUR time (1–2 Eastern): Pelt Petting Zoo, Sugarloaf Mountain Park, Benton. Free.
• Sun., Nov. 22, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. OUR time (noon–1:30 Eastern): Rhododendron Trail Hike, Ocoee. Free; $3 parking.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: Kingston, the Ocoee and Cloudland Canyon are Eastern — subtract an hour. Pickett, Byrdstown and Lebanon are Central — our time.
• ✅ Act fast on the Pickett kayak float — it’s tomorrow and only 12 people can go.
• ✅ Buy Cedars of Lebanon Halloween tickets ahead. They’re presale only and limited.
• ✅ Sign up for the bread, embroidery, yarn-doll and Ocoee programs so the rangers have enough supplies.
• ✅ Call ahead on details that weren’t posted: the Cloudland hike’s price, meeting spot and distance, and what time to arrive for the yarn dolls.
• ✅ The Pickett float and the Cedars Halloween night end after dark, far from home. Bring a co-pilot, a headlamp or flashlight, and consider staying nearby.
• ✅ Pack sturdy shoes, water and a jacket. For Cloudland, add lunch, extra water and dry socks. For the kayak float, clothes that can get wet.
• ✅ Outdoor and craft programs can be canceled for weather. Check the event page the morning you go.
• ✅ Fill up and grab a biscuit before you leave the Valley. Find local stops on Dunlap.Directory.

Remember: check the clock, check the weather, and pick the outing that fits your crew. A good day trip gets you home tired and happy, not worn out.

— Dunlap.Today

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Are these events already on earlier Hundred-Mile Happenings lists?

No. We keep a covered-events list and skip anything we’ve already featured. All of these outings are new for article #59. We’ve featured other programs at some of the same parks, like Pickett’s Mesa Top and Hazard Cave hikes, Fort Southwest Point’s Pelts on the Frontier, the Ocoee Halloween float, Cordell Hull’s coffee-and-donuts test kitchen and the 1930s Christmas at Cedars of Lebanon, but these are separate events.

Which ones are free?

Spooky Yarn Dolls, Bears at Pickett, the Pelt Petting Zoo and the Rhododendron Trail Hike are free (some invite an optional donation; the Ocoee hike has a $3 parking fee). The Cedars of Lebanon Halloween night is $2 a person, bread and butter and embroidery are $5 each, and the Pickett kayak float is $10. The Cloudland Canyon hike’s price isn’t posted on the official listing, so check before you go.

Which ones are best for young kids?

The Cedars of Lebanon campground trick-or-treat is made for them, with a sensory-friendly early hour. The Pelt Petting Zoo is hands-on. Spooky Yarn Dolls is for ages 7 and up with an adult, and embroidery is for ages 8 and up. Bread and butter making is recommended for 15 and up, though younger kids may come with an adult’s help. The Cloudland hike is strenuous and best for fit adults and teens.

Which ones are easiest if I don’t walk far?

Bears at Pickett, bread and butter, embroidery and Spooky Yarn Dolls are sit-down programs. The Pelt Petting Zoo is under a pavilion. The kayak float is seated but takes some paddling. The Halloween campground night involves walking site to site. The Rhododendron Trail is about 3 miles on easy gravel, and the Cloudland Bear Creek hike is long and hard.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. So are Pickett, Byrdstown (Cordell Hull) and Lebanon (Cedars of Lebanon). Kingston (Roane County), the Ocoee (Polk County) and Cloudland Canyon in Georgia are on Eastern time, one hour ahead. Fort Southwest Point’s 6 p.m. craft is 5 p.m. our time, and Cloudland’s 9 a.m. hike is 8 a.m. our time.

How do you pick these events?

We look for one-of-a-kind, family-friendly outings within about 100 miles of Dunlap, and we check each one against the organizer’s own page or a trusted listing whenever we can. When a detail isn’t posted, we say so. We keep a list so we never repeat an event. If you know a hidden gem, tell us at Dunlap.Today.

🔗 Other Resources

• Tennessee State Parks — Arch Lake Evening Kayak Float, Pickett
• Tennessee State Parks — Bears at Pickett
• Tennessee State Parks — Bread and Butter Making, Cordell Hull Birthplace
• Tennessee State Parks — Beginner’s Embroidery Class, Cordell Hull Birthplace
• Tennessee State Parks — Spooky Yarn Dolls, Fort Southwest Point
• Tennessee State Parks — 2026 Halloween in the Campgrounds, Cedars of Lebanon
• Explore Georgia — Bear Creek Backcountry Hike, Cloudland Canyon
• Tennessee State Parks — Pelt Petting Zoo, Ocoee River State Park
• Tennessee State Parks — Rhododendron Trail Hike, Ocoee River State Park
• Tennessee State Parks — Park Happenings calendar
• National Weather Service Morristown: Valley forecast
• Dunlap.Directory: Local businesses for gas, food and supplies

🌅 Slow Down and Go See Something

You don’t need a big trip to make a good memory. A kayak sliding across a still lake at dusk, a loaf of bread you baked yourself, your first row of stitches, a little yarn ghost in a child’s hand, a campground full of tiny trick-or-treaters, a creek crossing deep in a Georgia canyon and a soft fur pelt by the Olympic river are all within a drive of the Valley. Grab a buddy, check the clock and the weather, and go.

Keep exploring, keep it easy and keep reading. Read Dunlap.Today for more Hundred-Mile Happenings, and find the Valley businesses that’ll fuel your trip on Dunlap.Directory.