🧭 Hundred-Mile Happenings: Fall Color at Stone Door, Granny Squares and Shorebirds at Harrison Bay, Butter Churning at Cumberland Mountain, a Bike Ride to The Boils, Knot Tying at Fiery Gizzard, Stories and S'mores at Burgess Falls and a Hike to Three Forks Lake

Or: Stand in the Stone Door, Crochet a Square for a Park Blanket, Shake Your Own Butter, Coast Downhill to The Boils, Learn a Knot That Holds, Roast a Marshmallow Over a Folk Tale and Walk to a Hidden Lake — Seven New Day Trips Within About 100 Miles of Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Good evening, neighbor. Here’s batch number fifty-four 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 round is all about the last ten days of October, before the clocks fall back, and it’s a park ranger special: small, friendly, mostly $5 or less, and close to home. On Thursday morning, Oct. 22, a ranger leads a 2-mile fall-color walk to the Stone Door at Savage Gulf. On Friday, Oct. 23, Harrison Bay State Park offers a free shorebird walk and a free granny-square crochet circle for a park blanket, while Cumberland Mountain State Park near Crossville offers a homestead house tour, a birds-of-prey talk and butter churning. On Saturday, Oct. 24, rangers at Cummins Falls lead an 11-mile, mostly downhill bike ride to The Boils, with corn husk dolls for the non-riders. On Sunday, Oct. 25, Fiery Gizzard teaches free knot tying, and Burgess Falls serves up Stories and S’mores that evening and again Friday, Oct. 30. And on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 31, a ranger leads a 3-mile foliage hike to Three Forks Lake, back at Savage Gulf.

⏱️ Your 30-second trip list

• Thu., Oct. 22, 8:30–10:30 a.m. (Central — our time): Autumn Colors at Stone Door, Savage Gulf State Park, Beersheba Springs. $5; register ahead.
• Fri., Oct. 23, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern (8 a.m. and noon our time): Birding by the Shore and Appalachian Stitches crochet circle, Harrison Bay State Park. Both free.
• Fri., Oct. 23, 2–5:30 p.m. (Central — our time): Homestead House tour, Birds of Prey and Learn to Churn, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville. $5 tour, $3 churning; raptor talk price not posted.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 9 a.m.–noon (Central — our time): Bicycle Ride With a Ranger to The Boils, Cummins Falls State Park, near Cookeville. $15 with your own bike, $20 to rent. Or Corn Husk Dolls, 10:30 a.m., $5.
• Sun., Oct. 25, 1:30–3 p.m. (Central — our time): It’s Knot Time, Fiery Gizzard State Park visitor center, Monteagle. Free; registration required.
• Sun., Oct. 25 and Fri., Oct. 30, 5–7 p.m. (Central — our time): Stories and S’mores, Burgess Falls State Park, near Sparta. Cost not posted.
• Sat., Oct. 31, 1:30–3:30 p.m. (Central — our time): Fall Foliage Hike to Three Forks Lake, Savage Gulf State Park. $5; register ahead.

🕰️ The one thing to remember: only Harrison Bay is on Eastern time. Harrison Bay sits in Hamilton County, one hour ahead of us, so subtract an hour: its 9 a.m. bird walk is 8 a.m. OUR time, and its 1 p.m. crochet circle is noon OUR time. Beersheba Springs, Crossville, Cookeville, Monteagle and Burgess Falls are all Central, same as Dunlap, so their times are our times. Every outing on this list comes before daylight saving time ends (that’s 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1), so it’s dark around 6:30 p.m. our time. Most of these programs need a sign-up ahead of time, and seats are small.

🍁 Stand in the Stone Door and Soak Up the Fall Color With a Ranger

The Stone Door is one of the great sights of the Cumberland Plateau, right in our backyard: a narrow crack in the bluff, about 10 feet wide, that early travelers used as a doorway from the mountaintop down into the gorge. The overlook beside it looks out over Savage Gulf, and in late October the whole canyon turns red, orange and gold. On a Thursday morning, a ranger leads an easy-going 2-mile round-trip hike to the Stone Door Overlook to catch the color at its best.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Thu., Oct. 22, 2026, 8:30–10:30 a.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Savage Gulf State Park, 1183 Stone Door Rd., Beersheba Springs, TN 37305. Host: (931) 692-3887.
• How far: About 40–45 miles, roughly 1 hour, by way of Altamont and Beersheba Springs. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5. Register for the event on the park’s page.
• Who’ll love it: Leaf-peepers, photographers, grandparents who want a short walk with a big payoff, and anybody who has never stood at the Stone Door.
• Good to know: It’s a short walk, but the overlook is a cliff edge, so keep little ones by the hand. To be there by 8:30, plan to leave the Valley by about 7:20 a.m. Bring a jacket; Plateau mornings run cool.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Autumn Colors at Stone Door)

🧶 Crochet a Granny Square for a Park Blanket and Spot Shorebirds at Harrison Bay

Here’s a sweet one. Harrison Bay State Park, on Chickamauga Lake, is making a community blanket one granny square at a time. Its Appalachian Stitches program teaches the classic crochet square that grew out of mountain quilting bees and pattern-sharing, then sews everyone’s squares into one big blanket for display in the park’s Interpretive Center. Never held a crochet hook? That’s fine; they’ll walk you through it. Earlier that same morning, a ranger leads Birding by the Shore, a beginner’s walk to spot shorebirds and waterfowl on the lake, with binoculars and spotting scopes to borrow.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Oct. 23, 2026. Birding by the Shore: 9–10 a.m. Eastern. Appalachian Stitches: 1–2:30 p.m. Eastern. Subtract an hour: that’s 8 a.m. and noon OUR time.
• Where: Harrison Bay State Park, 8411 Harrison Bay Rd., Harrison, TN 37341. The bird walk meets at the Point Trail parking lot (by the Point Trail and Island Loop trailhead). The crochet circle meets at the interpretive center at the park entrance.
• How far: About 45–50 miles, roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes, heading south toward Chattanooga. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Both free. All yarn and crochet hooks are provided. Spots are limited, so pre-registration is encouraged.
• Who’ll love it: Crafters, grandmothers and granddaughters, homeschool families, bird watchers and anybody who’d like to leave a little of themselves in a state park.
• Good to know: If you already crochet, the park says you’re welcome to bring and donate your own granny squares to the blanket. Make a day of it: bird walk in the morning, a lakeside picnic, then the crochet circle.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Appalachian Stitches: Community Blanket Making)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Birding by the Shore)

🧈 Tour a Homestead House, Meet the Raptors and Shake Your Own Butter at Cumberland Mountain

Cumberland Mountain State Park, just south of Crossville, grew up alongside the Cumberland Homesteads, a 1930s project that gave struggling families a fresh start in sturdy stone houses. On one Friday afternoon, the park lines up three short programs back to back. First, tour the Crabtree House, an original Homestead house, starting with a porch talk and then a look inside. Next, head to the aviary behind the visitor center for Birds of Prey, a talk about Tennessee’s raptors with the park’s own animal ambassadors. Finish with Learn to Churn! at the CCC Museum patio, where a ranger shares the homestead story through food and you shake (or churn) your own butter to take home.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Fri., Oct. 23, 2026. Homestead House Museum tour: 2–3 p.m. Birds of Prey: 4–4:30 p.m. Learn to Churn: 5–5:30 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: House tour at the Homestead House Museum (Crabtree House), 2611 Pigeon Ridge Rd.; Birds of Prey at the aviary behind the visitor center; Learn to Churn at the CCC Museum patio. Park office: 24 Office Dr., Crossville, TN 38555, (931) 484-6138.
• How far: About 45–55 miles, roughly 1–1¼ hours, by way of Pikeville and U.S. 127 north. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: House tour $5. Learn to Churn $3. The Birds of Prey page doesn’t list a price or a sign-up, so check before you go. Register ahead for the tour and the churning.
• Who’ll love it: History buffs, kids who like animals, anybody whose grandmother had a churn, and folks who’ve driven past the Homesteads stone houses and wondered about them.
• Good to know: Learn to Churn is for ages 8 and up, and under-12s need an adult. The house tour has limited parking and the house is not ADA accessible; wear sturdy shoes. You’ll head home around dusk, so bring a co-pilot.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Homestead House Museum)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Birds of Prey)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Learn to Churn!)

🚲 Coast Mostly Downhill to The Boils on a Ranger Bike Ride at Cummins Falls

Ever heard of The Boils? It’s a spot on the Roaring River in the countryside around Cummins Falls, and it makes a fine destination for a ride. On a Saturday morning, a ranger leads an 11-mile guided bike ride there, mostly downhill and rated easy to moderate. Best part: when you get there, park trucks shuttle you back to the start, so it’s a one-way trip. Not a bike rider? The same morning, park staff teach Corn Husk Dolls at the visitor center: the history of the old toy, and you make your own.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 24, 2026. Bike ride: 9 a.m.–noon. Corn Husk Dolls: 10:30–11:30 a.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Cummins Falls State Park, 390 Cummins Falls Lane, Cookeville, TN 38501. Park: (931) 268-7223.
• How far: About 70–80 miles, roughly 1¾ hours, by way of Spencer, Sparta and Cookeville. Approximate; check your map app. To make a 9 a.m. start, plan to leave the Valley by about 7 a.m.
• Cost: Bike ride: $15 if you bring your own bike, $20 to rent one. Corn Husk Dolls: $5, all materials provided. Register ahead for both.
• Who’ll love it: Families with teens, casual riders who don’t love hills, and crafty kids (and grown-ups) for the corn husk dolls.
• Good to know: The park has only a few rental bikes. If the ride shows full but you can bring your own, call (931) 268-7223 to sign up. Wear closed-toe shoes and pack water and a snack. The two programs overlap, so one grown-up can ride while another stays for the dolls.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Bicycle Ride With a Ranger)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Corn Husk Dolls)

🪢 Learn the Knots That Hold a Tent, a Tarp and a Load at Fiery Gizzard

Here’s a handy skill that lasts a lifetime. At Fiery Gizzard State Park on the mountain near Monteagle, Ranger Josh teaches It’s Knot Time, a free, hands-on class in the essential knots for camping, tying down gear, putting up a shelter and staying safe outdoors. He shows each knot step by step, then you practice with help, and he explains when and why to use each one. It’s beginner-friendly, with all materials provided.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sun., Oct. 25, 2026, 1:30–3 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Fiery Gizzard State Park visitor center, 11745 U.S. 41, Monteagle, TN 37356. Outside at the pavilion if the weather’s nice, indoors if not. Host: (931) 924-2980.
• How far: About 35–45 miles, roughly 1 hour, up the mountain toward Tracy City and Monteagle. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Free, with an optional $5 donation. Registration is required; space and supplies are limited.
• Who’ll love it: Scouts, campers, fishermen, truck owners, and grandparents who’d like to finally teach the grandkids a proper knot.
• Good to know: An afternoon class means a daylight drive both ways. Pair it with a stroll at the park afterward.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — It’s Knot Time)

🔥 Roast a Marshmallow and Hear Old American Folk Tales at Burgess Falls

Burgess Falls State Park near Sparta is famous for its 103-foot waterfall on the Falling Water River. Two evenings this week, the park keeps it simple and cozy: Stories and S’mores. Snack on s’mores and listen to American folk stories and folklore, the kind of tales that used to get told on front porches before television.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sun., Oct. 25, 2026, 5–7 p.m., and again Fri., Oct. 30, 5–7 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Burgess Falls State Park, 8487 Burgess Falls Rd., Baxter, TN 38544. Park office: (931) 432-5312. The page doesn’t say exactly where in the park to meet, so ask the park before you go.
• How far: About 55–65 miles, roughly 1¼–1½ hours, by way of Spencer and Sparta. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: Not posted, and the page doesn’t mention a sign-up. Check before you go.
• Who’ll love it: Young kids, grandparents who love a good yarn, and anybody who thinks a marshmallow tastes best outside.
• Good to know: It’ll be dark by the time you head home, so bring a flashlight and a co-pilot. Burgess Falls gets busy; the park asks visitors not to park on the roadside.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Stories and S’mores, Oct. 25)
👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Stories and S’mores, Oct. 30)

🍂 Walk to Hidden Three Forks Lake for the Last Big Color of October

Back at Savage Gulf, Ranger Jamie leads an exclusive guided hike to Three Forks Lake to catch what the park calls “astonishing” fall foliage. Along the way, the ranger will talk about why leaves change color and other interesting things you spot in the woods. It’s about 3 miles round trip, rated moderate, and a fine way to spend the last Saturday afternoon of October.

Why it’s worth the drive:

• When: Sat., Oct. 31, 2026, 1:30–3:30 p.m. Central Time — our time.
• Where: Meet at the Savage Gulf North Trailhead (Stone Door Trailhead), 1183 Stone Door Rd., Beersheba Springs, TN 37305. Host: (931) 692-3887.
• How far: About 40–45 miles, roughly 1 hour, by way of Altamont. Approximate; check your map app.
• Cost: $5. Register ahead. To get a refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the start.
• Who’ll love it: Regular walkers, families with older kids, nature-curious folks and anybody who wants one more good look at the color before November.
• Good to know: The park warns the footing can be tricky, so wear sturdy shoes and bring your own water and a snack. It’s weather permitting. You’ll be home before dark, in plenty of time for trick-or-treaters, and then set the clocks back an hour that night.

👉 Read more (Tennessee State Parks — Fall Foliage Hike to Three Forks Lake)

✅ Remember These Dates

• Thu., Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m. (Central — our time): Autumn Colors at Stone Door, Savage Gulf. $5; register.
• Fri., Oct. 23, 8 a.m. and noon OUR time (9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern): Birding by the Shore and Appalachian Stitches, Harrison Bay. Free.
• Fri., Oct. 23, 2, 4 and 5 p.m. (Central — our time): Homestead House tour, Birds of Prey and Learn to Churn, Cumberland Mountain.
• Sat., Oct. 24, 9 a.m. (Central — our time): Bike ride to The Boils, Cummins Falls. Corn Husk Dolls at 10:30.
• Sun., Oct. 25, 1:30 p.m. (Central — our time): It’s Knot Time, Fiery Gizzard. Free; registration required.
• Sun., Oct. 25 and Fri., Oct. 30, 5 p.m. (Central — our time): Stories and S’mores, Burgess Falls.
• Sat., Oct. 31, 1:30 p.m. (Central — our time): Fall Foliage Hike to Three Forks Lake, Savage Gulf. $5; register.
• Sat. night, Oct. 31: Set the clocks back one hour. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1.

✅ Trip-planning checklist

• ✅ Write the time zone on the fridge note: only Harrison Bay is Eastern — subtract an hour. Everything else is Central — our time.
• ✅ Sign up early. These are small ranger programs, and the sign-up buttons are on each park’s event page. Some fill fast.
• ✅ For the hikes and the bike ride, pack sturdy shoes, water, a snack and a layer. Late-October mornings on the Plateau run cool.
• ✅ Call ahead on details that weren’t posted: the Birds of Prey price, and the Stories and S’mores price, sign-up and meeting spot.
• ✅ For the evening programs, bring a flashlight and a co-pilot. It’s dark by about 6:30 p.m. our time.
• ✅ Programs can change with the weather. Check the park’s page the morning you go.
• ✅ Fill up and grab a snack 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 seven outings are new for article #54. We’ve featured other events at some of the same parks, like the Stone Door Sunset and Savage Gulf Day Loop hikes, Harrison Bay’s boat tours, Cumberland Mountain’s lantern hikes and Burgess Falls’ Window Cliffs hike, but these are separate programs.

Which ones are free?

Birding by the Shore and Appalachian Stitches at Harrison Bay are free, and It’s Knot Time at Fiery Gizzard is free with an optional $5 donation. The Stone Door and Three Forks Lake hikes and the Homestead House tour are $5, Learn to Churn is $3, Corn Husk Dolls is $5, and the bike ride is $15 or $20. We couldn’t find a posted price for Birds of Prey or Stories and S’mores, so check before you go. Tennessee State Parks don’t charge to get in.

Which ones are best for young kids?

Stories and S’mores is made for them. Corn Husk Dolls, Birds of Prey and the short Stone Door walk are good family picks too. Learn to Churn is for ages 8 and up, with an adult for anyone under 12.

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

The crochet circle, Birds of Prey, Learn to Churn, Corn Husk Dolls, the knot class and Stories and S’mores involve little or no hiking. The Stone Door walk is 2 miles round trip and mostly level. The Three Forks Lake hike is 3 miles and moderate, and the bike ride is 11 miles. The Homestead House is not ADA accessible.

Eastern or Central: which clock do I set?

Dunlap and Sequatchie County are on Central. Savage Gulf, Cumberland Mountain, Cummins Falls, Fiery Gizzard and Burgess Falls are Central too. Harrison Bay is in Hamilton County on Eastern time, one hour ahead, so its 9 a.m. bird walk is 8 a.m. our time and its 1 p.m. crochet circle is noon 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 — Autumn Colors at Stone Door, Savage Gulf
• Tennessee State Parks — Fall Foliage Hike to Three Forks Lake, Savage Gulf
• Tennessee State Parks — Appalachian Stitches: Community Blanket Making, Harrison Bay
• Tennessee State Parks — Birding by the Shore, Harrison Bay
• Tennessee State Parks — Homestead House Museum, Cumberland Mountain
• Tennessee State Parks — Birds of Prey, Cumberland Mountain
• Tennessee State Parks — Learn to Churn!, Cumberland Mountain
• Tennessee State Parks — Bicycle Ride With a Ranger, Cummins Falls
• Tennessee State Parks — Corn Husk Dolls, Cummins Falls
• Tennessee State Parks — It’s Knot Time, Fiery Gizzard
• Tennessee State Parks — Stories and S’mores, Burgess Falls
• 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 doorway in the cliffs, a granny square with your name in it, a jar of butter you shook yourself, a cool downhill ride to bubbling water, a knot that holds, a marshmallow and a tall tale, and a quiet lake under gold leaves are all within a drive of the Valley this week. 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.