Fall Local Living 2023

Fall Local Living—15 Mountain Goat Trail T he Mountain Goat Trail follows the tracks of the former Moun- tain Goat Railroad, which dates to 1856. There are two sections of the trail. The fi rst section links Sewanee, in Franklin County, and Montea- gle, in Grundy County, with a paved pathway stretching nearly fi ve miles. The route parallels U.S. Highway 41, providing a safe alterna- tive between the towns for pedestrians and bicyclists. MGT o ff ers a nice mix of both quiet wooded areas and connections to businesses where travelers can grab a drink or a bite to eat. The second section links Monteagle and Tracy City. Like the Se- wanee-Monteagle segment, the 11-mile section also threads through wooded settings and past homes and businesses, ending at Round House Park in Historic Downtown Tracy City. The rail-trail will one day be 35 miles, extending further west to Cowan and further east from Tracy City, Coalmont, Gruetli-Laager, and Palmer. Mountain Goat Railroad was primarily used to move coal out of the Tennessee mountains. Mountain Goat Alliance, a nonpro fi t, was created to raise funds and develop the right-of-way rail corridor into a multi-use trail.