Doe River Trail, located near Hampton TN, features a stunning view of the river and is good for all skill levels. This out and back trail is 4.9 miles with a elevation change of 682 feet. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on their leashes. Access to the trail is approved by the Doe River Ministry. After parking, stop in the office and say hello. The office is open Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00. Here is their number if you want to call in advance: (423) 725-4010.
The summer months (Mid May thru early August) is completely off limits due to the summer camps, please plan accordingly!
The Doe River is a tributary of the Watauga River in northeast Tennessee in the United States. The river forms in Carter County near the North Carolina line, just south of Roan Mountain State Park, and flows to Elizabethton.
History, geology and scenic beauty combine in an easy stroll through a stunning river gorge. The region’s history fairly seems to emanate from the narrow gauge rails that guide hikers’ feet along a route once plied by the engines and cars of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina railroad, better known as the Tweetsie.
For the most part, the gorge remains as nature created it.
What is the simple definition of Gorge?
A deep, narrow valley with steep sides, usually formed by a river or stream cutting through hard rock.
How are gorges formed?
Streams carve through hard layers of rock, breaking down or eroding it. Sediment from the worn-away rock is then carried downstream. Over time, this erosion will form the steep walls of a gorge. The flooding of streams or rivers increases the speed and intensity of this erosion, creating deeper and wider gorges.
This is know as Uniformitarianism.
This means that the gorge is formed gradually over a very long period of time, usually thousands of years. There are several factors that lead to this formation. Plate tectonics, limestone, and the powerful water flow all play a factor in gradually creating these physical features. The movement and change of the earth’s surface is known as plate tectonics. The movement caused the gradual uplifting of ground and the presence of limestone in the rock also facilitated the creation of this gorge. The limestone is much easier to erode than other rocks as a result of its solubility in water and also the fact that limestone is very sensitive to acids and water is usually slightly acidic.
The types of stone here consists mostly of thick-bedded arkosic sandstone and quartzite but includes two basalt layers. Above the upper basalt are several beds of massive vitreous quartzite and two of sedimentary greenstone. The lower part of the section contains coarse conglomerate and is probably not far above the base of the formation.
In this area, the formation is well exposed in the gorge of the Doe River, the basal beds appearing here at Pardee Point, where conglomeratic sandstone lies unconformably on the truncated surface of the basement rocks.
The principle of uniformitarianism is essential to understanding Earth’s history. However, prior to 1830, uniformitarianism was not the prevailing theory. Until that time, scientists subscribed to the idea of catastrophism. Catastrophism suggested the features seen on the surface of Earth, such as mountains, were formed by large, abrupt changes—or catastrophes.
Permission for this Earth Cache was given by Doe River Ministry.
From the information provided and your observations- Please answers to the following questions:
1. Based on your observations, do you think that the gorge was formed through Uniformitarianism or Catastrophism?
2. What evidence do you see that supports your conclusion?
Answers can be sent via the message center or email.
You are welcome to post photos of your visit to the site, but this is optional and not part of the logging requirements.
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