Bird Mountain Segment

Section	Sub-section	Miles	Elevation Gain West to East (ft)	Elevation Gain East to West (ft)	GPX File (Right click, save as)	AllTrails Link
Emory Tract	Partial Section	0.7	-	-	-	-
Frozen Head	Full Section - Ross Gap Trailhead to Garden Spot	7.0	1,880	1,290	Link	Page
	England Mountain	2.2	680	250	Link	Page
	Bird Mountain	2.2	410	290	Link	Page
	Emory Gap	2.4	830	750	Link	Page

Emory Tract

Stars: I have not hiked any of this section

West from Ross Gap
- Description: 0.7 miles west from Ross Gap has been created apparently, it does not yet connect to the town of Wartburg and the Emory section arising from Nemo.

Frozen Head

Stars: I haven't done enough to rate the entire section yet

England Moutntain (Ross Gap to Bird Mountain Trail)
- Stars: ★ ★ ☆
- Access: No easy way to get to this one. Right now the Emory tract is not completed so the western access is via Ross Gap trailhead which is 2.2 miles and climbs some 1,700' to the gap where the CT crosses. On the eastern side, the access is the Bird Mountain trail which is a 1.8 mile trail that similarly climbs ~1,800' to get to the ridge where the CT is. Similarly, you can access it via the Bird Mountain section of the CT coming in from the east.
- Description: This entire segment of trail runs more or less along the ridge from Ross Gap to Garden Spot, so the only way to access the trail is to put some work in in climbing to the ridge line ~1,600' above the valley floor. We hiked from Ross Gap trailhead, steeply up to Ross Gap. Here the Cumberland Trail goes to the right deeper into Frozen Head, or left in the yet to be completed (2021) Emory Tract which has 0.7 miles completed thus far. Some add that short section to the hike. I figure once the trail is complete I will hike that section. The climb up to Ross Gap is steep. Half is on a trail and the other have is on a road (no you can't drive this, maybe with an ATV... but it is washed out at places and no car is going to make it. While it is a road hike, I should also say it isn't a terrible one. It is still pleasant and in the forest and not at all overgrown. Once at Ross Gap and you turn right onto the CT, the trail continues climbing the ridgeline passing an old mining holding pond. Our day it was frozen over which was a nice added pretty scene. On the otherside of the pond you enter a dense pine forest that quickly leads you up to the ridge line. While the view as you hike the ridge is not unobstructed, you do get pleasant views of the surronding mountains and valley down below. English Mountain comes and goes without much ado, but does mark the high point of the trail. Afterwards you begin to slowly descend and pass Mushroom rock. Then you get to some capstone rock formations which are beautiful and the highlight of the section I think. Quickly, you get to where the Bird Mountain trail climbs up. This day, we hiked down there. Another day we had hiked up this steep trail and did the Bird Mountain segment. If you want to add more rock formations to this England Mtn section, continue on the CT for another 0.25 miles to the "Rock Castle" and then choose to continue on or go down Bird Mountain via backtracting to the junction.
Bird Mountain (Bird Mountain Trail to Fire Lookout Rd)
- Stars: ★ ☆ ☆
- Access: Either hike up the England Mountain section of the Cumberland Trail (which requires a lot of up to get to), up Bird Mountain Trail (a lot of up again) within Frozen Head to the west end of this segment, or the Fire Lookout Rd (alot of up again) to the east sid eof this segment. Eitherway, you have more miles to add and a lot of elevation to add to your hike no matter how you get this section.
- Description: We hiked this before I had the Cumberland Trail project in my mind, so we accessed this section via the Bird Mtn Trail within Frozen Head. That climb up was the highlight of the hike, as the trail was a pleasant albeit steep hike through the woods. This entire segment of trail runs more or less along the ridge from Ross Gap to Garden Spot, so the only way to access the trail is to put some work in in climbing to the ridge line ~1,600' above the valley floor. Once on the summit, you briefly have some rock formations before you begin traversing the ridgeline on a mix between old fire roads and single track trail. The thing that disappointed me with this hike is that for all of the work to get up on the ridge line, there was no sweeping views as the trees are too thick, even in winter, to see out. Even from the summit of Bird Mountian itself, you see no valley below and no rolling hills around you.
Emory Gap (Fire Lookout Rd to Garden Spot)
- Stars: I have currently not hiked this section... come back again
- Access: Note that the Garden Spot end of this trail is located in the backcountry and only accessible via trails that originate in Frozen Head, including the Cumberland Trail within the "Frozen Head Segment" as well as other Frozen Head State Park trails. Additionally, as of Dec 2020 this section of trail is closed due to impassible blowdowns making dangerous conditions.