🪨🐾 Hiking the Stone Door Trail with Simba the Adventure Pup! Savage Gulf State Park, TN 🌲🌄

Hey trail fam! Ash here — and this week, Simba the Adventure Pup and I checked off one of Tennessee’s most iconic hikes: the Stone Door Trail in Savage Gulf State Park, located in the magical bluff country of Beersheba Springs. 🐕💛🗺️

With jaw-dropping views, ancient rock formations, and a legendary sandstone crevice known as the “Stone Door,” this short trail delivers some serious wow without a ton of effort — and yes, it’s totally dog-friendly! 🙌🐾

📍 Trail Details

Location: Savage Gulf State Park – Beersheba Springs, TN
Trail: Stone Door Trail
Distance: ~2 miles round trip
Difficulty: Easy to moderate (flat with rocky areas near the bluff)
Dog-Friendly: Yes! Simba loved every breezy step 🐶🌬️
Trail Type: Out-and-back
Best For: Scenic views, geology lovers, pups who love shady forest strolls 🌳🪨

🥾 The Hike

We started our adventure from the Stone Door Ranger Station, where there’s a large parking area, restrooms, and a small visitor center. The trailhead is well-marked, and we were off into the woods within minutes!

The trail is mostly flat and follows a wide, shady path through hardwood forest, with occasional rocky outcrops and glimpses of the cliffs ahead. It’s a gentle climb that builds anticipation — and then suddenly…

💥 The View

You reach the bluff edge and BOOM — Savage Gulf unfolds in front of you like a scene from a fantasy novel. Towering cliffs, deep green canyons, and sky for days. 🏞️🌤️

We took our time here — snacks, water, tail wags, and about a hundred photos later, we moved on to the trail’s namesake:

🪨 The Legendary Stone Door

The Stone Door is a massive sandstone crack in the cliff — like a natural stairwell carved through rock, once used by Native Americans and early settlers to access the gulf below. It's cool, shaded, and awe-inspiring to walk through.

Simba was a little skeptical at first (big shadows, narrow walls!), but once he got going, he walked through like a king. 👑🐾

🐶 Dog-Friendly Trail Notes

✔️ Leash required (and definitely recommended near cliffs!)
✔️ Trail is well-maintained, but rocky in places — go slow on uneven ground
✔️ Bring water & snacks for you and your pup 🥤🐕
✔️ Shaded most of the way — great for warm days
✔️ Bluff edge is open — stay alert with dogs and kids near the overlook

Simba’s rating: 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
(5/5 paws for breezy views, earthy scents, and a sandstone stairwell surprise!)

🚐 RV + Travel Tips

• RV camping available nearby at Grundy Forest or Greeter Falls
• Plenty of room for toads and vans at the Stone Door trailhead parking lot
• Add-on hikes available nearby if you want more miles
• This is a great half-day hike for any Tennessee road trip!

🎥 Watch the Full Adventure

In this week’s video, we:

🎬 Hike the full Stone Door Trail
🪨 Walk through the incredible crevice
🌄 Soak up the Savage Gulf bluff views
🐾 Share Simba’s best sniff spots and trail moments

👉 Subscribe for weekly dog-friendly hikes, scenic overlooks, and golden retriever joy
📲 Follow along: @lifeonpawsandwheels

✨ Why We Loved It

✔️ Huge payoff for a short trail
✔️ Iconic Tennessee scenery
✔️ Dog-friendly with safe, shady terrain
✔️ One of the best views in Middle TN
✔️ Perfect mix of easy hiking and geological awe

The Stone Door Trail is a must-do for anyone visiting Savage Gulf State Park — and if you’ve got a trail-loving pup, it’s an even better reason to go. 🐾💛

Until next time — happy trails, sandstone steps, and wide-open views!
– Ash & Simba 🐕🪨🌄