Iris Antics, Exploring Greene Co. In the Spring.
Iris antics are afoot in Greene County Tennessee, with the explosion of iconic blooms across the area. These bold statement flowers are symbols of local culture, beautiful and resilient they share common traits with the local inhabitants. The classic iris purple is integrated in many local business, and community color schemes and decor, paired with striking greens, gold, and white it is symbol of what makes Greeneville unique.
May 17-18 2025 the Iris Festival will fill Downtown Greeneville with music and life! There will be a myriad of fun and inclusive events for the whole family. Vendors of food, drink, and locally made crafts will fill the streets. Concerts, races, and exhibitions will showcase local talent and athletics.
I highly encourage you to go ahead and start planning your activities today. On a recent drive through the backroads of our area I was amazed at the beauty of our byways in mid-spring.
Greene County is the largest county in Tennessee and stretches from the mountains in the south to the fertile river country and northward to the agricultural lands of the Tennessee Valley. There are literally hundreds of miles of country roads, trails, and highways in Greene County and every bit of it is bursting with vibrant color over a backdrop of the most striking green you’ll ever see.
First, I’d encourage you to drop by downtown. If you are not from the area the General Morgan Inn makes an excellent base of operations for any local exploratory quest. At the epicenter of cultural activity, you will be in walking distance of the entire downtown and right next to Depot Street, where a local renaissance is just gathering steam.
From your starting point at Main and Depot, spend some time branching out, following main street to the museums and historic sites, local general stores, book shops, restaurants, and farmers markets that continue past the city center. And be sure to take the short drive into the adjoining town of Tusculum Where you will find such local treasures as the Old Oak Tap Room.
After getting your bearings, I recommend a meander through the backroads of the county. Local farms, country stores, and historic churches are amongst the many attractions. There are hundreds of routes you can take, and they are all scenic in some form or fashion. While I cannot possibly cover them all I will highlight a couple.
Taking Main Street from downtown and turning left onto Old Asheville Highway you will pass over the Nolichucky River. On your left as you cross the bridge you will see the Nolichucky Dam, a small structure built in the early 1900s that withstood the brutality of Hurricane Helene. Continue on and turn right on Cove Creek Road. This will take you past historic Solomon Lutheran Church. From there take a left onto Cedar Creek Road which winds through beautiful rolling hills with mountains to your left. Cedar Creek becomes Salem Road before intersecting with highway 321. Right before the intersection you will come to Salem Lutheran Church, another beautiful historic landmark. From here, turn right on 321 which will take you back across the river and back to West Main Street in Greeneville.
If you are interested in day hiking and being closer to the mountains, head south down Main Street and turn left on East McKee Street or State Route 350. This becomes Jones Bridge Road and will take you across the Nolichucky and into the greater Camp Creek area. At the crossroads there will be a gas station to your left. Continue straight onto Greystone Road. This road winds past Camp Creek through active cattle farms to Tabor Road where you will turn right. You will pass Mount Tabor Church on your right and continue through a rural low country that transitions from agricultural land to woodland as you approach the intersection of Shelton Mission Road. Turn right on Shelton Mission and follow this to the Margarette Falls Trail Head on your right. There is a gravel lot, and the trail head is at the far end of the lot. The Trail begins as an access road the then follows a central gorge to the falls. At the end of the access road Bullin Hollow and Phillips Hollow trails branch off and connect to more primitive and elaborate trail systems within the Cherokee National Forest. These adjacent trails become complex networks and require significantly more time to explore.
The trail to the falls is moderate to steep and crosses the creek at multiple points along the way. With small side detours rambling back and forth from the creek to the trail, the overall hike with everything included is around 3 miles. Beyond the main falls is a more challenging short hike/climb to lower and upper Bailey Falls. This add on should be taken with caution due to ever changing trail conditions, the risk of falling, and varying water levels in a compact and elevated gorge. The entire trail is beautiful year-round, and the main falls are certainly worth the trip.
Exiting the parking area, turn right on Shelton Mission Road and continue to the Mission itself. As you move on, Shelton Mission dead ends into Greystone Road. From here you can return to town by turning left or continue exploring to the right.
If you turn right and you are interested in more wilderness adventure, Round Knob Road is your very next right from Greystone. It turns into a gravel access road and leads to the Round Knob Recreation Area. This is a hub for several trails that connect to larger networks.
If you continue on Greystone, you will wind through the back country until you take a right on Anest Road that connects to Horse Creek Park Road. To the right Horse Creek Park is another hiking option with several trails of varying length and difficulty. If you are ready to continue, turn left on onto Horse Creek Park Road and left again on Broyles Road. This will take you to Highway 107. Here I recommend turning right and Heading to The Farmer’s Daughter for refreshments and/or Mountain View Bulk Foods Where they have a variety of made to order sandwiches, sweets, and beverages, amongst other delectable items. From there turn left on the 107 and head back into town. Currently the 107 bridge is still being rebuilt, so follow highway 107 all the way to the light and then turn left onto 351/ 107 cutoff. This will take you back to the crossroads where you turn right to return to Greeneville.
This is a truly unique and beautiful area. We have experienced a lot of change recently, and are working to preserve our amazing heritage, grow, adapt, and recover all at the same time. I look forward to seeing you this spring and summer. Don’t hesitate to reach out via my contact page with any questions.