Sewanee in Franklin County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Mountain Goat Trail
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 17, 2026
1. Mountain Goat Trail Marker
Beginning in the 1850s, coal was carried from this area by railroad. The climb from Cowan onto the Cumberland Plateau was so steep that the coal train was nicknamed the Mountain Goat. In 2008, the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance was formed to reconnect the communities along the railroad line, create healthy opportunities for recreation and aid in the economic development of the area.
The Mountain Goat Trail is projected to extend almost 40 miles, from Cowan to Palmer, along the historic Mountain Goat Railroad bed. To learn more and to support the trail, visit mountaingoattrail.org.
Our Thanks
The Towns of Monteagle and Tracy City The University of the South Franklin County TN Dept of Transportation TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation 500+ Private Donors & Nonprofit Partners
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Please Follow the Trail Rules
Stay right, pass left.
When passing, say: "On your left."
Cyclists alert/yield to pedestrians.
Speed limit 15 mph.
No motorized vehicles.*
Yield to cars at road crossings.
No horses.
Dogs
this page online
Clean up after your dog.
Under 16 must wear helmet.
Listen for others.**
"Motorized wheelchairs allowed.
"Headphones impair ability to hear and react to dangerous situations.
Erected by Mountain Goat Trail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 2008.
Location. 35° 11.686′ N, 85° 55.011′ W. Marker is in Sewanee, Tennessee, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of University Avenue and Lake O'Donnell Rd on University Avenue. Marker can be found in front of the Head of the Crow State Park Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: University Avenue, Sewanee TN 37375, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in the Highland Rim. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,
Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 17, 2026
2. Mountain Goat Trail Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Head of the Crow State Park (here, next to this marker); Sewanee Village Trailhead (here, next to this marker); Desegregation of Franklin County Public Schools (approx. 0.2 miles away); Army of Tennessee (approx. half a mile away); Saints Rest (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rebel's Rest (approx. Ύ mile away); Edmund Kirby Smith (approx. 0.9 miles away); University of the South (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sewanee.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
