The southernmost campsite on the Cumberland Trail, the Lockhart's Arch shelter is only 1.8 miles from the southern Terminus of the CT, at Signal Point. The hike in to this shelter is moderate, passing beautiful views at Julia Falls Overlook, and a cool suspension bridge as it crosses Middle Creek.
The shelter is after climbing out of Middle Creek Gorge, and follows a spur trail off the CT that is not marked, making this shelter somewhat difficult to find in the dark.
The shelter is very small, covered on three sides, with enough room to fit 2-3 adults. It has a small shelf to store gear, and a few nails to hang bags on, but does not have anything hanging from the ceiling to help protect your food from mice, so take appropriate food storage measures. The space the shelter occupies is small, but has enough room for one or two small backpacking tents if you prefer your tent to the shelter, though the ground is not very level so be aware of your tent's footprint. There is a well-established fire ring. The closest guaranteed water source is Middle Creek, so be sure to fill water bottles and filter when you cross, although if there has been a lot of recent rain there is a chance of small seasonal streams closer to the shelter.
This shelter is an excellent place to stay if you are looking for a place near Chattanooga to hike in to, if you want to take advantage of the incredible sunsets at the nearby Edwards' Point and have a place to stay without hiking out in the dark, or as a starting point on the southern stretch of the Cumberland Trail. Be aware however that the closest trailhead is at Signal Point, and overnight parking is not allowed, so plan on having a ride! A backcountry permit is also required, though is free and can be obtained through the Cumberland Trail website.
