For the rest of its route the trail will rarely get beyond sight of its namesake creek...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,750'
Crossing another pretty little tributary...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,700'
The creek was dropping far quicker than the trail at this point...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,600'
Some more colorful beech...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,550'
The uppermost of two crossings the trail makes of Coontree Creek...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,550'
A steady but not at all difficult descent...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,540'
At one point the trail passes a series of large rock overhangs, known locally as "rock houses"...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,520'
The valley of Coontree Creek is certainly a beautiful one...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,500'
The lower of the two crossings of Coontree Creek is in rough shape, as you can see here. It won't take too many more flood events to make this a permanent wet crossing...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,480'
The woodlands surrounding the trail here are gorgeous...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,450'
Evidence that this once was an old corduroy road...odds are it dates back to the logging era of a century ago...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,420'
Looking back up the valley as the trail pulls close to the creek again for a bit...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,400'
Through the tall trees...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,380'
Climbing above the creek again as the valley narrows...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,350'
This is, to me, the prettiest section of the Coontree Loop Trail...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,320'
Suddenly, ahead are the twin stakes marking the start of the loop...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,300'
With the loop now closed it's just a short flat stroll back to the picnic area trailhead...
Coontree Loop Trail -- 2,260'
The Coontree Loop Trail as it arrives back at US-276...