A covered bridge on an old railroad trestle crosses Coops Creek and connects Coops Creek Commons with the Coops Creek Greenway. This connection brings historic infrastructure and an outdoor walk together as part of your trip planning. The river, market and natural area offer additional highlights for a stay in Sequatchie County.
Coops Creek Commons and Greenway
Coops Creek Commons covers more than 17 hectares and is in the center of Dunlap. The Coops Creek Greenway offers walking trails, fishing spots, picnic areas and playgrounds. You can walk the Greenway from Harris Park in downtown Dunlap to Sequatchie County Schools. This gives you a choice between individual recreational amenities and a route with named endpoints when planning your day. The bridge over Coops Creek is covered and sits on an old railroad trestle: the crossing between Commons and Greenway thus connects a present-day recreational use with built heritage.
River and landscape
The Sequatchie River Blueway is a water-based recreational route used by kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs). The Sequatchie River itself runs 116 miles through Sequatchie Valley before flowing into the Tennessee River near Jasper. These offer two different perspectives for planning: the Blueway represents activities on the water, while the river description conveys its broader geographic course. Together with walking trails on the Greenway, they offer a clear choice between exploring on foot or on the water.
Savage Gulf is another landscape highlight. This 15,590-acre natural area is in Grundy County and Sequatchie County. Compared with the more-than-17-hectare grounds of Coops Creek Commons, Savage Gulf is on a different scale: the focus here is a vast natural area rather than a single site in the center of Dunlap.
Events and market in Dunlap
BTC Fiber Valley Fest takes place every year on the first weekend in May at Coops Creek Commons. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the specific dates for that year. The Dunlap Farmers Market offers a seasonal alternative: it takes place weekly from April through October, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central Time at the Jeff Johnson Pavilion in Harris Park in Dunlap. Since the season and market hours may change, it’s worth confirming the schedule before your trip.
The market offers locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables, locally produced meat, fresh eggs and prepared foods from local bakers and chefs. Local artisans also display their work, including woodworking, handmade goat’s milk soap, candles, unique artworks, custom sewing and hand-dyed fabrics. The selection of food and crafts may vary. You can plan your market visit based on whether locally sourced produce, prepared foods or handmade goods interest you most.
Buildings and regional context
The Dunlap Mercantile is the oldest building in Dunlap and was built in 1894. Together with the covered bridge on the old railroad trestle, it represents two distinct historical features: a building with a known date and former railroad infrastructure that is now part of the connection between Commons and the Greenway.
The wider region also offers a distinctive point of reference for trip planning: Sequatchie County is part of the Highway 127 Corridor of the World’s Longest Yard Sale. The corridor runs from Gadsden, Alabama, to Addison, Michigan. Annual event dates may vary, so check the dates for the year you plan to travel.
Find a hotel that fits your trip
When looking for a hotel in Sequatchie County, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay. If you’re planning around BTC Fiber Valley Fest or the Farmers Market, use the dates of those events. If you’re more interested in the Greenway, Blueway or Savage Gulf, choose your focus based on the activity you want to enjoy.
Discover more destinations: Dunlap, Johnson County, Roane County, Stewart County, Shelby, Anderson, Franklin County, Washington County
For the broader travel overview: Tennessee.
