Ten loop trails make up this system, which follows the route of General U.S. Grant's troops from Fort Henry in the campaign to capture Fort Donelson in the Civil War. Backpackers should register at the South Information Center on the Trace with their trip itinerary. USGS quad 28SW, Tharpe. The Fort Henry Trail System became a national recreation trail in 1976 and was created by the TVA with the assistance of various college students, historians, Scout troops, and the National Park Service. The system is designed to permit hikes lasting from one hour to an overnight stay.
Camping is permitted along marked trails, and campfires generally are permitted.
Piney Campground is also at one end of the trail system. Trail maps are available at the South Welcome Station and Piney Campground. Telegraph Trail is blazed in red and passes markers 1 through 14, covering 7.5 miles from the trailhead to the South Welcome Station on the Trace. This hike encompasses all or part of Telegraph, Peytona, Artillery, and Piney trails and is a total of 11.7 miles. A final loop starts at marker 1 at the Fort Henry parking lot and heads northeast to marker 23, then turns left to marker 24 and ends at marker 25 at the Boswell Landing Lake Access.