Local Hiking Trails

We in the Southwest Virginia / Northeast Tennessee region are fortunate to live in an area that offers a many, many beautiful hiking trails. Whether you're a novice or an expert, the area has plenty to offer, from carefully-maintained paths to rugged, rocky trails off the beaten track.

Some of our favorites are listed below. For your information (and safety), we also provide recommendations about the level of difficulty we feel a trail offers.

Steele Creek Park
Mount Rogers
Bays Mountain Park
Holston Mountain
The Appalachian Trail
The Iron Mountain Trail
Sugar Hollow Park
The Blue Hole
Warrior's Path State Park

Steele Creek Park

Steele Creek Park is among the largest municipal parks in all of Tennessee. Amidst its many offerings are the miles of hiking trails that crisscross the entire park. These trails offer the best views in the park, as well as the proper pace to enjoy them. Because of the many park amenities, hiking can be quite comfortable for all ages and abilities. You will never be too far from civilization, and the park receives enough visitors so that someone will be close at all times.

Pack your camera and your GPS, as there will be many locations worth marking, photographing, and returning to. While you have your GPS out, why not search for one of the many Geocaches hidden in the area? Pets are also welcome, so long as they are kept on a leash.

Level of Difficulty: Beginner — Advanced
The lake trail is a fairly easy trail popular with walkers and joggers. All other trails are quite steep and provide good training for the more adventurous, intermediate/advanced hiker.

Hints and Tips
• Geocache!
• Find Rooster Front by means of the trails at Steel Creek.

Safety
• Though it is a small park, you should always be prepared.

Mount Rogers

Mount Rogers National Recreation Area sits within Jefferson National Forest, utilizing over 120,000 acres of wilderness. Visitors to this NRA can expect gusty winds, wild ponies, fog, and plenty of trail length to keep them busy for quite some time.

Virginia's highest peak can also be found within the boarders of Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Getting to the summit from the Appalachian trail is relatively easy. Simply take the half mile spur trail closest to Thomas Knob Shelter to enjoy its scenic views. This is some incredibly beautiful wilderness; plan on spending some time just looking around. You certainly do not want to short change the trip because of time constraints.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate — Advanced

Hints and Tips
• If you are parking at Grayson Highlands and hiking through to Mount Rogers, don't forget your entry fee ($3.00).
• Week days and off season will, of course, have less traffic.

Safety
• Beware the little ponies. They may look cute, but they sometimes bite and kick.
• This should probably go without saying, but do not feed the aforementioned ponies.
• This is relatively strenuous hiking, and you can get a few miles from civilization. Be sure to take a day pack and/or survival kit.
• Let others know you are heading out and when you expect to be back.
• Grab a map on the way up.

Bays Mountain Park

Bays Mountain is a large, 3,500 acre park in Kingsport, Tennessee. Beyond hiking, the park boasts live animal habitats, an education center, a planetarium, and astronomy. Regardless of age and outdoor experience, Bays Mountain can offer something of interest to nearly any visitor.

Hikers planning a trip to Bays Mountain will find excellent trails, and probably the greatest diversity of wildlife in the area. While you're there, scout out locations for other activities. This park has a lot to offer.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Hints and Tips
• This is a big park, so you should pack a lunch.
• Explore other aspects of Bays Mountain.
• Try every season.

Safety
• Always tell others where you are going and when to expect you back.
• Get a map as you come in.
• If you are going out into the woods, take the essentials.

Holston Mountain

Holston mountain is located primarily in Tennessee, though it rounds its way towards Damascus, Virginia. Part of Cherokee National Forest, Holston Mountain is host to a piece of the Appalachian Trail, which makes its way over from Iron Mountain before journeying into Virginia.

Among its many interesting features is Backbone Rock, the world's shortest tunnel. In 1901 the logging industry was building a railroad through the area. Rather than attempt a round about way through Holston Mountain, the engineers of the railroad elected to blow a hole in the rock, creating a not-so-natural tunnel. Fortunately, this did not effect the integrity of the rock, and climbers still make their way up its 100 foot cliff face. Backbone Rock Trail acts as an access trail to the AT and the rock itself.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate
The trail that leads to the top of backbone rock may only be 0.4m long, but it involves some stairs. Lots of stairs. In fact, it is nearly all stairs. The AT access trail is also riddled with stairs at first, but is a relatively pleasant hike after you get past them.

Hints and Tips
• Holston mountain is a ridge type mountain. The hikes will start off hard, but move to a more scenic, easy trail.
• There are tons of tables and grills in the area. Utilize them!

Safety
• Backbone rock is a cliff, so be careful.

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail (or the AT) is a more than 2,175 mile long footpath stretching through 14 eastern states from Maine to Georgia. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy short walks, day hikes, and long-distance backpacking journeys. It offers a variety of opportunities to view spectacular scenery, to explore and adventure, to exercise, and to reconnect with nature.

The AT crosses 421 at the summit of Holston Mountain at its closest point to MSL. The portions of the AT nearest our region are very rocky and wooded, with lots of strenuous climbs and descents.

Many maps and other useful information can be found online at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website, www.appalachiantrail.org.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate — High

Hints and Tips
• This is an incredibly long trail, and very few will ever start and finish in one trip. Make it a long endeavor, hit part of the trail each time until you have seen it all.
• Talk to a "through hiker" if you can find one. They are wise.

Safety
• Hunting Season — Be sure to find out if hunting season is in effect in your area before setting out on your hike. If so, take appropriate precautions and be sure to wear blaze orange so hunters know that you are not a deer.
• Bring a map. The trail is extensive, and you could become lost in an unfamiliar area.
• Let others know you are heading out, the general vicinity in which you plan to hike, and when you expect to be back.

The Iron Mountain Trail

The Iron Mountain Trail parallels the Appalachian Trail on Iron Mountain. The trail passes through luxuriant forest and affords some breathtaking views of Shady Valley. The trail is rugged, rocky and remote, so prepare accordingly.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate — High

Safety Tips
• Hunting Season — Be sure to find out if hunting season is in effect in your area before setting out on your hike. If so, take appropriate precautions and be sure to wear blaze orange so hunters know that you are not a deer.
• Let others know you are heading out, the general vicinity in which you plan to hike, and when you expect to be back.

Sugar Hollow Park

Sugar Hollow Park is a 400 acre park between exits 7 and 10 off of interstate 81 in Bristol, Virginia. Though this park is not very large, it boasts a few recreational sport fields, picnic sites, campsites, and a pool. These are generally packed during race weekends, but other times of the year the park is great for quick rides. Sugar hollow park has several miles of scenic, paved paths that are popular with local walkers.

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Suggestions
• Don't shy away just because of the size. This is a well maintained and popular park.
• Race weekends will have this place filled up, but getting to know race fans is a blast.

The Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is a series of four waterfalls in Carter County's Cherokee National Forest. This easy-to-find location and its short hike make it an incredibly popular location during the summer months. Winter months, however, will see a sharp drop in visitation. The winter season is ideal for those who want to visit a less populated waterfall. The waterfalls will be more enjoyable shortly after a rain, as rainwater runoff can make the calm falls quite energetic.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Hints, Tips, and Ideas
• Bring a spare trash bag. Sadly, not everyone shares our reverence for nature, and some will leave behind garbage. Try to pack out more than you pack in.
• If you want to take pictures, don't forget your tripod.
• Pack a camp stove to enjoy hot cocoa at the falls in the winter months.
• Geocache!

Safety and Ease of Travel
• The stairs that lead down to the waterfall can be treacherous. It is a waterfall, after all. Be careful and take your time going down and back up.
• While exploring the area, beware of snakes and the like. It is unlikely you will see them too often, but keep them in mind.
• Bring a camp towel of some sort. The water is very cold, even in the dead of summer.
• If the water is running at an incredible rate, you may want to consider not getting too close to the waterfall.

Get Directions

Warrior's Path State Park

Nearly 12-miles of trails meander through park woodlands offering great views, a diversity of wildlife habitats, and a richness of typical East Tennessee forests, fields and wetlands. The paved walking path around Duck Island is fully accessible, and other fully accessible trails are in the planning stages. Several other trails are also under development and one that includes a small boardwalk through the Sinking Waters wetland area.

Download Hiking Trail Map
Download Lake Shore Trail Self-Guided Booklet

Level of Difficulty: Easy — Moderate

Hints and Tips
• Take a map with you and enjoy the park!

Safety
• As should always be the case, prepare for the weather.

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