Kingsport, TN (Bays Mountain, part 1)

 Bays Mountain

    There are at least 20 miles of trails at Bays and options for everyone!  It's $7 to get into the park, but you could also opt for a yearly membership for $35 and go as often as you want.  They also offer barge rides, planetarium, nature center and animal habitats.  They are also working towards lots of park improvements.  Here are some trail options

Lakeside Trail

    This is an easy to moderate trail that travels all the way around the lake.  It is about 3 miles long (even though it felt like 5 miles the first time we hiked it).  If you start across the dam - the trail is a little easier.

The Fire Tower 

    This one starts on Lakeside (either side will work as the trail up to the tower is about halfway around).  This trail is moderate (even though the park guide says advanced) and is about 4 miles.  The majority of the uphill is switchbacks, so it's mostly a gradual incline up the mountain.  You can (at your own risk) climb the fire tower and get amazing views at the top.  

Radio Towers

    There are several options on trails to get to the radio towers.  My favorite are Chestnut or Big Oak.  I think they are the prettiest and probably the most gentle.  If you go up one and down the other, you're looking at about 4.5-5 miles.  Azalea is probably the roughest - there are lots of rocks and ruts in the trail.  You can also hike up Bays Mountain road, but it's all gravel.  

Chinquapin Trail

    This has become one of my favorite trails.  The backside of it is quiet and beautiful with the big trees and the pines.  You have some uphill in the beginning but then it is a pretty easy trail for the rest of it.  You even get to see remnants of an old moonshine still.  This one is about 3 miles with the connector trails you also have to take.

                                              

Cherry Knobs East

    This used to be one of the most challenging trails in the park, but there have been improvements made and while it would still considered to be on the more challenging than some of the other trails, it's much better than it used to be!  It's close to 3.5 miles if you go up and back down.  I like to make it a loop and take Lake Road back, which gives you about the same mileage.