Editing Little Oak Recreation Area

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Hike:  Little Oak Recreation Area (loop)
Route:  Little Oak Trail, Little Oak Mtn Trail
Distance:  6 miles
Location:  South Watauga Lake, TN
Difficulty:  Easy
Sights:  South Watauga Lake, Watauga Dam
Impression:  An easy day hike to go see some leaves with their fall colors...really pretty lake scene....there is plenty of summer camping here for RV's and car campers alike...while fairly remote, this is more of a "family campground" environment...


The Little Oak Recreation Area is on a peninsula jutting from the eastern shore of South Holston Lake. Bird watchers may want to stay at this popular recreation area to look for bald eagles (Haliaetus leucocephalus). More than two dozen eagles have been hacked on South Holston Lake under the Bald Eagle Hacking Program. Hacking is a term from falconry meaning gradual reintroduction to the wild. Eagles from 7 weeks old to 13 weeks old are kept in cages to imprint an area on them so the birds return there after they are sexually mature. 

Adult eagles have a wingspan of 7.5 feet, dark brown plumage, and large heads. Young birds are nearly black without the white head, neck, and tail characteristic of adults. Binoculars will help you see details of the birds better, and cameras with at least a 200mm lens are needed to photograph eagles best. 

Directions: East of South Holston Lake on US 421, turn south on FR 87 (Camp Tom Howard Road). Go about 8 miles and turn right (west) on FR 87G at the sign. 
Activities: Camping, hiking, fishing, and boating. 
Facilities: 72 campsites, amphitheater, hiking trails, picnicking for campers, and toilets. 
Dates: Open seasonally. 
Fees: There is a charge for camping. 
Closest town: Bristol, about 15 miles west on US 421. 
For more information: Watauga Ranger District, PO Box 400, Unicoi, TN 37692. Phone (423) 735-1500.

Little Oak Mountain Trail 
[Fig. 27(5)] The Little Oak Mountain Trail (#601) is an interpretive loop trail with a spur to a scenic view of the lake and a climb to the crest of Little Oak Mountain. This walk offers you opportunities to view wildlife and take some scenic photos. 

Directions: The trail begins at the pay station near the entrance to the recreation area. 
Trail: 1.37 miles, loop trail. 
Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate. 
Blaze: Trail signs. 
Little Oak Trail 
[Fig. 27(5)] The Little Oak Trail (#52) is an easy interpretive walk around the edge of Little Oak Recreation Area along the shore of South Holston Lake. The trail begins at the entrance station, meanders through the campgrounds, passes Little Oak Amphitheater, travels to the lake's edge, and ends on the north side of the peninsula. Take a fishing pole on this walk to try your luck at catching bream, bass, and catfish.  

Trail: 1.38 miles, one-way. 
Degree of difficulty: Easy. 
Blaze: Trail signs. 

Reference:  http://www.sherpaguides.com/tennessee/upper_unakas/watauga_ranger_district_cherokee_nf.html
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-{{Park
+Collecting information before page creation
-|Park Type=Recreation Area
-|Park Website=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=34922
-|Trail Map Link=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recarea/?recid=34922
-|Entrance Fee=2.00
-|Entrance Fee Type=per vehicle
-|Activities=Hiking, Boating, Geocaching, Fishing
-|Features=Vistas, Lakes
-|Park Amenities=Beaches
-|Lodging Types=Campground, Group Campground
-|Camping Amenities=Dump station, Showers
-|City=Bristol
-|Area=270 acres
-|Operated By=Cherokee National Forest
-|Main Location=36.5191, -82.0563
-}}
-{{Park trail map}}
-__TOC__
+Hike:  Little Oak Recreation Area (loop)
-==Park Overview==
+Route:  Little Oak Trail, Little Oak Mtn Trail
-Easy hike for scenic view of South Holston Lake and wildlife - maybe even bald eagles.
+Distance:  6 miles
+Location:  South Watauga Lake, TN
+Difficulty:  Easy
+Sights:  South Watauga Lake, Watauga Dam
+Impression:  An easy day hike to go see some leaves with their fall colors...really pretty lake scene....there is plenty of summer camping here for RV's and car campers alike...while fairly remote, this is more of a "family campground" environment...
-== How to get there ==
-<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
-From Kingsport, TN
-#Take I-26 North to Exit 69 (TN-394/Blountville).
-#Turn right/east onto TN-394 for 12 miles.
-#Turn right/SE on US-421 for 12 miles.
-#Turn right/south onto Camp Tom Howard Road for just under two miles.
-#Take left/south onto Big Creek Road for five miles.
-#Turn right onto Little Oak Road and continue towards the campground (reached in couple of miles).
-Parking for trails is at the pay station near the entrance to the recreation area.
-For auto GPS, address is 1051 Little Oak Road Bristol, TN 37620.
-== Park Trails ==
+The Little Oak Recreation Area is on a peninsula jutting from the eastern shore of South Holston Lake. Bird watchers may want to stay at this popular recreation area to look for bald eagles (Haliaetus leucocephalus). More than two dozen eagles have been hacked on South Holston Lake under the Bald Eagle Hacking Program. Hacking is a term from falconry meaning gradual reintroduction to the wild. Eagles from 7 weeks old to 13 weeks old are kept in cages to imprint an area on them so the birds return there after they are sexually mature.
-There are two trails in the Little Oak Recreation Area.  Distance on right assumes you are walking both and returning to original parking spot.
-{{Park trail table|Park={{PAGENAME}}}}
-<u>Little Oak Mountain Trail</u> - Trail #601 is a ~1.5 mile loop with spur to scenic overlook of South Holston Lake.  The first part of the trail is moderately steep to the crest of Little Oak Mountain, but the rest is relatively level and easy walking.  Take a camera for photos of wildlife and scenic views. Trail is marked with signs.
+Adult eagles have a wingspan of 7.5 feet, dark brown plumage, and large heads. Young birds are nearly black without the white head, neck, and tail characteristic of adults. Binoculars will help you see details of the birds better, and cameras with at least a 200mm lens are needed to photograph eagles best.
-<u>Little Oak Trail</u> - Trail #52 is an easy 1.4 mile (each way) walk along the shore of South Holston Lake around the edge of the recreation area. It can be busy at times since by the campgrounds.  Trail is from the entrance station over to the north side of the peninsula as marked with trail signs.
+Directions: East of South Holston Lake on US 421, turn south on FR 87 (Camp Tom Howard Road). Go about 8 miles and turn right (west) on FR 87G at the sign.
+Activities: Camping, hiking, fishing, and boating.
+Facilities: 72 campsites, amphitheater, hiking trails, picnicking for campers, and toilets.
+Dates: Open seasonally.
+Fees: There is a charge for camping.
+Closest town: Bristol, about 15 miles west on US 421.
+For more information: Watauga Ranger District, PO Box 400, Unicoi, TN 37692. Phone (423) 735-1500.
-== Typical Conditions ==
+Little Oak Mountain Trail
-<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
+[Fig. 27(5)] The Little Oak Mountain Trail (#601) is an interpretive loop trail with a spur to a scenic view of the lake and a climb to the crest of Little Oak Mountain. This walk offers you opportunities to view wildlife and take some scenic photos.
-Moderately heavy usage keeps the trail worn.  Can be some blowdowns or growth as limited formal maintenance.
-==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
+Directions: The trail begins at the pay station near the entrance to the recreation area.
-<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
+Trail: 1.37 miles, loop trail.
-Little Oak Recreation Area is typically open May  through November.  Gate opens at 7 AM and closes at 10 PM.
+Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate.
+Blaze: Trail signs.
+Little Oak Trail
+[Fig. 27(5)] The Little Oak Trail (#52) is an easy interpretive walk around the edge of Little Oak Recreation Area along the shore of South Holston Lake. The trail begins at the entrance station, meanders through the campgrounds, passes Little Oak Amphitheater, travels to the lake's edge, and ends on the north side of the peninsula. Take a fishing pole on this walk to try your luck at catching bream, bass, and catfish.
-Day use $2 per vehicle.
+Trail: 1.38 miles, one-way.
+Degree of difficulty: Easy.
+Blaze: Trail signs.
-Camping is $12 per site (May-September). Limited facility loop is $6 (March-April, October-December only)
+Reference:  http://www.sherpaguides.com/tennessee/upper_unakas/watauga_ranger_district_cherokee_nf.html
-State fishing license required.  Commonly caught in South Holston Lake are pan fish, bass, and catfish.
-== Misc. Information ==
-<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Any seasonal features, factoids, etc...? -->
-Located in Cherokee National Forest, Watagua Ranger Station - Telephone (423) 735-1500.
-Dogs are allowed, but must remain on a 6 ft or shorter leash.
-==Gallery==
-{{Park trail gallery|Park={{PAGENAME}}}}
-{{Trail Stub
-|Trail=Little Oak Trail
-|Trail Distance=1.4 mi
-|Difficulty=Easy
-|Trail Marking=Signs
-|Trail Highlight=FS #52 - along shore of South Holston Lake
-}}
-{{Trail Stub
-|Trail=Little Oak Mountain Trail
-|Trail Distance=1.5 mi
-|Difficulty=Medium
-|Trail Marking=Signs
-|Trail Highlight=FS #601 - Loop with spur to scenic overlook
-}}
-{{Map Marker
-|Icon Type=Campground
-|Marker Title=Campground
-|Marker Location=36.519538, -82.060816
-}}