Stamping Ground Ridge Trail
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Trail Overview
Hike up to overlook on Unaka Mountain. Hike in June for rhododendron in bloom and fall for leaf color.
How to get there
From Johnson City, TN
To lower trailhead
- South on I-26 to Exit 32 for TN-173/Unicoi Road.
- Turn left/east under interstate and head 0.5 mile.
- Turn right/south at tee onto TN-173 for 0.7 mile.
- Turn left/east onto TN-107 and head out of town for 3.5 miles. The picnic area is to the left, along North Indian Creek.
- Turn right/south onto gravel Forest Service Road 4343.
If gate is open, then drive 1.5 miles to end of FS road to new marked trailhead. If gate is locked closed, then park in pulloff and hike to trailhead.
To upper trailhead
- Complete 1-4 for above route, but
- Continue on TN-107 for another four miles.
- Turn right/west onto first paved, then gravel Forest Road 230 (Unaka Mountain Road/Red Fork Road).
- Wind around for around six miles up Unaka Mountain.
- Parking lot and trailhead are on right.
Route Description
Good news is that the lower end has been rerouted on public land to Forest Service Road 4343 (Rocky Branch Road).
The trail is in the Unaka Mountain Wilderness Area. This description starts at the upper trailhead at the parking lot. Just past the rocks which block the trail to vehicle use are splendid views of the nearby mountains and valleys. The trail is not blazed, but easy to follow, gently descending an open ridge to a gap where the Limestone Cove Trail (FS Trail #30) bears left at 0.4 miles. The Stamping Ground Ridge Trail continues down the mountain. At around 2.75-3 miles, there is an obvious intersection with a new yellow-blazed trail which connects to the Forest Service Road 4343 (Rocky Branch Road). The "old" Stamping Ground Ridge Trail continues forward where it eventually dead ends into private property. The new trail proceeds roughly 3/4th of a mile to the gravel Forest Service Road. Here a trail sign designates the Stamping Ground Ridge trailhead.
A 9-10 mile loop hike could be created by parking across from the picnic grounds at the Limestone Cove Recreation Area. Walk 0.3 mile on the gravel Rocky Branch Road to the Limestone Cove Trail. Proceed up 3.8 miles to intersect the Stamping Ground Ridge Trail. Turn right and hike 0.4 miles to the overlook and parking area. (Enjoy lunch or a snack!) Head downhill on the above Stamping Ground Ridge Trail (~3.75 miles) to the gravel forest service road. Close the loop by walking about 1.5 miles back, passing the Limestone Cove Trail to the original parking spot. Reported as a pleasant afternoon hike – but with 2200-2300 feet of elevation gain and loss.
Typical Conditions
Fees, Permits, etc.
No permit or fee. The picnic area is day use only. Being in the Unaka Mountain Wilderness Area, maximum group size is limited to 14 people and all dogs must be leashed or under physical control at all times.
After the Hike
Misc. Information
The Forest Service webpage for the picnic area [1].
Stamping Ground Ridge Trail used to be a piece of the Appalachian Trail until the major relocation moved the latter trail to the Roan Highlands.
Maps
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.162" lon="-82.29260" type="terrain" zoom="13" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Placeholder_trail.kml (S) 36.176317,-82.298536 Limestone Cove picnic area (G) 36.17095,-82.29512 Locked gate (G) 36.16623, -82.29381 Lower trailhead at FS road (G) 36.14422, -82.28556 Intersect Limestone Cove Trail (A) 36.14258, -82.29271 Parking lot at FR230 – Upper trailhead </googlemap>
Photos
- Placeholder.jpg