Laurel Run Trail

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Laurel Run Trail

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Lower Kiner Hollow Falls.jpg
Park Bays Mountain Park
Land Owner City of Kingsport
Located Kingsport, Tennessee
Trail Marking White
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail

HikingBikingGeocaching

FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail


Difficulty Rating Medium
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail. 3.0 hrs0.188 Days <br />180 Min <br /> round trip
Distance: 1.89 mi3.042 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 3.78 mi6.083 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type In-and-Out
Low / High Point 1,168 ft389.333 Yards <br />356.006 Meters <br />1,750 Ft583.333 Yards <br />533.4 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent. 618 Ft188.366 Meters <br /> / (37 Ft11.278 Meters <br />) – West-to-East
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days 6 logged hikes (0 recent)
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list 30 trails / 36.6 mi of trail
Parking 36° 29' 48.44" N, 82° 40' 50.27" W Map
Trailhead 36° 29' 41.75" N, 82° 40' 46.63" W Map
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Trail Overview

Note! Parking location for this trail is set to Laurel Run Park, not the typical parking spot for Bays Mountain Park, the park the trail mostly resides within.

When folks say they are going hiking at Laurel Run Park, they generally mean taking Laurel Run Trail up Kiner Hollow to the waterfalls. Laurel Run Trail is actually mostly in the Bays Mountain Park system, but the description and details will be maintained here.

How to get there

  1. Take Highway 11W through Church Hill.
  2. Turn left (south) at Goshen Valley Road.
  3. Cross the bridge over the Holston River.
  4. At just under a mile, turn left (east) at River Road.
  5. After just under two miles, veer left onto Laurel Run Park Road.
  6. Continue into the park (warning - several speed bumps after entering gate)
  7. Once the park road tees, turn right toward the amphitheater parking lot.
  8. Trailhead is past the shelters starting with the gravel road.

Route Description

Starting at the green "Walking Trail" sign, follow the gravel road around the bend and across the new footbridge (which greatly improves this stream crossing). Continue following the roadway up the hill. The tread will become very muddy in places - especially after rain even days before. The trail climbs on the old logging road rising above the creek, and then coming back down. This second creek crossing does not have a bridge, thus is either rock hopping or wading. The trail then rises another ridge up to the lower falls (see photo to right). For most folks, this is their destination.

Just past the lower falls, there is a basin that is commonly used as a swimming hole. The white-blazed trail soon makes a sharp switchback up the hill. The climbing path passes above the small upper falls. The route wanders past a few abandoned homesteads until it finally intersects with the Kiner Hollow Trail.

Miles Laurel Run Trail Miles Elevation (ft)
0.0 Start at gravel road past shelters at Laurel Run Park 2.0 1147
0.1 New footbridge across creek 1.9
0.1 Old house 1.9
0.7 Bridgeless creek crossing - enter Bays Mountain Park (no sign) 1.3
0.9 Waterfall 1.1
1.0 Switchbacks 1.0 1436
1.1 Kiner Falls off and below trail 0.9
1.3 Abandoned Morrison family house - stay out! 0.7
1.6 Abandoned Asa Simpson house - stay out! 0.4
1.7 Abandoned Alex Wallen house - mostly torn down - stay out! 0.3
2.0 Junction with Kiner Hollow Trail at creek 0.0 1760

Typical Conditions

One significant creek crossing. Sections of the trail can be very muddy. Mostly up and up and up.

Fees, Permits, etc.

None needed.

After the Hike

Laurel Run Park has multiple areas for picnicking, a paved walking path, a playground, a frisbee golf course, tennis courts, basketball court, and softball field.

Misc. Information

Mountain biking is allowed on the upper section of the trail, but too difficult so never seen anyone on a bike.

Photos