Backbone Rock Trail

[[Image:|350px]] Trail Name Backbone Rock Trail Trail Number FS# 53 Park Backbone Rock Recreation Area Nearest City Damascus State Virginia Trail Marking Blue Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Medium Hiking Time 3 Hours0.188 Days <br />180 Min <br /> Distance: round-trip/trail only 4.6 Mi7.403 km <br /> / 2.3 Mi3.701 km <br /> Trail Type In-and-Out Climb/Descent Elevation 1,150 Ft350.52 Meters <br /> / High Point 3,250 Ft1,083.333 Yards <br />990.6 Meters <br /> Parking 36° 35' 36.78" N, 81° 48' 56.45" W Trailhead 36° 35' 36.78" N, 81° 48' 56.45" W Nearest Medical Abingdon, VA Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.59355000000000046611603465862572193145751953125,"lon":-81.8156800000000004047251422889530658721923828125,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

Steep connecting trail between Backbone Rock Recreation Area and the AT.

How to get there

From Johnson City, TN

1. North on US-231 to Elizabethton.
2. Turn left/north onto US-19E and stay in right lane.
3. Take first exit onto TN-91 (Stoney Creek/Shady Valley) – travel about 22 miles.
4. At Shady Valley, continue straight/north on TN-133 for another ten miles.

Parking lot is on left just short of the tunnel through Backbone Rock. Trailhead is at back of parking area.

Route Description

The blue-blazed Backbone Rock Trail (Forest Service #53) starts at the recreation parking area by the tunnel on Highway TN-133. The initial section climbs many steps to the top of Backbone Rock. A 0.25 mile spur trail to the right crosses over the Backbone Rock formation to a picnic area. (Warning: this spur route has steep drop-offs with no railing on one side.) The main trail continues to the left. At ~1.5 miles, the path begins a 0.2 mile straight up climb (no switchbacks) to the Holston Mountain ridgeline and the Appalachian Trail. Head right/north for Damascus in four miles or left/south for Highway US-421 in ten miles. Trail mileage given in the Infobox is for an up-and-down hike from the parking lot.

Typical Conditions

Generally in good condition as an access trail to TEHCC’s former AT Section #1 (Damascus to Backbone Rock Trail - which was transferred to MRATC in 2013).

As reported in April 2011 newsletter, TEHCC will flag Backbone Rock trail for relocation request and submit proposal to allow a loop hike from Iron Mountain. Relocation work underway to improve trail. Both 2015 Konnarock crew weeks will be invested.

Fees, Permits, etc.

The picnic area is day use only. No permits to hike or climb. $2 self-pay fee to park at the parking area or picnic grounds.

Maps

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Photos

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