Devil's Backbone

Trail Name Devil's Backbone Nearest City Kingsport State Tennessee Trail Marking {{{Marking}}} Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Medium Hiking Time 2 to 3"to3" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. Distance, round-trip 3.43.4 mi <br />5.472 km <br /> Climb/Descent Elevation 275275 Feet <br />83.82 Meters <br /> / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number. High Point 15551,555 Feet <br />518.333 Yards <br />473.964 Meters <br /> Nearest Medical Indian Path Hospital, Kingsport 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":36.503873249999998051862348802387714385986328125,"lon":-82.477930608848367910468368791043758392333984375,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

Located in Warriors Path State Park. Nice hike nearby for those in Kingsport. Good views of the Fort Patrick Henry Lake from the top of the ridge.

How to get there

From Kingsport, TN

1. Take Fort Henry Drive to left at traffic light onto Hemlock Rd.
2. Make the hard left right in front of Warriors Path Park entrance to follow the road onto Fall Creek Rd.
3. Cross the bridge over Patrick Henry Lake.
4. Park at the first pull-off on the right at the golf cart crossing. (Space for 4-6 vehicles - leave gap for golf carts)
5. Trail begins on the back corner of #17 tee crossing the small bridge with trail sign.

Route Description

Blue blazed park trail. Almost all of the 300 ft elevation gain happens in the first half mile of the trail as you head straight up the ridge. There are two overlooks as you go. One at #5 tee box on the golf course, a good turn around point for families and those not interested in the rest of the climb. The Rocky Point Overlook (the trail high point on the ridge) is another 0.35 miles past the #5 tee. After the ascent the trail drops back to lake level and is steeper than the initial ascent, something to remember for a return trip.

Mileage	Devil's Backbone Trail
"-0.04	Parking along Fall Creek Road
0.00	Trailhead, at sign and bridge
0.05	Veer left up the hill (not straight which is a fishing spur trail)
0.35	Overlook at Tee #5
0.50	Lone Cedar Overlook
X.X	Turn along lake inlet
1.X	Fall Creek Falls (rapids)
1.1	Intersection with Fall Creek Loop Trail

The Devil's Backbone Trail intersects with the Fall Creek Loop Trail for a nice 1.2 mile walk around old pasture lands past several old home sites through gentler hills.

Typical Conditions

While the park keeps the trails fairly clear of blowdowns, the trend is rutted and washed out on steep inclines. The path through lowlands by the creek can get muddy after a rain or flood in the spring deluges.

Fees, Permits, etc.

None needed, just park and go.

Maps

The path for WPSP Devil's Backbone Trail is shown in red below, while Fall Creek Loop is shown in dark blue for reference.

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.500667" lon="-82.47797" type="terrain" zoom="15" width="715" height="350" scale="yes" controls="large" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/WPSP_Devils_Backbone_Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/WPSP_Fall_Creek_Loop_Trail.kml (E) 36.50065,-82.47918 Overlook at Tee #5 (E) 36.50013,-82.47760 Lone Cedar Overlook (C) 36.49958,-82.47186 Fall Creek Falls (A) 36.502632,-82.482759 Parking along Fall Creek Road (G) 36.502891,-82.468700 Intersection to/from Fall Creek Loop (J) 36.502507,-82.482345 (J) 36.50051,-82.47105 Trail bridge </googlemap>

Photos

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  Footbridge at Fall Creek Road trailhead

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  Trailhead sign at intersection with Fall Creek Loop

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  Fall Creek Falls (cascades)