Editing Fire Tower Trail

{{Trail
|Banner Image=File:BMP Firetower Trail tower.jpg
|Park=Bays Mountain Park
|City=Kingsport
|Land Owner=City of Kingsport
|Trail Marking=Signs
|Trail Use=Hiking, Biking, Geocaching
|Trail Features=Vistas, Mountains
|Difficulty Rating=Medium
|Hike Time=1 hr
|Trail Distance=3.205 mi
|Round Trip Distance=6.64 mi
|Trail Type=Segment
|High Point=2,387 Ft
|Low Point=1,910 ft
|Elevation Gain=286 Ft
|Elevation Loss=609 Ft
|Elevation Change Direction=East-to-West
|Parking location=36.50882, -82.60955
|Trailhead location=36.51661, -82.60934
}}
{{Trail Map|Other Trails=River Mountain Road, Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)}}

__TOC__
== Trail Overview ==
Located in [[Bays Mountain Park]].  Second most popular trail (after [[Lakeside Trail|Lakeside Trail]]) up to the Garden Mountain/Kingsport firetower for view across Holston Defense, west end of Kingsport, and into Virginia.

== How to get there ==
Take [[Lakeside Trail|Lakeside Trail]] clockwise around the reservoir to the [[Hemlock Trail|Hemlock Trail]] or [[Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)|Lake Road]] counterclockwise.  The lower trailhead in on Lake Road.

Alternatively, the upper trailhead at the firetower is reached on [[River Mountain Road|River Mountain Road]] from either the antennas or Fegins Gap.

== Route Description==
The trail heads up Holston River Mountain side of the park to reach the firetower.  Although no blazes, the path is well worn, thus apparent.

This trail has connections to [[Trail connects to::River Mountain Road]], [[Trail connects to::Chinquapin Trail]], and [[Trail connects to::Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)|Lake Road]]

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!Miles Up
!{{PAGENAME}}
!Miles Down
!Elevation (ft)
|- 
|0.0
|Trailhead at [[Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)|Lake Road]]
|0.7
|1894
|-
|0.1
|Junction with [[Chinquapin Trail|Chinquapin Trail]]
|0.6
|
|-  
|0.7
|Trailhead at [[River Mountain Road|River Mountain Road]] at firetower
|0.0
|2382
|}

For those starting from the parking lot, it is roughly 2 miles taking 60 minutes to reach firetower. Return trip down is faster.

== Typical Conditions ==
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Well worn dirt trail with few blowdowns.  Please do not cut through the switchbacks.

== Regulations ==
NO BIKES!

== Misc. Information ==
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The 60' firetower was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1937.

== Photos ==
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Junction with [[Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)|Lake Road]]|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.51202, -82.61669}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Overlook|Marker Title=Garden Mountain/Kingsport Lookout Tower|Marker Description=[[Image:BMP_Firetower_Trail_tower.jpg|150px|Fire tower]]|Marker Location=36.51545, -82.6238}}