Editing Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area

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{{Infobox Park
 | Image Name = HCCSNA_View_Into_Hampton_Cove.jpg
 | Type = State Natural Area
 | City = Roan Mountain
 | State = Tennessee
 | Park Use = {{Hike}} 
 | Area = 693 acres
 | High Point =
 | Operated By = Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
 | Parking coords = 36.152383,-82.055733
}}

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== Overview ==
<!-- Enter a overview of the trail. What attracts you to this trail, points of interest, types of flowers, lakes, and peaks that you see along the way. -->
Working farm with hiking trails leading into nice forests.  Important bird-watching area for rare golden-winged warblers.

== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Johnson City, TN
#Head south on Roan Street for 3.5 miles passing under I-26.
#Take left/east onto TN359/Okolona Road and travel 1.4 miles.
#Take right/south onto TN361 over to US19E for nine miles.  The road starts as Laurels Road, then Dry Creek Road and finally Gap Creek Road.
#Travel US19E for ten miles to town of Roan Mountain.
#Take right/south onto TN143.
#As soon as the highway divides take left/north onto Old Highway 143. 
#Turn right/east onto Hampton Creek Road and proceed three miles
#Parking area is on left/east side of road.  Space available for a dozen vehicles.

== Trails ==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
There are currently three trails in the nature area.  All begin from the parking lot by following the Overmountain Trail to common junction.  Shell Hollow proceeds up a dirt road past a former homestead to become a loop up on Big Ridge.  Birchfield Trail follows the western side of Left Prong creek until it rejoins the Overmountain Trail, which proceeds on the eastern side of the creek but continues up Yellow Mountain to intersection with the Appalachian Trail at the gap.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!Trail
!Miles
!Blaze
!Difficulty
!Usage
|-
|[[Shell Hollow Trail]]
|.75
|
|Easy
|{{Hike}}
|-
|[[Birchfield Trail]]
|1.0
|White Vinyl Blazes
|Easy
|{{Hike}}
|-
|[[Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail]]
|4.4
|OVNHT Icon
|Medium
|{{Hike}}
|-
|}

== Typical Conditions ==
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
Signage for the OVNHT is adequate while those for the other two trails needs to be updated as not clear where are their lower access points.  The information kiosks at several points also have badly crazed, thus should be considered for replacement.

==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
No permit or fee.  The nature area closes at dusk.  

NOTE Hunting is permitted.  Use precaution when hiking during hunting season

== Misc. Information ==
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Does this trail require any permits for overnight? parking? -->
Hampton Creek Cove is a 693-acre natural area.  

The official TN.gov Hampton Creek Cove [http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/article/na-na-hampton-creek-cove/ webpage].

== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<display_map  type="terrain" width="auto" height="600" gkml="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/HCCSNA_Birchfield_Trail.kml,
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/HCCSNA_Overmountain_Shelter_Trail.kml,
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/HCCSNA_Overmountain_Victory_Trail.kml,
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/HCCSNA_Shell_Hollow_Trail.kml">

36.1341375787, -82.0405528418~View into Hampton Cove~[[Image:HCCSNA_View_Into_Hampton_Cove.jpg|150px]]~MarkerB.png
36.1523127923, -82.0556224482~Hampton Cove Parking~ ~MarkerA.png
36.1170074500, -82.0489487139~Roaring Creek Parking~ ~MarkerA.png
36.1236150000, -82.0542140000~Overmountain Barn~[[Image:HCCSNA_Overmountain_Barn_From_AT.jpg|150px]]~MarkerF.png
36.1489500994, -82.0430267087~Shell Cemetery~ ~MarkerN.png
36.1404409560, -82.0468414829~Creek Crossing~[[Image:HCCSNA_Birchfield_Creek_Crossing.jpg|150px]]~MarkerJ.png
36.1410568100, -82.0461533500~Farm Gate~[[Image:HCCSNA_Farm_Gate_01.jpg|150px]]~MarkerG.png
36.1379704200, -82.0443995200~Farm Gate~[[Image:HCCSNA_Farm_Gate_02.jpg|150px]]~MarkerG.png
36.1523057282, -82.0554279670~Trailhead Hampton Creek~[[Image:HCCSNA_Trailhead_Hampton_Creek.jpg|150px]]~MarkerT.png
36.1168907523, -82.0486987936~Trailhead Roaring Creek~[[Image:HCCSNA_Trailhead_Roaring_Creek.jpg|150px]]~MarkerT.png
36.1255151269, -82.0512409479~Trail Junction Shelter Trail~[[Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_Shelter_Trail.jpg|150px]]~MarkerT.png
36.1257587923, -82.0514537917~Yellow Mountain Gap Junction~[[Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_Yellow_Mountain_Gap.jpg|150px]]~MarkerT.png
36.1353754627, -82.0425103741~Junction Birchfield Trail North~[[Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_North.jpg|150px]]~MarkerT.png
36.1469884013, -82.0495906876~Junction Birchfield Trail South~[[Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_South.jpg|150px]]~MarkerT.png
</display_map>

== Photos ==
<gallery>
<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below.  Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension  -->
Image:HCCSNA_View_Into_Hampton_Cove.jpg|View into Hampton Cove on OVNHT
Image:HCCSNA_Overmountain_Barn_From_AT.jpg|Overmountain Barn viewed from the AT
Image:HCCSNA_Birchfield_Creek_Crossing.jpg|Creek crossing on Birchfield Trail
Image:HCCSNA_Farm_Gate_01.jpg|Farm Gate on OVNHT
Image:HCCSNA_Farm_Gate_02.jpg|Farm Gate on OVNHT
Image:HCCSNA_Trailhead_Hampton_Creek.jpg|Hampton Creek Trailhead
Image:HCCSNA_Trailhead_Roaring_Creek.jpg|Roaring Creek Trailhead
Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_Shelter_Trail.jpg|Shelter Trail Junction
Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_Yellow_Mountain_Gap.jpg|Yellow Mountain Gap
Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_North.jpg|Birchfield Trail North Junction
Image:HCCSNA_Junctions_South.jpg|Birchfield Trail South Junction
Image:HCCSNA_Blaze.jpg|Blaze
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.-->
</gallery>

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[[Category:Overlook]] [[Category:Tennessee]] [[Category:Easy]]