Holston Mountain Trail

File:* Trail Name Holston Mountain Trail Nearest City Elizabethton State Tennessee Trail Marking {{{Marking}}} Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Difficult Hiking Time *"*" is not a number. Distance, round-trip 12.512.5 mi <br />20.117 km <br /> Climb/Descent Elevation 1,5001,500 Feet <br />457.2 Meters <br /> / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number. High Point 4,2004,200 Feet <br />1,400 Yards <br />1,280.16 Meters <br /> Nearest Medical Elizabethton 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":36.4617420000000009849827620200812816619873046875,"lon":-82.0704419999999998935891198925673961639404296875,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

Ridgeline trail along crest of Holston Mountain, fire tower with views on Holston High Knob

How to get there

From Elizabethton, TN

Follow TN 91 about 10 miles toward Shady Valley to Mill Creek Road.

To southern trailhead

Turn left on Mill Creek Road and follow for about 4 miles to trailhead and locked gate.

To northern trailhead

1. Continue on TN 91 7 miles past Mill Creek Road to crest of mountain where Appalachian Trail crosses TN 91 at Osborne Farm. Gravel parking area is on south side of road.
2. Follow Appalachian Trail north through Osborne Farm to Double Springs Shelter where Holston Mountain Trail intersects Appalachian Trail.

Route Description

The trail follows the Holston Mtn crest. The following route continues onto the Applachian Trail to TN91 to have a nice thru hike.

North to South (Miles)	Hike Description	South to North (Miles)
0.0	From backcountry parking area at junction of USFS roads 56, 56A and 202 on crest of Holston Mountain (3.750’), follow USFS 56A north (closed to motor vehicles).	12.5
1.2	Reach end of USFS 56A on Holston High Knob (4,140’). Tower affords splendid view. Continue north on foot trail along mountain crest.	11.3
3.7	At end of ridge crest, best left, and descend by switchbacks.	8.8
4.0	Reach Flint Mill Gap (3.380’). Several trails and old roads lead from gap. To the left and west is the blue-blazed Flint Mill Trail (USFS 49) which descends padding spring and campsite in 100 yards and Flint Rock in .4 miles. Flint Rock offers outstanding views of South Holston Lake. Follow the Holston Mountain Trail to the northeast.	8.5
5.3	Pass Josiah Trail on left	7.2
6.3	Reach Little Deep Gap (3,620’)	6.2
8.1	Pass through Spanish Oak Gap (3,700’)	4.4
9.5	Join AT in glade at Double Springs Shelter. Take AT right from Holston Mountain Trail towards TN 91. US 421 is to the left 3.5 on the AT 3.5 miles.	3.0
9.8	High point of crest of Cross Mountain.	2.7
11.7	Northern end of pasture on Osborne Farm	0.8
12.5	TN 91 and gravel parking area	0.0

Maps

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(A) 36.47946,-81.96089 Parking area on TN91 (F) 36.50911,-81.98605 Double Springs Shelter (G) 36.46005,-82.08821 Trailhead at gate </googlemap>