Editing Iron Mountain Trail - South

{{Trail
|City=Mountain City
|Land Owner=Cherokee National Forest
|Trail Marking=Blue
|Trail Use=Hiking, Camping, Hunting
|Difficulty Rating=Hard
|Hike Time=2 day
|Trail Distance=17.75 mi
|Round Trip Distance=17.75 mi
|Trail Type=One way
|High Point=4,208 ft
|Low Point=1,997 ft
|Elevation Gain=3,043 ft
|Elevation Loss=4,775 ft
|Elevation Change Direction=South-to-North
|Parking location=36.47989, -81.96225
|Trailhead location=36.47278, -81.94861
}}
{{Trail Map}}
Click Here for USFS Map of the Iron Mtn Trail: [https://caltopo.com/m/N1HN USFS Map of Iron Mtn Trail]

__TOC__
== Trail 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. -->
IMT offers a more secluded experience with spectacular overlooks.  For this trail wiki, the trail is being listed as two major sections with the city of Damascus as the dividing point.

== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
The first/southernmost section can be thru-hiked either direction with a car shuttle.  

From Johnson City, TN:
#Take US-321 north to Elizabethton (10 miles).
#Turn left/north at the traffic light onto TN-37/TN-91.
#After quickly crossing the river, exit right onto TN-91/New Stony Creek Rd.
#Continue towards Shady Valley for 18 miles.
#Turn right onto Cross Mountain Road for 1.1 miles
#Look for radio towers on right for parking. 
#Iron Mountain Trail is to the right of the gates to the Cross Mountain Subdivision.  (This is the southern terminus of IMT.)
#Backtrack to TN-91 and continue north for 3.6 miles to Shady Valley.
#Turn right/east where TN-91 intersects with TN-34/US-421.
#Proceed to the top of Iron Mountain. 
#Parking area is on the south side.


The northern end is roughly one mile south of Damascus, VA on Orchard Hill Road.  It is recommend that you park at a lot in town.

== Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
The southern IMT can be divided into four sections referenced below. Note that the Camp Ahistadi section is a spur trail off the main Iron Mountain Trail.  

{| class="wikitable" border=1"
|-
!Trail Section
!Distance (mi)
!Elevation Gain and Loss (ft)
|----
|Cross Mountain Road to Hwy 421
|5.1
|1250, -1000
|----
|Hwy 421 (Sandy Gap) to Forest Service Road 322 (To get to Corinth Church, follow FS 322 SE for 0.7 miles)
|8.0
|1300, -1650
|----
|Forest Service Road 322 to Intersection with Camp Ahistadi Spur Trail (This 1.4 Mile Spur Trail Leads to Camp Ahistadi)
|2.7
|650, -750
|----
|Intersection with Camp Ahistadi Spur Trail to Damascus (Orchard Hill Road)
|2.5
|100, -1550
|----
|}

Elevation change given from south to north direction.  The trail is marked by blue blazes with metal yellow mile markers (some missing). Note that the Camp Ahistadi Trail is also marked with blue blazes so be attentive to the signs at the intersection of these trails.

NOTE ON PRIMITIVE CAMP WATER SOURCES: Some springs may not be flowing during dry periods. The most reliable source of water is  about 7 miles from Cross Mt Road where three different streams cross the trail in the course of about 0.5 miles. Link to a map showing water sources: https://caltopo.com/m/N1HN

The first section appears to be a favorable day hike with a car shuttle.  

<u>Spur trail from  Ahistadi UMC Camp</u>
<br>Park along TN91 outside, but not blocking, camp gate.  Enter camp, cross bridge, and then take right to follow stream to trailhead (N36°35.864, W81°45.382).  Trail is a steep path UP with essentially no switchbacks.  Some additional blue blazing would be helpful to ensure remaining on the trail instead of following an animal run.  1.4 mile distance climbing ~1220 feet net.

A loop hike of about 45 miles can be created by hiking this part of the Iron Mountain Trail along with the Appalachian Trail. Best would be to start at Damascus, head south on IMT, cut over on Cross Mountain Road for bit over a mile to Hwy TN-91, and then return north bound on the AT.  This circuit can be completed in four days.

== Typical Conditions ==
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
Iron Mountain Trail is located in Cherokee National Forest (known as Forest Service Trail 54) and maintained by the [http://www.hiketennessee.net/ Mid-Appalachian Highlands] and Johnson County Hiking (miles 11 thru 13) clubs.  Typical condition has been reported as being in good shape with blowdowns promptly removed.  There are no shelters, but several campsites exists.  Available water supplies may be limited on the ridgeline.  Another observation is that IMT has more ups-and-downs which would have been typical for the early AT route - before all of the relocations and improvements have smoothed out the latter trail.

==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
No fees or permits are required.  Dogs are not allowed in the wilderness area in Tennessee.

== Photos ==
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Point of interest
|Marker Title=Cross Mountain trailhead
|Marker Location=36.47278, -81.94861
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Primitive Tent Camping, water 700ft west of campsite
|Marker Location=36.47290, -81.93127
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Primitive Tent Camping, water 700ft west of campsite
|Marker Location=36.49315, -81.89897
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Point of interest
|Marker Title=Hwy 421 access point
|Marker Location=36.49722, -81.88639
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Primitive Tent Camping, water 500ft northwest of campsite
|Marker Location=36.51227, -81.86998
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Primitive Tent Camping, a stream crosses the trail 700ft southwest of campsite, also water 600ft northeast of the camp
|Marker Location=36.516293, -81.860756
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Primitive Tent Camping, water 500ft northwest of campsite
|Marker Location=36.543316, -81.8294
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Point of interest
|Marker Title=Corinth Church access point
|Marker Location=36.56667, -81.79333
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Primitive Tent Camping, water 200ft northwest of campsite
|Marker Location=36.576073, -81.79413
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Primitive Tent Camping, water 500ft south of campsite
|Marker Location=36.581768, -81.78852
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Campground
|Marker Title=Two Primitive Tent Camping Areas about 200ft apart, water 500ft northeast of the lower campsite
|Marker Location=36.59448, -81.774826
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Point of interest
|Marker Title=Camp Ahistadi access point
|Marker Location=36.59806, -81.75444
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Point of interest
|Marker Title=Damascus trailhead
|Marker Location=36.625, -81.77222
}}