Editing Lakeside Trail

{{Trail
|Park=Bays Mountain Park
|City=Kingsport
|Land Owner=City of Kingsport
|Trail Marking=Signs
|Trail Use=Hiking, Biking, Geocaching
|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=Fire Tower 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. -->
Located at [[Bays Mountain Park]]. Very popular hiking loop trail around the reservoir.  It connects with many other park trails, thus a common starting point. Officially takes 90 minutes on maintained path with moderate climbs and drops. A few benches are scattered along the trail. Points of interest include floating bridge, beaver activity (dams, lodges, and down/gnawed trees), lillypad pond, and the wolves and other animal habitats. Note red dirt from maroon shale in places. 

== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From parking lot, either cross the dam to hike in a clockwise direction or start at back of animal habitat by the aviary area.

== Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
This trail has connections to [[Trail connects to::Bays Ridge Road]], [[Trail connects to::Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)|Lake Road]], [[Trail connects to::Cherry Knobs Trail]], [[Trail connects to::Sweet Gum Trail]], [[Trail connects to::Food Plot Road]], [[Trail connects to::Hemlock Trail]], [[Trail connects to::Holly Trail]], [[Trail connects to::Towhee Trail]], [[Trail connects to::Fern Trail]], and [[Trail connects to::Dolan Branch Trail]].

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!Miles
!Lakeside Trail
!Miles
|-
|0.0
|Dam, end nearest Nature Center
|2.4
|-
|0.1
|Dam, far end
|2.3
|-
|0.2
|Pine Trail junction
|2.2
|-
|0.4
|Floating Bridge
|2.0
|-
|0.5
|Cherry Knobs Trail junction
|1.9
|-
|1.1
|Beaver Pond Bridge/ Sweet Gum Trail junction
|1.3
|-
|1.6
|Hemlock Tr./ (Fire Tower Trail) junction
|0.8
|-
|1.7
|Holly Trail/ Towhee Trail junction
|0.7
|-
|1.8
|Holly Trail junction
|0.6
|-
|2.1
|Fern Trail junction
|0.3
|-
|2.3
|Water Fowl Aviary/ Laurel Trail junction
|0.1
|-
|2.4
|Nature Center
|0.0
|}

== Typical Conditions ==
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
The park does an excellent job keeping this most popular trail open.  The path is heavily used, but sometime covered with mulch.

== Regulations ==
NO BIKES!
<br>Dogs are not allowed around the animal habitats, thus may have to skirt using Lake Road.

== After the Hike ==
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... -->
The animal habitats are a hit with kids of all ages.

== Misc. Information ==
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Does this trail require any permits for overnight? parking? -->

To get to the park a $5 gate fee is required. Yearly memberships can also be purchased.

== Photos ==
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Point of interest|Marker Title=Beginning of dam bridge|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.508894,-82.611436}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Floating bridge|Marker Description=[[Image:BMP Lakeside Trail floating bridge.JPG|150px]]|Marker Location=36.50508,-82.61732}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail sign|Marker Title=Junction with [[Cherry Knobs|Cherry Knobs]]|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.50578,-82.61832}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Fixed bridge|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.50596,-82.62100}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Fixed bridge|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.50874,-82.62153}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Fixed bridge|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.51039,-82.61639}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=Fixed bridge|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.51131,-82.61443}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Water crossing|Marker Title=No bridge at spring - pass around on uphill side|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.51267,-82.60963}}
{{Map Marker|Icon Type=Trail bridge|Marker Title=New trail bridge|Marker Description= |Marker Location=36.51215,-82.60779}}