Little Oak Recreation Area: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Trail
                    | Image Name = placeholder.JPG
                    | City = Bristol
                    | State = Tennessee
                    | Trail Use = {{Hike}} {{Dogs}}
                    | Difficulty Rating = Easy
                    | Hike Time = 2-3
                    | Distance = 5-6
                    | Elevation Gain = <500
                    | High Point = *
                    | Latitude = N36°08.189
                    | Longitude = W82°20.284
                    | Medical = Erwin, TN
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                    | googlemap =
<googlemap lat="36.522606" lon="-82.055855"  zoom="9" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
36.522606,-82.055855,Little Oak Recreation Area
</googlemap>
}}
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Hike:  Little Oak Recreation Area (loop)
<!-- Start of Main Page -->
Route:  Little Oak Trail, Little Oak Mtn Trail
Distance:  6 miles
Location:  South Watauga Lake, TN
Difficulty:  Easy
Sights:  South Watauga Lake, Watauga Dam
Impression:  An easy day hike to go see some leaves with their fall colors...really pretty lake scene....there is plenty of summer camping here for RV's and car campers alike...while fairly remote, this is more of a "family campground" environment...


== 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 in Cherokee National Forest, a steep hike to outstanding views of the mountains.


The Little Oak Recreation Area is on a peninsula jutting from the eastern shore of South Holston Lake. Bird watchers may want to stay at this popular recreation area to look for bald eagles (Haliaetus leucocephalus). More than two dozen eagles have been hacked on South Holston Lake under the Bald Eagle Hacking Program. Hacking is a term from falconry meaning gradual reintroduction to the wild. Eagles from 7 weeks old to 13 weeks old are kept in cages to imprint an area on them so the birds return there after they are sexually mature.  
== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Erwin, TN
#Take Exit 36 off I-26.
#Turn left on unnamed road across the interstate to intersection with Tenn. 107 in Erwin. 
#Turn right on Tenn. 107 for about a mile.
#Turn left on Tenn. 395 (USFS sign to Beauty Spot).
#Proceed 3.2 miles.
#Turn left into the USFS Rock Creek Recreation Area.
#Park near restrooms at Picnic Area.
Same as for [[Rock Creek Falls]] trail


Adult eagles have a wingspan of 7.5 feet, dark brown plumage, and large heads. Young birds are nearly black without the white head, neck, and tail characteristic of adults. Binoculars will help you see details of the birds better, and cameras with at least a 200mm lens are needed to photograph eagles best.  
== Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
Rattlesnake Ridge is USFS #26 Trail. Out-and-back hike starting at Rock Creek Recreation Area parking lot. Proceed to the back of the campground to the trailhead common with Rock Creek Falls. Take the split along an old road for about a mile over to Dick Creek Gap - a junction of several trails and old roads. Head up the ridgeline into the Unaka Mountain Wilderness (sign seen after 100 yards) to the top at the Pleasant Gardens Overlook on Unaka Mountain.


Directions: East of South Holston Lake on US 421, turn south on FR 87 (Camp Tom Howard Road). Go about 8 miles and turn right (west) on FR 87G at the sign.  
== Typical Conditions ==
Activities: Camping, hiking, fishing, and boating.
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
Facilities: 72 campsites, amphitheater, hiking trails, picnicking for campers, and toilets.
Being in wilderness-designated area and not heavily used, the trail may be a little overgrown but is well defined.  
Dates: Open seasonally.
Fees: There is a charge for camping.
Closest town: Bristol, about 15 miles west on US 421.
For more information: Watauga Ranger District, PO Box 400, Unicoi, TN 37692. Phone (423) 735-1500.


Little Oak Mountain Trail
==Fees, Permits, etc. ==
[Fig. 27(5)] The Little Oak Mountain Trail (#601) is an interpretive loop trail with a spur to a scenic view of the lake and a climb to the crest of Little Oak Mountain. This walk offers you opportunities to view wildlife and take some scenic photos.  
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
Rock Creek Campground is open May 1 through November 1.  Campground gates are closed from 10 PM until 7 AM.  If closed, then add a mile to hike in from the main gate.  Day use area fee is $2 per car. Permit must be visibly displayed in vehicle. Wilderness designated area, thus group size is limited to 14 people.


Directions: The trail begins at the pay station near the entrance to the recreation area.
Trail: 1.37 miles, loop trail.
Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate.
Blaze: Trail signs.
Little Oak Trail
[Fig. 27(5)] The Little Oak Trail (#52) is an easy interpretive walk around the edge of Little Oak Recreation Area along the shore of South Holston Lake. The trail begins at the entrance station, meanders through the campgrounds, passes Little Oak Amphitheater, travels to the lake's edge, and ends on the north side of the peninsula. Take a fishing pole on this walk to try your luck at catching bream, bass, and catfish. 


Trail: 1.38 miles, one-way.  
== Misc. Information ==
Degree of difficulty: Easy.  
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Any seasonal features, factoids, etc...? -->
Blaze: Trail signs.  
Dogs are allowed, but must remain on a 6 ft or shorter leash.


Reference: http://www.sherpaguides.com/tennessee/upper_unakas/watauga_ranger_district_cherokee_nf.html
== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.522606" lon="-82.055855" type="terrain" zoom="14" width="725" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png">
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Little Oak Mountain Trail.kml
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Little Oak Trail.kml
 
,-,Little Oak Recreation Area(G) 36.136490,-82.338066,Rattlesnake Ridge Trailhead
(G) 36.13425, -82.31113,Pleasant Gardens Overlook
</googlemap>
 
== Photos ==
<gallery>
<!-- Place any pictures from this trail below. Ideally we would have a picture of the trailhead to help people know when they found it -->
<!-- Add a picture by typing Image:imagename.extension  -->
Image:placeholder.jpg|caption
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.-->
</gallery>
 
<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. -->
[[Category:Tennessee]] [[Category:Easy]] [[Category:Hiking]]  [[Category:Dog Friendly]]

Revision as of 08:45, 30 July 2011


File:Placeholder.JPG
Trail Name Little Oak Recreation Area
Nearest City Bristol
State Tennessee
Trail Marking {{{Marking}}}
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.png Dnr dog.png
Difficulty Rating Easy
Hiking Time 2-3"-3" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
Distance, round-trip 5-6"-6" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
Climb/Descent Elevation <500"" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.
High Point *"*" is not a number.
Nearest Medical Erwin, TN
Trip Reports Click Here
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Trail Overview

Located in Cherokee National Forest, a steep hike to outstanding views of the mountains.

How to get there

From Erwin, TN

  1. Take Exit 36 off I-26.
  2. Turn left on unnamed road across the interstate to intersection with Tenn. 107 in Erwin.
  3. Turn right on Tenn. 107 for about a mile.
  4. Turn left on Tenn. 395 (USFS sign to Beauty Spot).
  5. Proceed 3.2 miles.
  6. Turn left into the USFS Rock Creek Recreation Area.
  7. Park near restrooms at Picnic Area.

Same as for Rock Creek Falls trail

Route Description

Rattlesnake Ridge is USFS #26 Trail. Out-and-back hike starting at Rock Creek Recreation Area parking lot. Proceed to the back of the campground to the trailhead common with Rock Creek Falls. Take the split along an old road for about a mile over to Dick Creek Gap - a junction of several trails and old roads. Head up the ridgeline into the Unaka Mountain Wilderness (sign seen after 100 yards) to the top at the Pleasant Gardens Overlook on Unaka Mountain.

Typical Conditions

Being in wilderness-designated area and not heavily used, the trail may be a little overgrown but is well defined.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Rock Creek Campground is open May 1 through November 1. Campground gates are closed from 10 PM until 7 AM. If closed, then add a mile to hike in from the main gate. Day use area fee is $2 per car. Permit must be visibly displayed in vehicle. Wilderness designated area, thus group size is limited to 14 people.


Misc. Information

Dogs are allowed, but must remain on a 6 ft or shorter leash.

Maps

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.522606" lon="-82.055855" type="terrain" zoom="14" width="725" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Little Oak Mountain Trail.kml http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Little Oak Trail.kml

,-,Little Oak Recreation Area(G) 36.136490,-82.338066,Rattlesnake Ridge Trailhead (G) 36.13425, -82.31113,Pleasant Gardens Overlook </googlemap>

Photos

  • Placeholder.jpg

    caption

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