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{{Park
Panther Creek State Park is located on the Cherokee Reservoir north of Morristown, Tennessee. Available activities include hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, boating, horseback riding, and swimming.
|Park Type=State Park
|Park Website=https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/natural-tunnel
|Trail Map Link=https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-naturaltunnel.pdf
|Activities=Hiking, Boating, Biking, Geocaching, Camping, Horses, Fishing, Caving, Hunting
|Features=Vistas, Rivers
|Park Amenities=Pools, Fast Food Grill, Sports, Picnicking, Playgrounds
|Lodging Types=Lodge/Inn/Hotel, Group Lodge, Cabins, Campground, Group Campground
|Camping Amenities=Site water, Dump station, 20 amp electrical, 30 amp electrical, 50 amp electrical, Showers, Playgrounds, Camp Store
|City=Duffield
|Area=909 acres
|Operated By=Commonwealth of Virginia
|Main Location=36.703, -82.743
}}
{{Park trail map}}


__TOC__
<googlemap lat="36.209377" lon="-83.409576" type="terrain" zoom="14">
==Park Overview==
36.209377,-83.409576,Panther Creek State Park
Natural Tunnel, called the Eighth Wonder of the World by William Jennings Bryan, features the railroad passing through the 850 foot long tunnel plus  camping, swimming pool, hiking, recreated block house, and picnicking.
</googlemap>


== How to get there ==
== How to get there ==
From Kingsport, TN:
From Kingsport, TN:
#Take Highway US-23 north into Virginia for 18 miles.
#Take I-81 South to Exit 12 (Lowland/Morristown).
#At park sign, turn right onto State Route 871 for bit over a mile.   
#At bottom of exit ramp, turn right (north) onto Enka Highway TN-160, and drive for 11.3 miles.   
#Veer right at State Route 646 until reaching park entrance.
#Turn right (east) onto Andrew Johnson Highway US-11E. 
#Travel 1.2 miles and turn left (north) onto Panther Creek Road.
#Park entrance will be reached in 1.6 miles.
Trailheads are at several points in the park.
Trailheads are at several points in the park.


== Fees, Hours, Restrictions ==
== Trails ==
Daily parking fee for passenger vehicles into VA state parks is $2 weekdays, $3 weekends.  
The trails are in short segments, thus the following are some suggested loop hikes to explore the park.
{|
|Trails
|Distance
|----
|[[TBD]]
|3.7 mi
|----
|[[Loop - TBA]]
|4.5 mi
|----
|}
 
Hiking and Biking Trail Descriptions
1. & 2. Old Farm Trails are easy 1.0 or 1.5 mile loops.
3. Trout Lily Trail is a 2.0 mile loop developed by the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. It's for experienced bicyclists.
4. Deer Run Trail winds back and forth for 0.8 miles
5. Piney Cove Trail after 0.6 mile, connects with either Old Wagon Trail or Panther Path.
6. Panther Path starts near the park entrance. It quickly joins Piney Cove Trail which leads to all other bicycle trails.
7. Norris Blackburn Trail is a 0.2 mile uphill to a wildlife observatory.
8. Old Wagon Trail is great for youngsters. It's flat for 0.8 mile and connects with Deer Run Trail which is more difficult.
 
Hiking Trail Descriptions - Open to hikers only
9. Nature Trail is an easy 1.2 mile loop. The self-guided nature trail was developed by Friends of the Park.
10. Ore Mine Trail is a hilly 1.5 mile loop with a scenic wooden bridge.
11. Sink Holes Trail is a 0.6 mile loop that runs by seven limestone sink holes.
12. Point Lookout Trail is a 1.2 mile loop. After climbing a long steep hill, there is a scenic overlook 400 feet above Cherokee Lake.
13. Ridge Crest Trail descends 0.7 mile to Cherokee Lake. It's steep - and so is the climb back.


== Trails ==
== Maps ==
Natural Tunnel State Park has {{Park trail count}} walking trails covering {{Park trail miles}}:
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
{{Park trail table|Park={{PAGENAME}}}}
[http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/PantherCreek/ Panther Creek State Park website]
[http://friendsofpanthercreek.org/trails.htm  Friends of Panther Creek State Park trail descriptions]
[http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/gis/pdf/printmaps/panthercreek.pdf Trail map]


==Gallery==
<!-- Finally add the trail to any Categories it should belong to. Please keep the State category. To make a new category just type [[Category:mycategory]]. Keep in mind categories are case sensitive. -->
{{Park trail gallery|Park={{PAGENAME}}}}
[[Category:Tennessee]] [[Category:Hiking]]
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Stock Creek
|Trail Distance=1.03 mi
|Difficulty=Medium
|Trail Marking=Gold
}}
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Cabin
|Trail Distance=0.50 mi
|Difficulty=Easy
|Trail Marking=Yellow
}}
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Carter Log Cabin
|Trail Distance=0.13 mi
|Difficulty=Easy
|Trail Marking=Green
}}
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Gorge Ridge
|Trail Distance=0.27 mi
|Difficulty=Medium
|Trail Marking=Yellow
}}
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Lover’s Leap
|Trail Distance=0.36 mi
|Difficulty=Medium
|Trail Marking=Blue
|Trail Highlight=Partially accessible
}}
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Tunnel Hill
|Trail Distance=0.54 mi
|Difficulty=Medium
|Trail Marking=Orange
}}
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Tunnel
|Trail Distance=0.27 mi
|Difficulty=Hard
|Trail Marking=Green
}}
{{Trail Stub
|Trail=Virginia Birding And Wildlife
|Trail Distance=0.70 mi
|Difficulty=Medium
|Trail Marking=Red
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Cave
|Marker Title=The Natural Tunnel
|Marker Description=Accessible entrance
|Marker Location=36.702455,-82.744481
}}
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