Panther Creek State Park

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Panther Creek State Park
Panther Creek Main Entrance Sign.jpg
Park Type State Park
Located Morristown, Tennessee
External Links Official Website

Official Trail Map

Entrance Fee Unknown
ActivitiesThings to do at the park HikingBoatingBikingGeocachingCampingHorsesFishing
Park AmenitiesThings built to enjoy or use at the park Disc GolfPoolsPicnickingPlaygrounds
FeaturesNatural things to see at the park WaterfallsVistasRiversLakes
Park Trails

16 Trails / Total of 25.65 miles41.28 km <br />

Lodging Types Campground
Camping Amenities

Site waterDump station20 amp electrical30 amp electrical50 amp electricalShowersClothes WashingPlaygrounds
Site sewer

Park Area 1,435 acres5.807 km² <br />
Operated By Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Main Location 36° 12' 23.76" N, 83° 24' 23.40" W Map
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Park Overview[edit]

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.

How to get there[edit]

From Kingsport, TN:

  1. Take I-81 South to Exit 12 (Lowland/Morristown).
  2. At bottom of exit ramp, turn right (north) onto Enka Highway TN-160, and drive for 11.3 miles.
  3. Turn right (east) onto Andrew Johnson Highway US-11E.
  4. Travel 1.2 miles and turn left (north) onto Panther Creek Road.
  5. Park entrance will be reached in 1.6 miles.

Trailheads are at several points in the park.

Trails[edit]

The following trails are available:

Park Trails Distance Difficulty Marking Usage Highlight
Lost Road Trail 1.90 mi Hard Black arrow on silver diamond

Hiking

Rightly named trail is hard to follow for its full distance
Maple Arch Trail 3.20 mi Medium Black arrow on yellow diamond

HikingHorsesFishing

Path along Cherokee Lake and then further up hillside
Norris Blackburn Trail 0.45 mi Easy Black arrow on silver diamond

Hiking

Thru maple forest to a wildlife observatory
Old Wagon Trail 1.00 mi Easy Black arrow on red diamond

HikingBikingGeocaching

Good for beginners
Ore Mine Trail 1.70 mi Medium Black arrow on silver diamond

Hiking

Loop around Ore Mine Hill
Point Lookout Trail 1.90 mi Medium Black arrow on silver diamond

HikingGeocaching

Look out over Cherokee Lake or also walk down to the water
Ridge Crest Trail 0.70 mi Medium Black arrow on silver diamond

HikingGeocaching

Steep descent to Cherokee Lake
Road to Recycling Trail 1.20 mi Easy Black arrow on silver diamond

Hiking

Good for trail running
Seven Sinkholes Trail 0.60 mi Easy Black arrow on silver diamond

Hiking

Wander around more than seven sinkholes
Deer Run TrailThis trail is a "stub" either because of its short length, lack of significance, or the page hasn't been created yet. The page can be created, but then delete the stub reference from this park. 0.80 mi Medium Red
Hunt Knob TrailThis trail is a "stub" either because of its short length, lack of significance, or the page hasn't been created yet. The page can be created, but then delete the stub reference from this park. 3.80 mi Medium Yellow Follows edge of Cherokee Lake up to ridge
Old Farm TrailsThis trail is a "stub" either because of its short length, lack of significance, or the page hasn't been created yet. The page can be created, but then delete the stub reference from this park. 2.50 mi Easy Red for both loops
Panther Path TrailThis trail is a "stub" either because of its short length, lack of significance, or the page hasn't been created yet. The page can be created, but then delete the stub reference from this park. 0.90 mi Easy Red Good for beginners.
Piney Cove TrailThis trail is a "stub" either because of its short length, lack of significance, or the page hasn't been created yet. The page can be created, but then delete the stub reference from this park. 0.60 mi Medium Red
Pioneer TrailThis trail is a "stub" either because of its short length, lack of significance, or the page hasn't been created yet. The page can be created, but then delete the stub reference from this park. 2.40 mi Medium Red
Trout Lily TrailThis trail is a "stub" either because of its short length, lack of significance, or the page hasn't been created yet. The page can be created, but then delete the stub reference from this park. 2.00 mi Medium Red for experienced bicyclists

Get a paper park map from box at the welcome center! Cell service in the park is one-bar at best, so don't rely on electronic maps. The park trails are a network of short segments, so the avid hiker will join several together for a longer hike. They are primarily classified as being for hiking, biking, or horses with basic colored arrow blazes of silver, red, and yellow respectively. Parking is only allowed in the designated parking lots and not necessarily at the trailheads.

Fees, Hours, Restrictions[edit]

The park is open 6AM to sunset year around. There is no entrance fee. Welcome center hours are 8AM-6PM, although the bathrooms are available anytime. Dogs are allowed on leash.

One learning obtained from the park's trail manager is trail maintenance primary occurs during the winter months when the grounds crew is not occupied mowing the open spaces and keeping up with the pool. The East TN Backcountry Horsemen also work on the horse trails.

Gallery[edit]