Editing South Holston Dam

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{{Infobox Trail
                     | Image Name = South Holston Dam1.JPG
                     | City = Bristol
                     | State = Tennessee
                     | Trail Use = {{Hike}} {{Biking}} {{Dogs}} {{Fishing}} 
                     | Difficulty Rating = Easy
                     | Hike Time = 1.5
                     | Distance = 3.4 
                     | Elevation Gain = 265
                     | High Point = 1903
                     | Latitude = N36°31.0447
                     | Longitude = W082°05.3972
                     | Medical = Bristol, TN
<!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG -->
                     | googlemap = 
<googlemap lat="36.51713" lon="-82.09005"  zoom="9" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small">
36.51741,-82.08995,South Holston Dam
</googlemap>
}}
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== 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. -->
Probably better known as the South Holston Spillway Trail, this is an easy family hike with views of South Holston Lake.

== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Kingsport, TN
# Take I-81 north to Exit 69 (TN394/Blountville).
# Turn right/east onto TN394 and travel 12 miles (passing Bristol Motor Speedway).
# Take right/east onto US421 and travel 3 miles.
# Turn right/south onto Emmett Road and travel 1 mile.
# Turn left/south onto Holston View Dam Road and travel 1 mile.
# At base of dam, take sharp right onto South Holston Dam Road up the right side. 
# Pass a small picnic area on left (Note: This is not the main, large picnic area near the visitors' center.) 
# Parking is at the small gravel pulloff on the right before reaching the top of the dam.

== Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? -->
Starting at the parking area, walk past boulder and cable barrier onto gravel roadway.  Follow road south up and over ridge to walk along the lake shore until it ends at the spillway.  Return by same path.  No blazes or signs.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!Miles
!Elevation
!South Holston Spillway
|-
|0.0
|1640
|Trailhead 
|- 
|0.9
|1900
|Highpoint
|-
|1.7
|1760
|Spillway
|}

Family idea:  The shore below the spillway has lots of smooth, flat shale rocks, which are great for skipping across the lake.  Challenge the kids to a "number of skips" contest.

== Typical Conditions ==
<!-- Typical conditions throughout the year of what to expect on the trail. Rocky, muddy, sandy, flowers, lots of downed trees?  -->
Shaded gravel road, generally dual tracks, thus suitable for bikes or walking.  Forest Service appears to run a bushhog up and back to keep the grass cut low.

== Fees, Permits, etc. ==
<!-- Please list any Fees, Permits, Regulations, etc. that may be required on this trail.-->
No fee to use.

== Before/After the Hike ==
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... -->
Visitors' Center on north side of the dam offers a nice view of the lake - and bathroom facilities.

== Misc. Information ==
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Any seasonal features, factoids, etc...? -->
The reservoir is created by a TVA dam on the South Fork Holston River. Construction of the dam was started in 1942, but halted due to WWII, and finally completed in 1950.  The earth-and-rock fill dam is 285 feet high and 1,600 feet long.  The purpose of the spillway is to protect the main earthen dam in case the lake level rises quickly.

== Maps ==
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. -->
<googlemap lat="36.5150" lon="-82.0910" type="terrain" height="500" zoom="14" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png">
http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/South_Holston_Dam_spillway.kml

(S) 36.52118, -82.09117 
Small picnic area
(S) 36.5279,-82.0867
Large picnic area across dam
(A) 36.51741,-82.08995
Parking at trailhead
[[Image:South Holston Spillway Trailhead.JPG|150px]]
(G) 36.5, -82.0960
Spillway
[[Image:South_Holston_Spillway.JPG|150px]]
(Q) 36.5255,-82.0879
Visitors' center
</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:South_Holston_Spillway.JPG|Spillway viewed from upon rim
Image:South_Holston_Spillway2.JPG|Viewed from shore
Image:South Holston Lake.JPG|Lake as seen from along trail
Image:South Holston Spillway Trail.JPG|South Holston Spillway Trail
Image:South Holston Spillway Trailhead.JPG|Trailhead at parking lot
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</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. Check here ClubWIKI:Categorization_Plan for our list of categories that we are using -->
[[Category:Tennessee]] [[Category:Hiking]] [[Category:Biking]] [[Category:Easy]] [[Category:Dog Friendly]] [[Category:Fishing]]