Editing Laurel Fork Trail
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{{Trail | <!-- The following few lines create the "Infobox" table template. Please scroll down to edit the main content of the article. --> | ||
| | {{Infobox Trail | ||
|City= | | Image Name = DennisCoveFalls.jpg | ||
| | | City = Dennis Cove & Buck Mountain communities | ||
| State = Tennessee | |||
|Trail Use= | | Trail Use = {{Hike}} | ||
| Difficulty Rating = Easy to Difficult | |||
|Difficulty Rating= | | Hike Time = * | ||
|Hike Time= | | Distance = 7.9 | ||
| | | Elevation Gain = 693 | ||
| | | High Point = 3,515 | ||
| Latitude = 36.2566977 | |||
|High Point= | | Longitude = -82.111387 | ||
| | | Medical = Elizabethton, TN | ||
| | <!-- DON'T EDIT THE GOOGLEMAP TAG --> | ||
| | | googlemap = | ||
| | <googlemap lat="36.244412" lon="-82.092419" zoom="11" width="270" type="map" height="180" selector="no" controls="small"> | ||
36.2566977, -82.111387,Laurel Fork Trail-Dennis Cove Road trailhead | |||
36.2449308, -82.087870,Laurel Fork Trail-Frog Level trailhead | |||
36.222283,-82.037637,Laurel Fork Trail-Bitter End trailhead | |||
36.230246,-82.036242,Laurel Fork Trail-Forest Road trailhead | |||
36.239081,-82.028346,Laurel Fork Trail-Walnut Mtn Road trailhead | |||
</googlemap> | |||
}} | }} | ||
<!-- End Infobox template table--> | |||
<!-- Start of Main Page --> | |||
== Trail Overview == | == Trail Overview == | ||
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Just a short distance up the road from the Laurel Fork Gorge section of the Appalachian Trail. Marked as '''USFS Trail 39''', this trail provides a remote path along the Laurel Fork backcountry from Dennis Cove Road to Walnut Mountain Road (of the USFS 50 road system). | Just a short distance up the road from the Laurel Fork Gorge section of the Appalachian Trail. Marked as '''USFS Trail 39''', this trail provides a remote path along the Laurel Fork backcountry from Dennis Cove Road to Walnut Mountain Road (of the USFS 50 road system). | ||
The trail is blue-blazed with a number of access points using forest roads. There are two (2) popular waterfalls; Dennis Cove Falls and Upper Laurel Falls | The trail is blue-blazed with a number of access points using forest roads. There are two (2) popular waterfalls; Dennis Cove Falls and Upper Laurel Falls. A smaller waterfall can be found along Hays Branch on the eastern end of the trail near Walnut Mountain Road. | ||
The trail also has a historical significance as it follows the grade of the old Laurel Fork Railway which was used to transport timber to Hampton (also known as Braemar) to be cut. During the timber cutting, an area of open fields was created known as Frog Level. Today, Frog Level is used for wildlife food plots and limited horseback riding. | The trail also has a historical significance as it follows the grade of the old Laurel Fork Railway which was used to transport timber to Hampton (also known as Braemar) to be cut. During the timber cutting, an area of open fields was created known as Frog Level. Today, Frog Level is used for wildlife food plots and limited horseback riding. | ||
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<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. --> | <!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. --> | ||
'''Kingsport to Dennis Cove:''' | |||
-From Kingsport, travel to Johnston City on I-26. | |||
-Turn onto and follow US 321 to Elizabethton and Hampton. | |||
-In Hampton, from US 321 turn onto Dennis Cove Road (USFS 50). | |||
-Pass the Appalachian Trail. | |||
-Continue until Dennis Cove Road (USFS 50) crosses the Laurel Fork. A large turnout can be used for parking. | |||
''' | '''Dennis Cove Recreation Area:''' | ||
The trail has a number of access points. The main and most developed trailhead is on Dennis Cove Road (USFS 50) next to Dennis Cove Recreation Area campground. Continuing to drive on the gravel portion of USFS 50 will lead you to other access points. The road later on turns into Walnut Mountain Road when nearing the community of Buck Mountain. | |||
'''Frog Level:''' | '''Frog Level:''' | ||
Continue up on | Continue up the on a gravel section of USFS 50. Turn down the long and windy USFS 50F will lead you to a backcountry parking area at Frog Level. USFS 50F maybe unmarked at the turn. But it will approximately 1.8 miles from Dennis Cove Recreation Area, or your first right turn. | ||
'''Bitter End:''' | '''Bitter End:''' | ||
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== Route Description== | == Route Description== | ||
<!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? --> | <!-- Detailed description of the route. Is there any side trails that are worth traveling? --> | ||
The Laurel Fork Trail travels from Dennis Cove Road (across the small bridge from Dennis Cove Recreation Area/Campground) to Walnut Mountain Road and has a number of access points along the way. The trail mostly follows an old railroad grade. But the mainly obstacle along the trail are a number of water fords and lack of blazing and vegetation growth as the trail continues upstream. Be observant to any and all blazing and markers. Follow the waters of the Laurel Fork and stay close to woodline in the open fields. Some of the more obvious trails starting at Bitter End are often spur-trails. | The Laurel Fork Trail travels from Dennis Cove Road (across the small bridge from Dennis Cove Recreation Area/Campground) to Walnut Mountain Road and has a number of access points along the way. The trail mostly follows an old railroad grade. But the mainly obstacle along the trail are a number of water fords and lack of blazing and vegetation growth as the trail continues upstream. Be observant to any and all blazing and markers. Follow the waters of the Laurel Fork and stay close to woodline in the open fields. Some of the more obvious trails starting at Bitter End will lead are often spur-trails. | ||
== Typical Conditions == | == Typical Conditions == | ||
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== After the Hike == | == After the Hike == | ||
<!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... --> | <!-- Other things to check out while you're in the area. Restaurants, attractions, monuments, etc... --> | ||
== Misc. Information == | == Misc. Information == | ||
<!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Any seasonal features, factoids, etc...? --> | <!-- Enter any additional information that doesn't fit an any other fields. Any seasonal features, factoids, etc...? --> | ||
== Maps == | |||
<!-- You can place pictures, PDF's, links, or even create a Google map with your waypoints and place it here. --> | |||
[http://www.natgeomaps.com/ti_783 National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map of South Holston Watauga Lakes] | |||
Cherokee National Forest Hiking Guide edited by William H. Skelton | |||
== Photos == | == 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:FrogLevel.jpg | |||
<!-- Do not remove the end gallery code.--> | |||
</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]] | |||