Iron Mountain Trail - South: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Typical Conditions: Add that JCHC also maintains a piece of IMT)
(Directions for southern section hike)
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                     | Hike Time = 24+
                     | Hike Time = 24+
                     | Distance = 18  
                     | Distance = 18  
                     | Elevation Gain = *
                     | Elevation Gain = up to 1900
                     | High Point = *
                     | High Point = ~3900
                     | Latitude = N36°28.367  
                     | Latitude = N36°28.367  
                     | Longitude = W81°56.917
                     | Longitude = W81°56.917
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== How to get there ==
== How to get there ==
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
<!-- Please enter detailed instruction on how to find the trail head. -->
From Kingsport, TN
The first section can be thru-hiked either direction with a car shuttle. 
#Take I-26 North to Exit 69 (TN-394/Blountville).
 
#
From Johnson City, TN:
#Take US-321 north to Elizabethton (10 miles).
#Turn left/north at the traffic light onto TN-37/TN-91.
#After quickly crossing the river, exit right onto TN-91/New Stony Creek Rd.
#Continue towards Shady Valley for 18 miles.
#Turn right onto Cross Mountain Road for 1.1 miles
#Look for radio towers on right for parking.
#Iron Mountain Trail is to the right of the gates to the Cross Mountain Subdivision.  (This is the southern terminus of IMT.)
#Backtrack to TN-91 and continue north for 3.6 miles to Shady Valley.
#Turn right/east where TN-91 intersects with TN-34/US-421.
#Proceed to the top of Iron Mountain.
#Parking area is on the south side.
 
 
== 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? -->
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Elevation change given from south to north direction.
Elevation change given from south to north direction. The trail is marked by blue or yellow blazes with metal yellow mile markers (some missing).
 
The first section can be thru-hiked with a car drop Directions: At the intersection of Hwy 421 and Hwy 67, go north on Hwy 421 towards Shady Valley. It is 6.5 miles to top of Iron Mountain. Parking area is on the left, leave one vehicle there. Continue on 421 to crossroads in Shady Valley 4.1 miles. Turn left onto Hwy 91, go 3.5 miles to Cross Mountain Road. Turn left and proceed 1.1 miles, look for radio towers on right. Park vehicle. The Iron Mountain Trail starts to the right of the gates to the Cross Mountain Subdivision. This trail is marked by blue blaze. About 100 yards from the road, the trail splits, take the right fork.
 


The first section appears to be favorable day hike with a car shuttle.


This part of the Iron Mountain Trail makes an excellent loop hike of about 45 miles total when combined with the Appalachian Trail at Highway 91.  This circuit would required ___ days to complete.
This part of the Iron Mountain Trail makes an excellent loop hike of about 45 miles total when combined with the Appalachian Trail at Highway 91.  This circuit would required ___ days to complete.

Revision as of 22:32, 6 August 2011


File:Placeholder.JPG
Trail Name Iron Mountain Trail - South
Nearest City Mountain City
State Tennessee
Trail Marking {{{Marking}}}
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.png Dnr dog.png Dnr camp.png
Difficulty Rating Difficult
Hiking Time 24+"+" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
Distance, round-trip 1818 mi <br />28.968 km <br />
Climb/Descent Elevation up to 1900"upto" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.
High Point ~3900"~" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.
Nearest Medical Mountain City, TN
Trip Reports Click Here
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Trail Overview

What is now the Iron Mountain Trail (IMT) was the route for Appalachain Trail until 1972 when a major relocation moved the AT away from all the communication towers over to the Roan Highlands. Today, IMT offers a more secluded experience with spectacular overlooks. For this trail wiki, the trail is being listed as two major sections with the city of Damascus as the dividing point.

How to get there

The first section can be thru-hiked either direction with a car shuttle.

From Johnson City, TN:

  1. Take US-321 north to Elizabethton (10 miles).
  2. Turn left/north at the traffic light onto TN-37/TN-91.
  3. After quickly crossing the river, exit right onto TN-91/New Stony Creek Rd.
  4. Continue towards Shady Valley for 18 miles.
  5. Turn right onto Cross Mountain Road for 1.1 miles
  6. Look for radio towers on right for parking.
  7. Iron Mountain Trail is to the right of the gates to the Cross Mountain Subdivision. (This is the southern terminus of IMT.)
  8. Backtrack to TN-91 and continue north for 3.6 miles to Shady Valley.
  9. Turn right/east where TN-91 intersects with TN-34/US-421.
  10. Proceed to the top of Iron Mountain.
  11. Parking area is on the south side.


Route Description

The Johnson County Trails group has nicely divided the southern portion into sections, thus reference their webpage for access directions.

Trail Section Distance (mi) Elevation (ft)
Cross Mountain to Hwy 421 5.0 3700 to 3900
Hwy 421 to Corinth Church 8.7 3900 to 2900
Corinth Church to Camp Ahistadi 6.0 2900 to 2300
Camp Ahistadi to Damascus 4.1 2300 to 2000

Elevation change given from south to north direction. The trail is marked by blue or yellow blazes with metal yellow mile markers (some missing).

The first section appears to be favorable day hike with a car shuttle.

This part of the Iron Mountain Trail makes an excellent loop hike of about 45 miles total when combined with the Appalachian Trail at Highway 91. This circuit would required ___ days to complete.

Typical Conditions

Located in Cherokee National Forest and maintained by the Mid-Appalachian Highlands and Johnson County Hiking (miles 11 thru 13) clubs. Typical condition has been reported as being in good shape with blowdowns promptly removed. There are no shelters, but several campsites exists. Available water supplies may be limited.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Misc. Information

Maps

<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.55" lon="-81.832008" type="terrain" zoom="11" width="725" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Iron Mountain Trail.kml

(G) 36.47278, -81.94861 Cross Mountain trailhead (G) 36.49722, -81.88639 Hwy 421 access point (G) 36.56667, -81.79333 Corinth Church access point (G) 36.59806, -81.75444 Camp Ahistadi access point (G) 36.625, -81.77222 Damascus trailhead </googlemap>

Photos

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