Gentry Creek Falls

Trail Name Gentry Creek Falls Nearest City Mountain City State Tennessee Trail Marking Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Medium Hiking Time 3-4"-4" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. Distance, round-trip 55 mi <br />8.047 km <br /> Climb/Descent Elevation 300-400"-400" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number. High Point *"*" is not a number. Nearest Medical Mountain City Trip Reports Click Here Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"270px","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":["zoom"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.54260599999999925557858659885823726654052734375,"lon":-81.7346730000000007976268534548580646514892578125,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

Hike with 13-14 water crossings to double drop waterfall.

How to get there

From Kingsport, TN:

1. Take I-81 north to Exit 19 for US-58 towards Damascus.
2. Continue through Damascus.
3. Take right (south) when VA-91 and US-58 split.
4. Proceed back into Tennessee to Laurel Bloomery.

From Mountain City, TN:

1. Proceed north on TN 91 for 7.7 miles to Laurel Bloomery.

Then for both routes:

1. Turn at the A-Z Market onto Gentry Creek Road (sign to Pleasant Home Church) and proceed 0.8 miles.
2. Make right turn onto Star Gap Road.
3. Then quickly left again ton continue on Gentry Creek Road, which become gravel after 1.1 miles.
4. Continue on rough gravel road for 1.4 miles and park at road end.

Point of information is that the first cul-de-sac parking lot reached on the gravel road is for Rogers Ridge Horse Trail. Veer to the right to continue back to the dead end cul-de-sac with a trail marker for Gentry Creek Falls.

Route Description

Hikers cross mound barriers. The trail is very gentle rise up a shaded valley with the expected numerous creek crossings using stepping stones. Gentry Creek is pretty with small rapids. The two tiered waterfall is an enjoyable vista for lunch. Note: The upper falls can be reached by a very narrow path on the right side of the lower falls - but dangerous!

Typical Conditions

Trail is not regularly maintained, but usually passible. Recent (2014) work by the Cherokee National Forest has resulted in stepping stones at all the creek crossings. Difficulty of creek crossings depends on season and whether recent rains. The crossings are all quite navigable, though hiking poles won't hurt. Lots of mosquitos during summer.

After the Hike

Stop in Damascus for ice cream

Misc. Information

Gentry's Falls are named after Joseph Gentry, who farmed 800 acres in the area startng around 1796.

Maps

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(G) 36.542606,-81.734673 Trailhead (C) 36.5677, -81.70575 Gentry Creek Falls </googlemap>

Photos

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  Gentry Creek August 2007

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  Gentry Creek Waterfalls - August 2007

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  Bridge crossing on Gentry Creek - Aug 2007