Sinking Waters

Sinking Waters (log in to submit report)
Park	Warriors' Path State Park
Located	Kingsport, TennesseeLocation inherited from associated park
Trail Marking	Blue, Yellow, Red
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail
FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail
Difficulty Rating	Easy
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail.	1 hr0.0625 Days <br />60 Min <br /> round trip
Distance:	2.23 mi3.589 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 2.232.23 mi <br />3.589 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type	Loop
Low / High Point	1,357 ft452.333 Yards <br />413.614 Meters <br /> / 1,641 ft547 Yards <br />500.177 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent.	{{{Elevation Gain}}}"{{{Elevation Gain}}}" is not a number. / ({{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.) – {{{Elevation Change Direction}}}
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days	21 logged hikes (0 recent)
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list	24 trails / 17.8 mi of trail
Parking	36° 30' 59.72" N, 82° 28' 25.18" W Map
Trailhead	36° 30' 59.72" N, 82° 28' 25.18" W Map
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Trail Overview

Located in Warriors Path State Park. Nice quick hike nearby for those in Kingsport. Interesting view of a stream flowing and disappearing into a sink hole (thus the name sinking waters). Can also be made part of a nice jogging route. Good views to the south for those that make it to the ridge top, especially on winter early mornings. Also a good location for blackberries and raspberries during the warm summer months.

How to get there

From the park headquarters...

1. Take Fall Creek Road north across the Holston River.
2. Continue past the golf course and turn left on Moody Lane.
3. Turn left on to Cedar Branch Road.
4. Gravel parking lot on your left as the road turns right.

Route Description

The trail can be made very short or long by taking the loops as desired. The description below is for an "always turn right" route, (almost always) taking the trail to the right when it splits.

Miles Out	Sinking Waters	Miles Back	Elevation (ft)
0.0	Trail head	2.19	1,479
0.05	Trail bridge and spring house	2.14	1,457
0.1	Trail head	2.09	1,494
0.3	Pass ridge sign and trail high point	1.89	1,637
0.5	Descend ridge on stairs	1.69	1,499
0.54	Rejoin lower trail at sign	1.65	1,448
0.62	Turn right at bench for 2nd loop	1.57	1,426
0.73	Bench on upper part of the middle loop	1.46	1,498
0.95	Trail head	1.24	1,373
1.0	Bench and sign at paved section and small bridge	1.19	1,382
1.09	Enter boardwalk section	1.10	1,330
1.2	Turn right to head to golf course	0.99	1,368
1.29	Trail head	0.90	1,388
1.44	View sinking waters	0.75	1,375
1.48	Leave boardwalk section	0.71	1,479
1.6	Stay right for middle loop	0.59	1,372
1.63	Sign about Coffman family	0.56	1,373
1.83	Complete middle loop	0.36	1,418
1.9	Begin lower portion of the first loop	0.29	1,443
2.1	Complete the first loop	0.09	1,499
2.19	Hike complete	0.0	1,479

Typical Conditions

The trails are fairly well maintained with boardwalks in the wetter parts and stairs on the steeper parts. Some side trails exist without posted signs. No trail blazes.

Fees, Permits, etc.

None needed, just park and go.

Misc. Information

Blackberries and raspberries abound in late June and July.

At night along the boardwalk a barred owl may ask "who cooks for you, who cooks for y'all."

According to the signs, the Coffman family settled in the area in the late 1860's. They tried to farm, but frequent floods swept away their cornfield and peach orchard. To get by they switched to blacksmithing and built a shop in the area.

In recent times the land was owned by (?) who bought it for his daughters to have a spot to ride horses. In (?) he donated to the park.

Photos

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  Parking lot sign pre-2015

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  Cedar Branch Creek disappearing into a sink hole on the wetlands loop

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  Profile chart

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  Sinking waters sinkhole after a lot of rain in December 2018

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters trail sign back at the boardwalk

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters view of boardwalk entrance

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters collapsed shed (cabin?!) near golf course

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  collapsed shed near golf course

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  sign at golf course entrance

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  Lower end of Meadow Loop (2nd loop)

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  Sign where lower Ridge Loop rejoins itself

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  Squirrels attracted to synthetic decking on wetlands loop

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters bench where the 2nd loop splits

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters bench between mid loop and boardwalk

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters bench on North portion of mid loop

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters sign at board walk - front side

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  Warriors Path Sinking Waters bridge near parking lot

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  New sign at parking lot. Vandalized within weeks of placement.

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  Just before 2nd loop rejoins before boardwalk

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  Sign at the Sinking Waters namesake

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  On top of the ridge loop (1st loop)

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  Spring House (now knocked over)

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  Where upper Ridge loop rejoins lower loop

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  Sign near the stairs at far side of Ridge Loop

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