Bays Ridge Trail

Bays Ridge Trail (log in to submit report)
Park	Bays Mountain Park
Land Owner	City of Kingsport
Located	Kingsport, TennesseeLocation inherited from associated park
Trail Marking	Signs
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail
FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail
Difficulty Rating	Medium
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail.	2 hrs0.125 Days <br />120 Min <br /> round trip
Distance:	2.378 mi3.827 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 7.6 mi12.231 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type	Segment
Low / High Point	1,611 ft537 Yards <br />491.033 Meters <br /> / 2,316 ft772 Yards <br />705.917 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent.	136 Ft41.453 Meters <br /> / (826 Ft251.765 Meters <br />) – East-to-West
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days	No hikes logged yet
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list	30 trails / 36.1 mi of trail
Parking	36° 30' 31.75" N, 82° 36' 34.38" W Map
Trailhead	36° 29' 51.04" N, 82° 37' 20.24" W Map
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Template","userparam":"","activeicon":"","pagelabel":false,"ajaxcoordproperty":"","ajaxquery":"","locations":[{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Bays_Ridge_Road\" title=\"Bays Ridge Road\"\u003EBays Ridge Road\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1.42\u0026#160;Mi (2.29\u0026#160;km)\u003Cbr /\u003EDifficulty: Medium\u003Cbr /\u003EMarking: Signs\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Road","link":"","lat":36.5076499999999981582732289098203182220458984375,"lon":-82.6126000000000004774847184307873249053955078125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJunction with \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Pine_Trail\" title=\"Pine Trail\"\u003EPine Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJunction with \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Pine_Trail\" title=\"Pine Trail\"\u003EPine Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Road","link":"","lat":36.5063099999999991496224538423120975494384765625,"lon":-82.613110000000006039044819772243499755859375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERoad starts at \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Lake_Road_(Bays_Mountain_Park)\" title=\"Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)\"\u003ELake Road\u003C/a\u003E by reservoir dam\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:BMP_LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd_sign.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"BMP LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd sign.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd_sign.JPG/50px-BMP_LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd_sign.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"179\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd_sign.JPG/75px-BMP_LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd_sign.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd_sign.JPG/100px-BMP_LakeRd-BaysRidgeRd_sign.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"125\" data-file-height=\"448\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Road","link":"","lat":36.50761299999999920373738859780132770538330078125,"lon":-82.6126579999999961501089273951947689056396484375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERoad starts at Ledbetter Gap\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:BMP_Ledbetter_Gap_sign.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"BMP Ledbetter Gap sign.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Ledbetter_Gap_sign.JPG/150px-BMP_Ledbetter_Gap_sign.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Ledbetter_Gap_sign.JPG/225px-BMP_Ledbetter_Gap_sign.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Ledbetter_Gap_sign.JPG/300px-BMP_Ledbetter_Gap_sign.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"340\" data-file-height=\"336\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003ECrossroads with \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Lake_Road_(Bays_Mountain_Park)\" title=\"Lake Road (Bays Mountain Park)\"\u003ELake Road\u003C/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Front_Hollow_Road\" title=\"Front Hollow Road\"\u003EFront Hollow Road\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Road","link":"","lat":36.4979000000000013415046851150691509246826171875,"lon":-82.627712999999999965439201332628726959228515625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJunction with \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Orchid_Trail\" title=\"Orchid Trail\"\u003EOrchid Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:BMP_Orchid_Trail_sign2.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"BMP Orchid Trail sign2.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Orchid_Trail_sign2.JPG/50px-BMP_Orchid_Trail_sign2.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"109\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Orchid_Trail_sign2.JPG/75px-BMP_Orchid_Trail_sign2.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Orchid_Trail_sign2.JPG/100px-BMP_Orchid_Trail_sign2.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"206\" data-file-height=\"448\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Road","link":"","lat":36.5004899999999992132870829664170742034912109375,"lon":-82.6178599999999931924321572296321392059326171875,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EBays Ridge Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E2.38\u0026#160;Mi (3.83\u0026#160;km)\u003Cbr /\u003EDifficulty: Medium\u003Cbr /\u003EMarking: Signs\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Trail","link":"","lat":36.49750999999999834244590601883828639984130859375,"lon":-82.6222900000000066711436375044286251068115234375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETrailhead at \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Bays_Ridge_Road\" title=\"Bays Ridge Road\"\u003EBays Ridge Road\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:BMP_Bays_Ridge_Trail_sign.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"BMP Bays Ridge Trail sign.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Bays_Ridge_Trail_sign.JPG/50px-BMP_Bays_Ridge_Trail_sign.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"33\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Bays_Ridge_Trail_sign.JPG/75px-BMP_Bays_Ridge_Trail_sign.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Bays_Ridge_Trail_sign.JPG/100px-BMP_Bays_Ridge_Trail_sign.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"448\" data-file-height=\"295\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Trail","link":"","lat":36.4975639999999970086719258688390254974365234375,"lon":-82.6222489999999964993548928759992122650146484375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETrailhead at \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Front_Hollow_Road\" title=\"Front Hollow Road\"\u003EFront Hollow Road\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETrailhead at \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Front_Hollow_Road\" title=\"Front Hollow Road\"\u003EFront Hollow Road\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Bays Ridge Trail","link":"","lat":36.4869589999999988094714353792369365692138671875,"lon":-82.652118999999999005012796260416507720947265625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerG.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Front_Hollow_Road\" title=\"Front Hollow Road\"\u003EFront Hollow Road\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1.70\u0026#160;Mi (2.74\u0026#160;km)\u003Cbr /\u003EDifficulty: Medium\u003Cbr /\u003EMarking: Signs\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Front Hollow Road","link":"","lat":36.4978100000000011959855328314006328582763671875,"lon":-82.6276500000000027057467377744615077972412109375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Jones_Road\" title=\"Jones Road\"\u003EJones Road\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E0.93\u0026#160;Mi (1.49\u0026#160;km)\u003Cbr /\u003EDifficulty: Medium\u003Cbr /\u003EMarking: Signs\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Jones Road","link":"","lat":36.49602999999999752844814793206751346588134765625,"lon":-82.6315900000000027603164198808372020721435546875,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJunction with \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Front_Hollow_Road\" title=\"Front Hollow Road\"\u003EFront Hollow Road\u003C/a\u003E by \"Big Oak\"\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:BMP_Big_Oak.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"BMP Big Oak.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Big_Oak.JPG/150px-BMP_Big_Oak.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Big_Oak.JPG/225px-BMP_Big_Oak.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/BMP_Big_Oak.JPG/300px-BMP_Big_Oak.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"768\" data-file-height=\"1024\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Jones Road","link":"","lat":36.49602999999999752844814793206751346588134765625,"lon":-82.6315799999999995861799106933176517486572265625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EParking at Bays Mountain Trail Road\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:Jones_Road_Trailhead.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jones Road Trailhead.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Trailhead.jpg/150px-Jones_Road_Trailhead.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Trailhead.jpg/225px-Jones_Road_Trailhead.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Trailhead.jpg/300px-Jones_Road_Trailhead.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Jones Road","link":"","lat":36.49392374010000139605836011469364166259765625,"lon":-82.6241475613999938332199235446751117706298828125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerA.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJunction with \u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EBays Ridge Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:Jones_Road_Junction_02.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jones Road Junction 02.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Junction_02.jpg/150px-Jones_Road_Junction_02.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Junction_02.jpg/225px-Jones_Road_Junction_02.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Junction_02.jpg/300px-Jones_Road_Junction_02.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Jones Road","link":"","lat":36.49210000000000064801497501321136951446533203125,"lon":-82.6337199999999967303665471263229846954345703125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EArrives at ridgeline with \u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EBays Ridge Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:Jones_Road_Junction_01.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jones Road Junction 01.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Junction_01.jpg/150px-Jones_Road_Junction_01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Junction_01.jpg/225px-Jones_Road_Junction_01.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_Junction_01.jpg/300px-Jones_Road_Junction_01.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Jones Road","link":"","lat":36.49276388909999724319277447648346424102783203125,"lon":-82.6321186832000051936120144091546535491943359375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EView towards Black Mountains in NC\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:Jones_Road_View_Towards_Black_Mountains.jpg\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Jones Road View Towards Black Mountains.jpg\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_View_Towards_Black_Mountains.jpg/150px-Jones_Road_View_Towards_Black_Mountains.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_View_Towards_Black_Mountains.jpg/225px-Jones_Road_View_Towards_Black_Mountains.jpg 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/Jones_Road_View_Towards_Black_Mountains.jpg/300px-Jones_Road_View_Towards_Black_Mountains.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"900\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Jones Road","link":"","lat":36.4926119583000030388575396500527858734130859375,"lon":-82.6326353051999973331476212479174137115478515625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerB.png"}]}

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Trail Overview

*NOTE* - THE JUNCTION WHERE JONES ROAD SPLITS AWAY FROM BAYS RIDGE TRAIL AND LEAVES THE PARK IS NOT MARKED. THIS JUNCTION IS NOTORIOUS FOR HIKERS TO ACCIDENTALLY LEAVE THE PARK AND NOT REALIZE IT UNTIL THEY ARRIVE AT RESERVOIR ROAD

Located in Bays Mountain Park. Follows the ridgeline past Bays Ridge Road until heading down to Front Hollow Road. Views of Hawkins and Greene County valleys.

How to get there

From the main parking lot, cross the dam and take the left onto Lake Road, then Bays Ridge Road. The trail will split off left before the road heads downhill.

Route Description

The path follows the base of the ridge. Meanders some to pass around deep muddy ruts and intersects with the creek.

This trail has connections to Bays Ridge Road, Jones Road, and Front Hollow Road

Miles	Bays Ridge Trail	Miles	Elevation (ft)
0.0	Trailhead at Bays Ridge Road	2.6	2285
0.8	Junction with Jones Road at two splits. First leads out of park; second to the "Big Oak".	1.8	2090
2.1	Far end of the ridge crest	0.5	2095
2.6	Trailhead at Front Hollow Road	0.0	1615

Warning: The intersection at Jones Road is not marked. The roadway down to Front Hollow Road is at some graffiti. When heading back towards the Nature Center, the unmarked trail split is off the roadbed to the left continuing on the ridge crest.

The following elevation profile travels uphill from Front Hollow Road to Bays Ridge Road.

Typical Conditions

Normally trail in good condition. Ridgeline through some briar patches, along rock outcroppings, and down a lesser used switchback. The path is usually covered with pine needles and/or fallen leaves. As of 2015 the blowdowns are cleaned up.

Misc. Information

The "fireworks" you hear are the firearms being used at the Cherokee Rod and Gun Club located at the base of the ridge. There is at least one warning sign stating to not head SW off the trail.

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