Laurel Run Trail

Trail Name Laurel Run Trail Nearest City Church Hill State Tennessee Trail Marking {{{Marking}}} Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Moderate Hiking Time 3.03 Hours <br />0.188 Days <br />180 Min <br /> Distance, round-trip 4.04 mi <br />6.437 km <br /> Climb/Descent Elevation 613613 Feet <br />186.842 Meters <br /> / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number. High Point 17601,760 Feet <br />586.667 Yards <br />536.448 Meters <br /> Nearest Medical Church Hill 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":36.494180000000000063664629124104976654052734375,"lon":-82.679720000000003210516297258436679840087890625,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

When folks say they are going hiking at Laurel Run Park, they generally mean taking Laurel Run Trail up Kiner Hollow to the waterfalls. Laurel Run Trail is actually mostly in the Bays Mountain Park system, but the description and details will be maintained here.

How to get there

1. Take Highway 11W through Church Hill.
2. Turn left (south) at Goshen Valley Road.
3. Cross the bridge over the Holston River.
4. At just under a mile, turn left (east) at River Road.
5. After just under two miles, veer left onto Laurel Run Park Road.
6. Continue into the park (warning - several speed bumps after entering gate)
7. Once the park road tees, turn right toward the amphitheater parking lot.
8. Trailhead is past the shelters starting with the gravel road.

Route Description

Starting at the green "Walking Trail" sign, follow the gravel road around the bend and across the new footbridge (which greatly improves this stream crossing). Continue following the roadway up the hill. The tread will become very muddy in places - especially after rain even days before. The trail climbs on the old logging road rising above the creek, and then coming back down. This second creek crossing does not have a bridge, thus is either rock hopping or wading. The trail then rises another ridge up to the lower falls (see photo to right). For most folks, this is their destination.

Just past the lower falls, there is a basin that is commonly used as a swimming hole. The white-blazed trail soon makes a sharp switchback up the hill. The climbing path passes above the small upper falls. The route wanders past a few abandoned homesteads until it finally intersects with the Kiner Hollow Trail.

Typical Conditions

One significant creek crossing. Sections of the trail can be very muddy. Mostly up and up and up.

Fees, Permits, etc.

None needed.

Misc. Information

Mountain biking is allowed on the upper section of the trail, but too difficult so never seen anyone on a bike.

Photos

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