Bays Ridge Trail

Trail Name Bays Ridge Trail Park Bays Mountain Park Nearest City Kingsport State Tennessee Trail Marking Signs Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Hard Hiking Time 1 Hour0.0625 Days <br />60 Min <br /> Distance: round-trip/trail only 7.0 Mi11.265 km <br /> / 2.41 Mi3.879 km <br /> Trail Type Segment Climb/Descent Elevation 488 Ft148.742 Meters <br /> / -1,165 Ft-355.092 Meters <br /> High Point 2,370 Ft790 Yards <br />722.376 Meters <br /> Parking 36° 30' 31.76" N, 82° 36' 34.36" W Trailhead 36° 29' 51.04" N, 82° 37' 20.25" W Nearest Medical Kingsport, TN 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":36.5088209999999975252649164758622646331787109375,"lon":-82.609544999999997116901795379817485809326171875,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

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.

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.

Maps

Purple line is Bays Ridge Trail.

Loading map...

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