Little Oak Recreation Area

File:Placeholder.JPG Trail Name Little Oak Recreation Area Nearest City Bristol State Tennessee Trail Marking {{{Marking}}} Trail Use/Features Difficulty Rating Easy Hiking Time 2-3"-3" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. Distance, round-trip 5-6"-6" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. Climb/Descent Elevation <500"" 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 Bristol, 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":36.518985549862549078170559369027614593505859375,"lon":-82.05636340098698155998135916888713836669921875,"icon":""}]} Show Large Map

Trail Overview

Easy hike for scenic view of South Holston Lake and wildlife - maybe even bald eagles.

How to get there

From Kingsport, TN

1. Take I-26 North to Exit 69 (TN-394/Blountville).
2. Turn right/east onto TN-394 for 12 miles.
3. Turn right/SE on US-421 for 12 miles.
4. Turn right/south onto Camp Tom Howard Road for just under two miles.
5. Take left/south onto Big Creek Road for five miles.
6. Turn right onto Little Oak Road and continue towards the campground (reached in couple of miles).

Parking for trails is at the pay station near the entrance to the recreation area. For auto GPS, address is 1051 Little Oak Road Bristol, TN 37620.

Route Description

Rattlesnake Ridge is USFS #26 Trail. Out-and-back hike starting at Rock Creek Recreation Area parking lot. Proceed to the back of the campground to the trailhead common with Rock Creek Falls. Take the split along an old road for about a mile over to Dick Creek Gap - a junction of several trails and old roads. Head up the ridgeline into the Unaka Mountain Wilderness (sign seen after 100 yards) to the top at the Pleasant Gardens Overlook on Unaka Mountain.

Typical Conditions

Being in wilderness-designated area and not heavily used, the trail may be a little overgrown but is well defined.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Rock Creek Campground is open May 1 through November 1. Campground gates are closed from 10 PM until 7 AM. If closed, then add a mile to hike in from the main gate. Day use area fee is $2 per car. Permit must be visibly displayed in vehicle. Wilderness designated area, thus group size is limited to 14 people.

Misc. Information

Dogs are allowed, but must remain on a 6 ft or shorter leash.

Maps

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,-,Little Oak Recreation Area(G) 36.136490,-82.338066,Rattlesnake Ridge Trailhead (G) 36.13425, -82.31113,Pleasant Gardens Overlook </googlemap>

Photos

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