Lake Keokee Loop Trail


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Trail Name	Lake Keokee Loop Trail
Nearest City	Appalachia
State	Virginia
Trail Marking	{{{Marking}}}
Trail Use/Features
Difficulty Rating	Easy
Hiking Time	33 Hours <br />0.188 Days <br />180 Min <br />
Distance, round-trip	3.73.7 mi <br />5.955 km <br />
Climb/Descent Elevation	"" is not a number. / {{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.
High Point	2,2382,238 Feet <br />746 Yards <br />682.142 Meters <br />
Nearest Medical	Big Stone Gap, VA
Trip Reports	Click Here

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Trail Overview

Easy hike through dense woodlands around the manmade lake. Good for bird watching or wildflowers in season.

How to get there

From Kingsport, TN

North on US-23 to Big Stone Gap.
Wander thru town on US-23 and continue to Appalachia.
Left/north onto VA-68 (Inman Street) for six miles.
Continue straight onto SR-606 a couple of miles.
Turn left/east onto SR-623 for half mile.
Turn left/east onto SR-876 and proceed one mile to Lake Keokee Recreation Area.

Route Description

Lightly used, hardpacked trail around the lake – crossing the dam. In June, flame azaleas can be seen in bloom.

Olinger Gap Trail (1 mile) connects the Keokee Lake Loop Trail to the Stone Mountain Trail.

Typical Conditions

1/3/2012 phone call with Clinch Ranger - Since the severe December 2009 ice storm, a couple of volunteer crews have cleared the trail of blowdowns. While the trail is not listed as approved for mountain bikes, the ranger stated that a rider in December 2011 reported that the trail around the lake was clear - except for dense rhododendron growth of around 100 yards near junction with Olinger Gap Trail.

Fees, Permits, etc.

Open year-round. No fees or permits are required for day hiking. Managed by the Clinch Ranger District (Wise, VA) Tel: 276-328-2931 (M-F 8AM-4:30PM)

After the Hike

There are no words to decsbire how bodacious this is.

Maps

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(A) 36.85485,-82.86265 Parking at recreation area </googlemap>

I was seiruosly at DefCon 5 until I saw this post.