Sinking Waters

Sinking Waters (log in to submit report)


Highlight	Three connected loops and a stream that disappears into a sinkhole
Park	Warriors' Path State Park
Located	Kingsport, TennesseeLocation inherited from associated park
Trail Marking	Green, Yellow, Blue
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail
FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail
Difficulty Rating	Easy
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail.	1 hr0.0625 Days <br />60 Min <br /> round trip
Distance:	2.23 mi3.589 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 2.232.23 mi <br />3.589 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type	Loop
Low / High Point	1,325 ft441.667 Yards <br />403.86 Meters <br /> / 1,607 ft535.667 Yards <br />489.814 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent.	338 ft103.022 Meters <br /> / (338 ft103.022 Meters <br />) – Counter Clockwise
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days	21 logged hikes (0 recent)
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list	24 trails / 17.8 mi of trail
Parking	36° 30' 59.72" N, 82° 28' 25.18" W Map
Trailhead	36° 30' 59.72" N, 82° 28' 25.18" W Map
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Trail Overview

Located in Warriors Path State Park. Nice quick hike nearby for those in Kingsport. Interesting view of a stream flowing and disappearing into a sink hole (thus the name sinking waters). Three connected loops offer many options to create a hike or run, to suit your interest. Good views to the south for those that make it to the ridge top, especially on winter early mornings. Also a good location for blackberries and raspberries during the warm summer months and paw paws in September.

How to get there

From the park headquarters...

Take Fall Creek Road north across the Holston River.
Continue past the golf course and turn left on Moody Lane.
Turn left on to Cedar Branch Road.
Gravel parking lot on your left as the road turns right.

Warning! There is a gate to the parking lot on Cedar Branch Road. I have often found it closed and locked well into late in the morning (no clue about other times as that's my usual hike time). If it's during daylight hours, you can try contacting the park office to request an unlocking. Call the main office at 423-239-8531.

Route Description

The trail consists of three connected loops. Starting from the typical access point on Cedar Branch Road is the greenish blue blazed forest or ridge loop offering some views to the south. The middle loop is the yellow blazed field loop. The final loop and location of the sinking waters namesake is the blue blazed wetlands loop. The wetlands loop is connected to the park golf course.

Section	Distance (mi)	Marking
Parking to Forest Loop Connector	0.09	Green
Forest Loop	0.64	Green
Forest and Field Loop Connector	0.08	Green
Field Loop	0.56	Yellow
Field and Wetlands Loop Connector	0.14	Yellow
Wetlands Loop	0.39	Blue
Wetlands Loop Golf Course Connector	0.1	Blue

The trail can be made very short or long by taking the loops as desired. The description below is for an "always turn right" route starting from Cedar Branch Road, (almost always) taking the trail to the right when it splits.

Miles Out	Sinking Waters	Miles Back	Elevation (ft)
0.0	Trail head	2.19	1,479
0.05	Trail bridge and spring house	2.14	1,457
0.1	Trail head	2.09	1,494
0.3	Pass ridge sign and trail high point	1.89	1,637
0.5	Descend ridge on stairs	1.69	1,499
0.54	Rejoin lower trail at sign	1.65	1,448
0.62	Turn right at bench for 2nd loop	1.57	1,426
0.73	Bench on upper part of the middle loop	1.46	1,498
0.95	Trail head	1.24	1,373
1.0	Bench and sign at paved section and small bridge	1.19	1,382
1.09	Enter boardwalk section	1.10	1,330
1.2	Turn right to head to golf course	0.99	1,368
1.29	Trail head	0.90	1,388
1.44	View sinking waters	0.75	1,375
1.48	Leave boardwalk section	0.71	1,479
1.6	Stay right for middle loop	0.59	1,372
1.63	Sign about Coffman family	0.56	1,373
1.83	Complete middle loop	0.36	1,418
1.9	Begin lower portion of the first loop	0.29	1,443
2.1	Complete the first loop	0.09	1,499
2.19	Hike complete	0.0	1,479

Typical Conditions

The trails are fairly well maintained with boardwalks in the wetter parts and stairs on the steeper parts. Some side trails exist without posted signs.

Fees, Permits, etc.

None needed, just park and go.

Misc. Information

Blackberries and raspberries abound in late June and July.

At night along the boardwalk a barred owl may ask "who cooks for you, who cooks for y'all."

According to the signs, the Coffman family settled in the area in the late 1860's. They tried to farm, but frequent floods swept away their cornfield and peach orchard. To get by they switched to blacksmithing and built a shop in the area.

In recent times the land was owned by (?) who bought it for his daughters to have a spot to ride horses. In (?) he donated to the park.