Laurel Run Trail

Laurel Run Trail (log in to submit report)
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Park	Bays Mountain Park
Land Owner	City of Kingsport
Located	Kingsport, Tennessee
Trail Marking	Signs
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail
FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail
Difficulty Rating	Hard
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail.	1.5 hrs0.0938 Days <br />90 Min <br /> round trip
Distance:	1.716 mi2.762 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 6.8 mi10.944 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type	Segment
Low / High Point	1,608 ft536 Yards <br />490.118 Meters <br /> / 2,078 Ft692.667 Yards <br />633.374 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent.	386 Ft117.653 Meters <br /> / (461 Ft140.513 Meters <br />) – East-to-West
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days	6 logged hikes (0 recent)
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list	30 trails / 36.8 mi of trail
Parking	36° 30' 31.75" N, 82° 36' 34.38" W Map
Trailhead	36° 29' 51.50" N, 82° 38' 35.88" W Map
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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.

Miles	Laurel Run Trail	Miles	Elevation (ft)
0.0	Start at gravel road past shelters at Laurel Run Park	2.0	1147
0.1	New footbridge across creek	1.9
0.1	Old house	1.9
0.3	Bridgeless creek crossing - enter Bays Mountain Park (no sign)	1.7
0.9	Waterfall	1.1
1.0	Switchbacks	1.0	1436
1.1	Kiner Falls off and below trail	0.9
1.3	Abandoned Morrison family house - stay out!	0.7
1.6	Abandoned Asa Simpson house - stay out!	0.4
1.7	Abandoned Alex Wallen house - mostly torn down - stay out!	0.3
2.0	Junction with Kiner Hollow Trail at creek	0.0	1760

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

• 

  Trailhead for Laurel Run Trail - photo by Vic Hasler

• 

  Overlook Trail sign

• 

  Overlook Trail - Holston River with Clinch Mtns

• 

  Cascading creek below the Laurel Run Trail - photo by Vic Hasler

• 

  Lower Kiner Hollow Falls - photo by Vic Hasler

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