White Rock Trail

White Rock Trail (log in to submit report)
Park	Buffalo Mountain Park
Land Owner	Johnson City Parks & Rec
Located	Johnson City, TennesseeLocation inherited from associated park
Trail Marking	White
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail
FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail
Difficulty Rating	Medium
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:	1.79 mi2.881 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 3.58 mi5.761 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type	Segment
Low / High Point	2,184 ft728 Yards <br />665.683 Meters <br /> / 3,245 ft1,081.667 Yards <br />989.076 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent.	1,054 ft321.259 Meters <br /> / (0 ft0 Meters <br />) – North-to-South
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days	1 logged hikes (0 recent)
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list	8 trails / 7.1 mi of trail
Parking	36° 16' 43.14" N, 82° 20' 45.96" W Map
Trailhead	36° 16' 43.14" N, 82° 20' 45.96" W Map
Loading map... {"type":"ROADMAP","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"mappingservice":"googlemaps3","width":"100%","height":"180px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":8,"layers":[],"controls":[""],"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":"\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhite Rock Trail\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"mw-parser-output\"\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMain Parking Location\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/div\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail\n","link":"","lat":36.278649999999998954081092961132526397705078125,"lon":-82.346100000000006957634468562901020050048828125,"icon":""}]}
Show In Google Maps

Loading map...

{"format":"googlemaps3","type":"TERRAIN","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"limit":50,"offset":0,"link":"none","sort":[""],"order":[],"headers":"show","mainlabel":"","intro":"","outro":"","searchlabel":"... further results","default":"","import-annotation":false,"width":"auto","height":"600px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":false,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":true,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":["https://tehcc.org/clubwiki/images/Tower_Ridge_Trail.kml","https://tehcc.org/clubwiki/images/White_Rock_Trail.kml"],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"showtitle":false,"hidenamespace":true,"template":"Map Balloon Template","userparam":"","activeicon":"","pagelabel":false,"ajaxcoordproperty":"","ajaxquery":"","locations":[{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Tower_Ridge_Trail\" title=\"Tower Ridge Trail\"\u003ETower Ridge Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E0.77\u0026#160;Mi (1.24\u0026#160;km)\u003Cbr /\u003EDifficulty: Medium\u003Cbr /\u003EMarking: Blue\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Tower Ridge Trail","link":"","lat":36.27754999999999796500560478307306766510009765625,"lon":-82.3414800000000042246028897352516651153564453125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELower trailhead off \u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EWhite Rock Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELower trailhead off \u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EWhite Rock Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Tower Ridge Trail","link":"","lat":36.27758099999999785723048262298107147216796875,"lon":-82.3414539999999988140189088881015777587890625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJunction with service road\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJunction with service road\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Tower Ridge Trail","link":"","lat":36.26885399999999748388290754519402980804443359375,"lon":-82.3393389999999953943188302218914031982421875,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerU.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAlternate parking lot\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlternate parking lot\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Tower Ridge Trail","link":"","lat":36.27864600000000194768290384672582149505615234375,"lon":-82.346102000000001908119884319603443145751953125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerA.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca class=\"mw-selflink selflink\"\u003EWhite Rock Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E1.79\u0026#160;Mi (2.88\u0026#160;km)\u003Cbr /\u003EDifficulty: Medium\u003Cbr /\u003EMarking: White\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.278649999999998954081092961132526397705078125,"lon":-82.346100000000006957634468562901020050048828125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJunction with blue-blazed spur to service road\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJunction with blue-blazed spur to service road\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.27802100000000251611709245480597019195556640625,"lon":-82.34431299999999964711605571210384368896484375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerU.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECreek crossing at Hartsell Hollow\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:White_Rock_Trail_-_creek_crossing.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"White Rock Trail - creek crossing.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_-_creek_crossing.JPG/150px-White_Rock_Trail_-_creek_crossing.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_-_creek_crossing.JPG/225px-White_Rock_Trail_-_creek_crossing.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_-_creek_crossing.JPG/300px-White_Rock_Trail_-_creek_crossing.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"448\" data-file-height=\"336\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:White_Rock_Trail_-_Hartsell_Hollow_trail_sign.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"White Rock Trail - Hartsell Hollow trail sign.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_-_Hartsell_Hollow_trail_sign.JPG/150px-White_Rock_Trail_-_Hartsell_Hollow_trail_sign.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"106\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_-_Hartsell_Hollow_trail_sign.JPG/225px-White_Rock_Trail_-_Hartsell_Hollow_trail_sign.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_-_Hartsell_Hollow_trail_sign.JPG/300px-White_Rock_Trail_-_Hartsell_Hollow_trail_sign.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"448\" data-file-height=\"317\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.27677700000000271529643214307725429534912109375,"lon":-82.34611599999999498322722502052783966064453125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerJ.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENarrow trail bridge\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENarrow trail bridge\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.27797600000000244335751631297171115875244140625,"lon":-82.34579999999999699866748414933681488037109375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerL.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhite Rock Overlook\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"/wiki/File:White_Rock_Trail_overlook.JPG\" class=\"image\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"White Rock Trail overlook.JPG\" src=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_overlook.JPG/150px-White_Rock_Trail_overlook.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"/clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_overlook.JPG/225px-White_Rock_Trail_overlook.JPG 1.5x, /clubwiki/images/thumb/White_Rock_Trail_overlook.JPG/300px-White_Rock_Trail_overlook.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"1024\" data-file-height=\"768\" /\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.27047999999999916553861112333834171295166015625,"lon":-82.337029999999998608473106287419795989990234375,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerE.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETowers\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETowers\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.26912999999999698275132686831057071685791015625,"lon":-82.3383299999999991314325598068535327911376953125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerM.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAlternate parking lot\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlternate parking lot\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.27864600000000194768290384672582149505615234375,"lon":-82.346102000000001908119884319603443145751953125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerA.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EUpper trailhead at bench\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJunction with \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Fork_Ridge_Trail\" title=\"Fork Ridge Trail\"\u003EFork Ridge Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.2668000000000034788172342814505100250244140625,"lon":-82.3393190000000032569005270488560199737548828125,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerK.png"},{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJunction with blue-blazed \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Tower_Ridge_Trail\" title=\"Tower Ridge Trail\"\u003ETower Ridge Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr /\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJunction with blue-blazed \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/Tower_Ridge_Trail\" title=\"Tower Ridge Trail\"\u003ETower Ridge Trail\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","title":"White Rock Trail","link":"","lat":36.27758099999999785723048262298107147216796875,"lon":-82.3414539999999988140189088881015777587890625,"icon":"/clubwiki/images/MarkerT.png"}]}

Download KML / Upload new version / KML File Page / Create Profile Chart / gpsvisualizer Map
White Rock Trail is the black line, while Tower Ridge Trail is in blue line.
Note: The route for Highridge Road is incorrect as the service road is closed with a gate.

Trail Overview

Located in Buffalo Mountain Park, a popular trail to the cliffs overlooking the I-26 valley.

How to get there

Refer to the “How to get there” instructions on the Buffalo Mountain Park page. Take the gravel road left to the alternative parking area.

Route Description

The white-blazed White Rock Trail heads up the eastern edge of the park to the cliffs overlooking I-26 and then beyond the communication towers. Starting from the alt. parking lot, head into the forest and cross a wooden beam acting as a short bridge. At the junction with the main loop trail, turn left/east to recross the stream. A single white blaze then shows the climb up the tree roots to find a narrow trail. After 0.2 mile, a blue blazed spur trail heads over to the gravel service road. Continue heading uphill reaching the power line clearing. The blue-blazed Tower Ridge Trail heads off to the right. Proceed down a steep bank to cross the gravel service road. Follow the trail back into the forest. At an older trail sign, a red-blazed trail heads back downhill to the service road, while the main trail continues ahead north and an informal trail comes in from the right. The trail works around to the park boundary and then turns to follow the edge of the ridgeline. It descends on a rock outcropping, which is inadequately blazed from the other direction thus folks have created the previously mentioned informal spur trail by proceeding downhill.

White Rock Trail continues uphill with rock outcroppings to the east for views. As it approaches the commication towers area, the trail stays in the woods to stay off the service road. Just beyond the last tower, a junction with Tower Ridge Trail is reached. The trail path appears to split into two parallel lanes continuing over to a fixed wooden bench - and junction with Fork Ridge Trail.

A roughly three mile loop hike can be done in couple of hours (plus stops) by hiking up the Tower Ridge Trail or gravel service road and returning by the White Rock Trail. The latter offers views to the east of the I-26 valley.

Typical Conditions

While heavily used, the trail appears to have no formal maintenance. During rain, water will channel down the steep path, thus subsequently resulting in a slippery mud slide. In a couple of places, there are small springs which continually flow down the trail, thus could benefit from rock channeling or water bars.

Fees, Permits, etc.

No fees or permits required.

Photos

• 

  Sunset at Huckleberry Knob

• 

  Trail sign at Hartsell Hollow

• 

  Second creek crossing

• 

  View from White Rock Trail Overlook

Click here to upload an Image