Panther Creek State Park
Panther Creek State Park is located on the Cherokee Reservoir north of Morristown, Tennessee. Available activities include hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, boating, horseback riding, and swimming.
<googlemap lat="36.209377" lon="-83.409576" type="terrain" zoom="14"> 36.209377,-83.409576,Panther Creek State Park </googlemap>
How to get there
From Kingsport, TN:
- Take I-81 South to Exit 12 (Lowland/Morristown).
- At bottom of exit ramp, turn right (north) onto Enka Highway TN-160, and drive for 11.3 miles.
- Turn right (east) onto Andrew Johnson Highway US-11E.
- Travel 1.2 miles and turn left (north) onto Panther Creek Road.
- Park entrance will be reached in 1.6 miles.
Trailheads are at several points in the park.
Trails
The following trails are available:
| Trail | Miles | Usage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Run Trail | 0.8 |  
|
|
| Hunt Knob Trail | 3.8 | 
|
Follows edge of Cherokee Lake up to ridge |
| Norris Blackburn Trail | 0.2 |
|
uphill to a wildlife observatory |
| Old Farm Trails | 2.5 |
|
for both loops |
| Old Wagon Trail | 0.8 |
|
Good for beginners. |
| Panther Path Trail |
|
||
| Piney Cove Trail | 0.6 |
|
|
| Trout Lily Trail | 2.0 |
|
for experienced bicyclists |
The park trails are in short segments, thus the following are some suggested loop hikes to explore the park.
- . Suggestion
- . And another
Hiking Trail Descriptions - Open to hikers only 9. Nature Trail is an easy 1.2 mile loop. The self-guided nature trail was developed by Friends of the Park. 10. Ore Mine Trail is a hilly 1.5 mile loop with a scenic wooden bridge. 11. Sink Holes Trail is a 0.6 mile loop that runs by seven limestone sink holes. 12. Point Lookout Trail is a 1.2 mile loop. After climbing a long steep hill, there is a scenic overlook 400 feet above Cherokee Lake. 13. Ridge Crest Trail descends 0.7 mile to Cherokee Lake. It's steep - and so is the climb back.
Maps
Panther Creek State Park website Friends of Panther Creek State Park trail descriptions Trail map