Phipps Bend Trail
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Trail Overview
In-and-out hike along a level old gravel road around the bend in Holston River at Phipps Bend Industrial Park. Opportunity to see various waterfowl due to the adjacent wetlands and river.
How to get there
From Kingsport, TN
- Take Highway 11W west.
- Turn south on Phipps Bend Road.
- At the Cooper Standard business, turn left/east onto unnamed road.
- Reach parking area at coordinates. The trail heads south along gravel roadway.
Route Description
An in-and-out hike along an old gravel road - roughly five miles round trip with very limited elevation change. Path is also used by trail runners, mountain bikes, and horses. Ends at farmer's field.
Typical Conditions
Hard packed gravel - shared with bikes, so be alert. Edged by wetlands and Holston River with lots of wildlife to observe.
An Eagle Scout project provided a trailhead sign and distance markers as orange topped posts.
Fees, Permits, etc.
No fee. Opens 30 minutes before sunrise and closes 30 minutes after sunset.
After the Hike
Phipps Bend was to be a nuclear power plant site. There are couple of large "ruins" left behind to see.
Misc. Information
Maps
<googlemap version="0.9" lat="36.468" lon="-82.809" type="terrain" zoom="14" scale="yes" icons="http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/marker{label}.png"> http://tehcc.org/clubwiki/kml/Phipps_Bend_Trail.kml
(A) 36.47378,-82.80413 Trailhead parking (G) 36.46575, -82.82517 Roughly end of trail </googlemap>