Fire Tower Trail
Fire Tower 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 | Medium |
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail. | 30 min0.5 Hours <br />0.0313 Days <br /> round trip |
Distance: | 0.7 mi1.127 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / 4.2 mi6.759 km <br /> round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car |
Trail Type | Segment |
Low / High Point | 1,893 ft631 Yards <br />576.986 Meters <br /> / 2,385 Ft795 Yards <br />726.948 Meters <br /> |
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent. | 0 Ft0 Meters <br /> / (491 Ft149.657 Meters <br />) – North-to-South |
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days | 3 logged hikes (0 recent) |
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list | 30 trails / 37.8 mi of trail |
Parking | 36° 30' 31.75" N, 82° 36' 34.38" W Map |
Trailhead | 36° 30' 43.27" N, 82° 37' 0.08" W Map |
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Trail Overview[edit]
Located in Bays Mountain Park. Second most popular trail (after Lakeside Trail) up to the Garden Mountain/Kingsport firetower for view across Holston Defense, west end of Kingsport, and into Virginia.
How to get there[edit]
Take Lakeside Trail clockwise around the reservoir to the Hemlock Trail or Lake Road counterclockwise. The lower trailhead in on Lake Road.
Alternatively, the upper trailhead at the firetower is reached on River Mountain Road from either the antennas or Fegins Gap.
Route Description[edit]
The trail heads up Holston River Mountain side of the park to reach the firetower. Although no blazes, the path is well worn, thus apparent.
This trail has connections to River Mountain Road, Chinquapin Trail, and Lake Road
Miles Up | Fire Tower Trail | Miles Down | Elevation (ft) |
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0.0 | Trailhead at Lake Road | 0.7 | 1894 |
0.1 | Junction with Chinquapin Trail | 0.6 | |
0.7 | Trailhead at River Mountain Road at firetower | 0.0 | 2382 |
For those starting from the parking lot, it is roughly 2 miles taking 60 minutes to reach firetower. Return trip down is faster.
Typical Conditions[edit]
Well worn dirt trail with few blowdowns. Please do not cut through the switchbacks.
Regulations[edit]
NO BIKES!
Misc. Information[edit]
The 60' firetower was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1937.
Photos[edit]