Laurel Creek Trail

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File:Placeholder.jpg
Trail Name Laurel Creek Trail
Park Cherokee National Forest
Nearest City Mountain City
State Tennessee
Trail Marking
Trail Use/Features Dnr hiking.pngDnr dog.pngTemplate:Bike
Difficulty Rating Easy
Hiking Time 1.5 Hours0.0938 Days <br />90 Min <br />
Distance:
round-trip/trail only
6 Mi9.656 km <br /> / 3 Mi4.828 km <br />
Trail Type In-and-Out
Climb/Descent Elevation /
High Point
Parking 36° 35' 57.00" N, 81° 45' 12.60" W
Trailhead 36° 35' 57.00" N, 81° 45' 12.60" W
Nearest Medical Mountain City
Trip Reports Click Here
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Trail Overview[edit]

Short rails-to-trails conversion along Laurel Creek/Highway TN91.

How to get there[edit]

From Kingsport, TN:

  1. Take I-81 north to Exit 19 for US-58 towards Damascus.
  2. Continue through Damascus.
  3. Take right (south) when VA-91 and US-58 split.
  4. Proceed back into Tennessee to Laurel Bloomery.
  5. Roughly 1.3 miles inside Tennessee, the formal parking lot will be on right.

From Mountain City, TN:

  1. Proceed north on TN 91 for 9.4 miles to Laurel Bloomery.
  2. The formal parking lot will be on your left.

Route Description[edit]

Currently a double in-and-out as the parking lot is within the converted rails-to-trail section. Specific distances need to be measured for this wiki.

Nearby is one of the blue-blazed access points for the Iron Mountain Trail, but a VERY steep climb.

Typical Conditions[edit]

Trail is a gravel path of the former railroad grade.

Fees, Permits, etc.[edit]

Located in Watauga Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest. Office number is (423) 735-1500. No fee to hike the trail, but state fishing regulations apply to Laurel Creek.

After the Hike[edit]

Stop in Damascus for ice cream.

Misc. Information[edit]

This trail conversion opened in Fall 2014. Long-term plans are to connect in Damascus with the other bike trail systems.

Maps[edit]

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Photos[edit]