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Hiking and Biking
Our East TN
Cabin Rental is the perfect
lodging for your next vacation getaway to
Tennessee. Situated in Northeast Tennessee
right on the Watauga River, our
Cabin Rental
in East Tennessee is nearby to
Roan
Mountain, the Appalachian Trail,
Watauga
Lake,
Elizabethton,
Johnson City, and the Bristol Motor Speedway race track, making it the very best place to
stay for not only a fun filled Tennessee
mountain vacation, but also the perfect
Lodging for a Bristol Race
Weekend.
Hiking is a great way to see the very best
of the Blue Ridge Mountains and
enjoy all the majestic spots hidden
throughout them. There are several great places to
hike nearby to our
Cabin Rental in East TN,
so be sure to read about each unique one
below.
The Appalachian Trail in East Tennessee
The Appalachian Trail is the world's longest
scenic hiking trail, crossing the
Appalachian Mountain ridgeline taking hikers
on an adventure from Georgia all the way to
Maine. Designed and constructed in the
1920's and 1930's, the Appalachian Trail has
long been a favorite hiking trail for people
throughout the entire world. The
Appalachian Trail is marked by two inch
vertical white paint swatches and the blue
blaze markings note the side trails that
venture off of the Appalachian Trail.
Passing through Western North Carolina and
our region in Northeast Tennessee, the
Appalachian Trail creates some of the best
places to hike in our area. Just a few of
the trails and side trails are listed below.
 Coon Den Falls Trail
The Coon Den Falls Trail is a moderate to
difficult hiking trail that was once part of
the Appalachian Trail. It stretches from FDR
#50 in Dennis Cove and takes hikers past
Coon Den Falls where it connects with the
current Appalachian Trail on White Rock
Mountain. Offering excellent views of
waterfalls, the Coon Den Falls trail is accessed by
taking FDR #50 from Hampton an following it
for four miles. You'll come to the Dennis
Cove Recreation Area where parking is
available.
Laurel Fork Falls Trail and the Lacy Trap
Trail
The first part of this trail takes hikers
almost a mile up the Appalachian Trail and
then another 1.67 additional miles to Laurel
Falls, making it a 2.5 mile hike. Moderately
difficult, the Laurel Fork Falls Trail is
quite popular and leads to Laurel Falls,
located within the Pond Mountain Wilderness
Area. From Elizabethton take Highway 19E/321
to Hampton, turn left onto Highway 321/67
toward Mountain City/Boone and continue for 1.3
miles to the trailhead on the right. The
Lacy Trap Trail connects Laurel Fork Trail
to the Appalachian Trail section on White
Rock Mountain and is a moderately difficult
East Tennessee hiking trail. Stretching 2.72
miles, this trail takes hikers through some
steep regions and beautiful mountain
scenery.
Watauga Lake Hiking & Nature Walks
Little Milligan Trail
This loop trail begins and ends at the
Little Milligan Boat Ramp and takes you over
some moderate spots and through some
beautiful mountain scenery. At just 1.90 miles
long, this trail is a nice adventure.
Shook Branch at Watauga Lake
Shook Branch is a Cherokee National Forest
Recreation Area located on Watauga Lake.
This area is a great place to hike and also
enjoy an afternoon outing as it has
excellent picnic tables, grills, restrooms,
and a designated swimming area. The
trailhead for the Appalachian Trail in East
Tennessee is located here. Open mid April
through late September, Shook Branch is a
great place to visit for views of the lake.
From Elizabethton, take Highway 19E/321 to
Hampton and turn left onto Highway 321/67
toward Mountain City/Boone and travel for 3.2
miles.
Watauga Dam
This is a nice recreation area, great for
hiking as well as fishing. Hikers can enjoy
the short walk to the view of the dam and
all of its different structures. From
Elizabethton take Highway 91 toward Shady
Valley and continue for 4 miles. Turn right
onto Blue Springs Road and travel straight
to Steel Bridge Road. Turn right and cross
over Steel Bridge and follow the signs to
the Wilbur and Watauga Dams.
Watauga Point Recreation Area
Here hikers can enjoy the Watauga Point
Trail, which takes you around the shoreline
of Watauga Lake. This short hike is great
for an afternoon walk and offers some
spectacular views of the lake.
Other East Tennessee Hiking Trails
Carver's Gap Hiking Trail in East TN
 Turn right on Highway 143 in Roan Mountain
and continue along past the park. After
traveling several miles, you will come to the
top of the mountain and see the parking lot
on the right. It is here that the
Appalachian Trail crosses the road. The
Carver's Gap trail will take you to some
breathtaking views of balds when you head
North. Heading south takes you to Roan High
Knob, which sits at an elevation of 6,285
feet. Sometimes visitors have reported
seeing well into NC and Virginia.
The Garden Trails & Cloudland Trail
The Cloudland Trail is a 1.2 mile East
Tennessee hiking trail that is moderately
difficult and
appropriate for average hikers. Visitors can
hike from the parking area all the way to
the Roan High Bluff Overlook and look out at
a sea of mountain peaks. To access the trail,
continue from Carver's Gap up the mountain,
toward the famed Roan Mountain Rhododendron
Gardens.
Jones Branch Falls
The Jones Branch Falls trail and waterfall
is located along the Elk River. Hikers can
access the falls at the Appalachian Trail
road crossing with Walnut Mountain Road, or
the trail that begins south from Campbell
Hollow Road.
Upper Stoney Creek Trail
Upper Stoney Creek Trail is a more difficult
East TN hiking trail and is 2.54 miles long.
The trail takes hikers to Upper Stoney
Creek, through Old Road Ridge and ends near
the intersection with the Appalachian Trail
just south of the Double Springs Shelter.
Hikers are advised to be careful as creek
crossings may be difficult during periods of
frequent rain. To access the trail from
Elizabethton take Highway 91 North for 19
miles until you reach Cross Mountain; the
trailhead is on the left side of the road,
just near the Forest Service boundary. Get
here early during peak periods as parking is
limited.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at 786-368-5164,
email us, or use our
online request form. |
