I will use the charts below to track my completed Bays Mountain trails.  Thanks to the TEHCC and Collins Chew for the wonderful information below.  This is a great resource to plan your own Bays Mountain hike.  Use the map with the chart below to calculate your trip and mileages. 

A.  Dolan Branch Trail

B. Lakeside Trail (present map 2.3 miles)

C. Cliffside Trail

D. Pine Trail

E. Bays Ridge Trail

F.  Orchid Trail

G.  Cherry Knobs Trail

Cherry Knobs Trail is on Lake Road for 0.3 miles.

H. Cross Ridges Trail

I.  Sweet Gum Trail (present map 105 ft.) 

J. Indian Pipes Trail

K. Kiner Hollow Trail

L. Pretty Ridge Trail (present map 1.8 miles)

M.  Firetower Trail

N.  Hemlock Trail

O.  Holly Trail

P.  Towhee Trail

Q.  Fern Trail

R. Azalea Trail Hikiing/Biking Trail

S. Laurel Run Trail (present map shows 1.7 miles)

T. Jones Trail

Cliffside Loop

Food Plot Trail

 Roads

1. Lake Road

Far end of Dam is 0.2 miles from Nature Center.  That is not shown here.

2. Bays Ridge Road

3. Front Hollow Road (present map 1.8 miles)

4. Bays Mountain Road

(0.1 mile from Entrance Road along Lake Road to Gate.)

5. Back Hollow Road

6. Food Plot Road – not measured

7. River Mountain Road

Brief Description of Trails

A.  Dolan Branch Loop:  A short loop trail, which follows along the cascades of Dolan Creek below the Dam and Entrance Road.  Former bridges no longer exist so stay on the same side of the creek.  Do not continue down the former trail, which once extended below the end of the loop.

B. Lakeside Trail:  Very popular hiking trail around Lake and connecting with many other trails.  Note red dirt from maroon shale in places.  Many evidences of beaver activity including dams, lodges, and down or gnawed trees.

C. Cliffside Trail:  A trail which parallels Bays Mountain Road but which reaches the crest earlier for more views.  It is somewhat steeper than the road but many find a trail more pleasant walking.  It rejoins the Bays Mountain Road at the Observation Tower where the Road also reaches the ridge.  (Cliffside Loop:  A short trail paralleling part of the Cliffside Trail which offers more ridgeline walking and a high point with a steeper section to access the ridge earlier.)

D. Pine Trail:  A short connecting trail between Lakeside Trail/Lake Road and Bays Ridge Road.

E. Bays Ridge Trail:  This is a ridge trail, which is a continuation on the ridge of the Bays Ridge Road and continues to the Southwest end of the Park with rocky sections and nice views.  Shots can often be heard where the trail passes over a local shooting range.  The descent to Front Hollow is quite steep at the end to the trail.

F. Orchid Trail:  A connecting trail between Lakeside Trail/Lake Road and Bays Ridge Road.  It climbs relatively steeply and steadily for about 300 feet vertically to Bays Ridge Road, which it reaches in a gap between the two parallel ridges, which make up the Southeastern side of the mountain at this point.

G. Cherry Knobs Trail:  A trail which follows the backbone of the Cherry Knobs, a knobby ridge on shale down the center of the Bays Mountain Park.  It is quite steep except where on Lake Road.  When there are heavy leaves or snow on the trail, it is difficult to keep from sliding in places.   Much of the ridge is about as high as the outer ridges of the Park.

H. Cross Ridges Trail: This trail connects Front Hollow and Back Hollow Roads by crossing the Cherry Knobs at the end of the Cherry Knobs Trail and thus providing opportunity for several loop hikes.  It climbs little over 100 feet and is not particularly steep.  

I. Sweet Gum Trail:  Very short connecting trail between Lakeside Trail and Lake Road.  The two trails and the road are the shortest and easiest route to Feagins Gap.

J. Indian Pipes Trail:  This trail follows the crest of the Holston River Mountain Ridge on an old road and then descends to cross to Pretty Ridge where it eventually ends at the intersection with the Pretty Ridge Trail and Kiner Hollow Trails.  It is a gentle trail.

K. Kiner Hollow Trail:  This trail follows a portion of the interesting valley of  Kiner Hollow with each end at the crest of Pretty Ridge and intersecting with Pretty Ridge Trail.  Several house ruins are along the trail.  The northeast end is also at the end of Indian Pipes Trail.  At its most western point is the junction with Laurel Run Trail  which leads past the Laurel Run Falls and on to the Park.  Laurel Run Park is closed from October until  April so there is no road access there through the winter.. 

L. Pretty Ridge Trail:  This trail starts at Back Hollow Road and Cross Ridges Trail junctions and climbs Pretty Ridge via a long switchback.  At the crest of Pretty Ridge, it intersects the Kiner Hollow Trail and the Indian Pipes Trail.  It turns left to follow an old road along the crest of Pretty Ridge to the southwestern intersection with the Kiner Hollow Trail.  At that point it returns back down to Back Hollow Road with steep sections and a stile where it enters the field at Back Hollow Road.  It crosses the creek in Back Hollow and crosses a very low gap near the end of the Cherry Knobs Ridge and ends at front Hollow Road just upstream of the intersection of the Road with Bays Ridge Trail.

M. Firetower Trail:  A trail from Lake Road to the Tennessee State Firetower at the highest point of the Park, 2397 feet.  Most direct route from Nature Center to this trail utilizes Lakeside and Hemlock Trails.  It has a steady climb of 510 feet but switchbacks keep it from being overly steep.  Firetower has great overlooks of the Holston River, Holston Army Ammunition Plant, Allandale, and Clinch Mountain. 

N. Hemlock Trail:  Connecting Trail between Lakeside Trail and Firetower Trail at Lake Road.  The three trails together are the most direct route to the Firetower from the Nature Center. 

O. Holly Trail:  Short trail, which parallels a part of Lakeside Trail and provides good views of the Dam from just across a narrow part of the Lake.

P. Towhee Trail: Connecting Trail between Lakeside Trail and Lake Road.

Q. Fern Trail:  Short connecting trail between Lakeside Trail and Lake Road.  With a short stint on Lake Road, it makes a good connection with Azalea Trail and route to the Point of the Mountain at Bays Mountain Road.

R. Azalea Trail:  A smooth, gently sloping trail which follows the valley between the Ridges of Bays Mountain at the Point (2,280 feet) toward Kingsport to Lake Road at about 1,850 feet.  The valley is actually the axis of a "syncline" or downfold of the Bays sandstone.  The less resistant shale of the Cherry Knobs has all eroded away from atop the sandstone in this part of the mountain.  The loose material in the creek is frequently beautiful sand as sandstone is the only rock in this part of the Park.

S.  Laurel Run Trail:  This trail leads downstream along Kiner Hollow from the Kiner Hollow Trail to the intersection of Kiner Creek with Laurel Run.  It then follows Laurel Run past nice waterfalls and cascades and exits the park at a ford with the old road descending to Laurel Run Park in Hawkins County.  The Trail passes a number of old homesites and ruined houses. 

T. Jones Trail:  An old and somewhat steep road, which provides a crossover from the Bays Ridge Trail to Front Hollow Road.

Brief Description of Roads

1. Lake Road:  This is an old CCC constructed road which is maintained for Park staff use and like other roads is popular with mountain bikers.  It circles through the Northeast half of the Park and crosses the Cherry Knobs for its high point.  It connects with many trails and can be used for various loop hikes and as access to shelters near the habitats for picnics and meetings.  The Cherry Knobs Trail is on this road for 0.3 miles.

2. Bays Ridge Road:  This is another ridge road with views to the Southeast, much like the Bays Mountain Road but extending to the Southeast of the Entrance Road and Dam.  There are two parallel ridges of sandstone at the first and the Road passes through a gap between them.  Where the two ridges merge (at the end of a "syncline") the Road turns back and descends to Ledbetter Gap.  The road has a moderate climb of about 300 feet from either end.  It intersects with several other trails and roads making several loop hikes possible.

3. Front Hollow Road:  This road follows a valley between Bays Ridge and the Cherry Knobs.  It leads past old farm ruins and can be used to make any of several loops with other trails in the Southwest end of the Park. The road joins Back Hollow Road at the end of the Park where the Cherry Knobs come to an end.  Fences near the end allow the pasturing of cattle by local citizens who provide security services for the remote end of the Park.  Front Hollow drains into Laurel Run.

4. Bays Mountain Road:  This road, used for access to the various towers on the mountain extends from a gate on the Lake Road near the Nature Center and reaches the Southwest Ridge of the Mountain near the Observation Tower and follows the ridge to the Point (2,280 feet) near Kingsport with many outstanding views of the Horse Creek Valley and the Unaka Mountains to the Southeast.  The ridge is an upturned edge of resistant sandstone, which has been undercut by erosion and fallen away to the Southeast side.

5. Back Hollow Road:  This former road follows a valley between Pretty Ridge and the Cherry Knobs.  It leads past old farm ruins and cabins, the campground and can be used to make any of several loops with other trails in the Southwest end of the Park.  A short section of the Road has been replaced by a sidehill trail to avoid wading in the creek.  The road joins Front Hollow Road at the end of the Park where the Cherry Knobs come to an end.  Back Hollow drains into Laurel Run, which in turn drains into the Holston River at Laurel Run Park in Hawkins County.

6.  Food Plot Road gives access from Lake Road to the Food Plot Trail and is shown to the intersection with Lakeside Trail. Food Plot Trail is the extension of Food Plot Road to the Food Plot.  This short trail provides access to a food plot from Lakeside Trail. 

7. River Mountain Road:  This road is on the crest of the ridge on the Northwest side of the Park from the Point toward Kingsport at the junction with Bays Ridge Road to Indian Pipes Trail, just Southwest of the Firetower.  The proper geographical name for this ridge is Holston River Mountain.  Indian Pipes Trail continues along the ridge crest whereas the River Mountain Road descends to Feagins Gap.  This Road can be used with a number of other roads and trails to make loop hikes in the Park.  The Firetower is at the highest point of the Park, 2378 feet.  There are nice views into the Park and also to the Northwest to the Holston River Valley and Clinch Mountain. This crest is also the upturned edge of the Bays sandstone, which is tilted up to the Northwest here on the other side of the syncline from the Bays Mountain Ridge.