Day-hike
Martins Creek Falls
Martins Creek Falls is a beautiful, small waterfall just outside of town limits in Erwin, Tennessee. It can be reached by a short hike, with the majority of walking being on a slightly ascending old forest road. This road used to stay open to high-clearance vehicles, but the gate has remained closed for a number … Continue reading
Waterfalls of Dick Creek – Unaka Mountain
The Dick Creek watershed sits on the northwest face of Unaka Mountain near Erwin, Tennessee. There are two ways to access this remote region. One is from the Limestone Cove area, and the other is from Rock Creek Park. I chose to hike in from the Rock Creek side. There are four waterfalls along the … Continue reading
Sill Branch Falls
Sill Branch Falls is located in the scenic Clark’s Creek area of Unicoi County, Tennessee just off of State Route 81/107 West. With a round-trip of just over a mile, this is a wonderful trek for families and beginners to one of the most stunning waterfalls in our region. This hike is a little uphill … Continue reading
Flint Rock – Holston Mountain Lookout Tower
Holston Mountain is one of our most recognized mountain ridgelines in the east TN/southwest VA area as it spans approximately 28 miles from Elizabethton, Tennessee to Damascus, Virginia. It’s the prominent mountain visible while looking south on most of the I-81 corridor from the Tri-Cities to Abingdon. The highpoint of the mountain is Holston High … Continue reading
Dennis Cove Falls
If you’re looking for a beautiful and adventurous hike, then check out out upper and lower Dennis Cove Falls in the Dennis Cove Recreational area. This hike is not overly strenuous and the trail is well-marked, but it does require three creek crossings that can range from moderate to extremely dangerous… depending upon the water level in … Continue reading
White Rocks and Sand Cave (Cumberland Gap)
Near the Cumberland Gap, and located on the long Cumberland Mountain ridgeline, are two awesome formations known as White Rocks and Sand Cave. Both of these can be visited in the same day with a strenuous, ~9 mile hike within the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park from the trailhead in the Thomas Walker Civic Park. … Continue reading
Watauga Dam
Watauga Dam was completed in 1949 by the Tennessee Valley Authority, creating a very beautiful lake at 2000′ elevation. At the time of its construction, it was the highest elevation earthen dam in the world, and today it still remains as the highest in the eastern United States. What makes this area so picturesque is … Continue reading
Whitetop Mountain & Buzzard Rock
Whitetop Mountain is the State of Virginia’s second highest peak at 5525′, along with having the highest maintained road in the state. You can make this a very short and easy day-hike by taking this road all the way to the top of the mountain, but I decided to climb it on foot instead… starting … Continue reading
Rocky Fork to Birchfield Camp Lake – Mtn Bike
A few months ago I found Birchfield Camp Lake (elevation 4000′) in the Rocky Fork Tract via the Higgins Creek route. This time I decided to see if I could find it coming in from the main gate at Rocky Fork. This is a longer route, and since my knee is still tender, I … Continue reading
Grassy Ridge
Grassy Ridge is a prominent peak in the Roan Highlands sitting at 6180 feet in elevation. This expansive Southern Appalachian Bald offers 360 degree, unobstructed views, which are undoubtedly some of the best in the eastern U.S. This is also the highpoint of Avery County, NC. I left the house very early in the morning … Continue reading