Warriors' Path State Park

24.0 mi

Great Hike. We had lots of run on this trail and reaching the Devils Bathtub…read moreTake the plunge and jump in it play in the water.

Strenuous hike with multiple creek crossings. Be mindful of your steps as you trek over roots &…read morerocks. A stellar experience the whole way. Please carry trash out. It's a very special place. Plan to spend the day, it's worth immersion in the whole environment.

This is the lower bathtub. The main waterfall most seen in photos is just mere minutes beyond this.

Many beautiful spots along the way.

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The Devils Bathtub

Laurel Fork Falls

4.8

(5 reviews)

25.9 mi

Took the trail from Dennis Cove rd. Beautiful well maintained trail. Fairly moderate until the…read morefinal climb down. Very steep but plenty of places to rest. Definitely one of my favorite waterfalls hikes yet.

An amazing place with a lot of tiny trails on the side. Great for photography and even just to…read morerelax.

Pool

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Rock stairs to falls

Buffalo Mountain Park

4.7

(6 reviews)

16.4 mi

Beautiful hiking trails! Most of them are on the moderate or harder level but amazing views and…read moreeasy to get to!

Definitely my favorite hiking spot! I have a tight work schedule, so hiking isn't something I have…read morethe opportunity to do often. However, this is my favorite spot to go to. They have mild spots for beginners, and extremely difficult long hikes for those who love a challenge! There are many paths to take and different destinations, so you never get bored of hiking the same trail over and over. There's always a surprise. The view is absolutely stunning, and somehow, it's always so clean! I absolutely adore this trail, it's the only trail I go to now. Here's a photo of me after the hike! This has become my usual spot to just hang out and enjoy nature. It's very peaceful closer to the top, so I enjoy meditating here, as well. Definitely recommend this wonderful place!! Will never go anywhere else!

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Natural Tunnel State Park

4.7

(22 reviews)

20.0 mi

Clearly, this place is marketed to resemble Natural Bridge, Virginia's better known (and frankly,…read moremore impressive) attraction. The park here is set up with a number of camping facilities and trails that have a separate entrance, while the attraction itself is accessible by parking at a visitor center and either walking down a fairly steep trail or taking a (seasonal) chairlift. On the dreary day I visited, there was barely a soul in sight, but the park seemed to be setting up for a winter lights festival. The tunnel itself is used for a railroad line, and a viewing platform allows you to go to the edge of the tunnel but you can't actually go through it, which is disappointing. The trail downstream through the gorge is pleasant and worth a brief jaunt but it terminates quickly. Those seeking more of a hike will find the ridge trail that heads upwards worthwhile, and the views of the tunnel from above are probably at least as good as what you'd get walking up close to it. The local Lover's Leap is majestic (and horrifying, if you think about it). I did not think it one of the more impressive state parks in either Virginia or in the the confluence of states in this region, but there are some nice things to see.

Wonderful park, and such friendly staff! Has a good variety of trails with different difficulty…read morelevels. Definitely stop by the park office on the way in to ask about the trails, the ranger we met was incredibly helpful and highlighted some great trails. I've been to a good few state parks, and these are some of the most friendly rangers you could find- don't be afraid to ask them questions! I highly recommend taking the chairlift- this allows you to get down to (and more importantly, back up from) the tunnel and creek easily. If you have small kids or limited mobility, definitely choose the chairlift, as the walk back up involves many stairs. If planning to bring kids: for the upper trail (Lover's Leap), I recommend age at least 7-8, maybe younger if athletic (hills and stairs) and able to listen to directions. There are fences in place, just make sure nobody will try to climb them. For the lower area (getting to ground level of the tunnel) depends on whether you use the chairlift- with the chairlift, it's accessible for young ones as the area is pretty flat with just a few steps and small humps. Without the chairlift, make sure they're old enough to be ready to climb a LOT of steps. Overall, a really nice park with great rangers. Especially nice with the holiday lights!

View from the chairlift.

Natural Tunnel

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Bolling Cave

Devil's Bathtub

4.6

(5 reviews)

23.7 mi

Beautiful hike on a cool autumn afternoon. Be sure to give yourself enough time. I started the hike…read moreabout 3 hours before sundown. I had to really move to get to the falls and back. It's 4 miles roundtrip, but you are crossing stream, climbing some rocks and it is a very uneven trail with plenty of rocks and tree roots. If you get the chance, read the Barbara Kingslover book Demon Copperhead first. It is set in the area and features the Bathtub.

I was so excited for this hike but was mildly disappointed. I went after a lot of rain so the pools…read more(there are two) were hard to make out. The water was beautiful to behold and very cold, but outside of how clear the water was it was very, average. The only thing that made this hike fun for me personally was crossing all the streams. Not a hard hike by any means but the streams do make it moderate. I would recommend going in a dryer season so you can actually see the bathtub!!! It was completely flooded/covered. Also if your dog does not LOVE water, DO NOT take him/her. Still very doable with a hydrophobic dog (mine)... p.s. the path is VERY ROCKY.

One of the dozen streams you will cross.

Abandoned house at the entrance to the trail.

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Sun setting as I completed the hike.

Laurel Run Park

3.9

(16 reviews)

11.3 mi

I came here for a hike and to go geocaching. I would say if you are a geocacher do not waste your…read moretime because you will be disappointed that they are all missing (or at least the first 4) and you make an effort to cross the river and go up a embankment. Anyways, we took our time hiked up to the waterfall, I think up and back we took a lil over 2 hours because I tried finding the geocaches. I will definitely come back during summertime to go in the water... it looked so inviting. They also have bathrooms and a playground for the kids and gravel parking lot. You can drive to the other end and just sit on the tailgate and enjoy the sites and sounds of the birds and flowing water.

Used to go when I was a kid and a few times when I grew up. Nice place for picnics family outings.read more

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Laurel Run Falls

Rooster Front Park

(1 review)

15.1 mi

While the actual park frontage area is fairly tiny, consisting of not much but a small shelter with…read morepicnic tables, and a basketball court, it includes trailheads abutting some excellent running and hiking trails. On a recent visit, I was able to enjoy a brisk run along Steele Creek Lake on a wide, relatively flat trail covered in a bed of leaves (as indicated by my pictures). I also started a hike up the Lake Ridge Trail, more of a winding single-track with a good bit of up-and-down, but turned around due to an increasingly persistent chilly rain. I pretty much had the park all to myself, though I'm guessing the weather forecast of 45 degrees and rain had something to do with that. Even still, I'm guessing that due to the fairly sparse population of this area, it's rarely if ever what a big-city guy like myself would consider to be "crowded." If you're in the area and would like to go out for a run or walk, this park is definitely worth a visit.

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Sugar Hollow Park

4.2

22.7 mi

Easy to get to playground when you're on the road traveling - close to hotels & fast food…read more We stopped here before getting back on the road after a 1 night stay near by. It served its purpose - getting energy out before the next leg of the drive. There's a small area for younger toddlers and bigger playgrounds for older kids. My 2 year loved the taller playgrounds. Many features to run around and play on. There is some wear and tear to the playground. It's muddy when wet out but overall a good park. There is also a free little library - there wasn't much in it while we were there. Easy parking

They have 2 dog parks. Limited seating and NO WATER for dogs, bring your own. Always clean, people…read morefriendly.

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Appalachian Underground

(15 reviews)

19.8 mi

WHAT A TRUE ADVENTURE!! This is no average tour company! Highly recommend! John was our tour guide…read more(other half owner) and words can not explain how amazing this 3 mile hiking, climbing, sliding adventure through a mostly untraveled cave was! Note: we were EXHAUSTED after! John took plenty of breaks and informed us about the cave thoroughly throughout. You can see his love for the cave that he has been showing for 22 years!! This is the most authentic experience you will have! I can't say enough!

Appalachian Underground never fails to deliver a great trip. I've been caving for more than 20…read moreyears and Mel is the best guide I've ever had. She is knowledgeable, passionate about caving and all around fun! She was generous with her time, company and supplies, providing fanny packs full of snacks and bottled water for all and gloves and knee pads to make the experience easier on our bodies. My group of 4 (3 first timers) had a fabulous time exploring Worley's Cave with her. Beginners can feel confident and at ease with how well she obviously knows the cave. Folks with caving experience looking for a little extra challenge will also get lots of opportunities for "side missions" to shimmy and crawl through small spaces, although there is no pressure to participate in those if someone would rather not be in tight spaces. All the stars! I can't wait to book another trip!

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Elk River Falls

4.2

(22 reviews)

35.0 mi

The falls are closed as of late April 2026. Road is blocked about 2 miles out from town.read more

Elk River Falls is an open recreation area. As such it is not developed and the path is not…read moremaintained. Nevertheless the road into the parking lot is safe and easily passable by typical cars SUVs cans or trucks with either two or four wheel drive. There are no rest rooms or food so you must bring your own food and water. The path is firm and slopes upward gently becoming rocky with prominent tree roots. The 65 foot high big falls is spectacular. It is not a straight fall down. Many deaths have occurred as visitors attempt to dive from the top of the falls. Elk falls ranks in the top 3 waterfall related deaths. The rocks surrounding the first pool are beautiful but have a slippery surface. This park recently reopened after extensive restoration following Hurricane Helene. On the first day it opened there was a fatality of a falls jumper. Despite these challenges this park is a great example of the outdoors in nearly natural and breathtaking state.

Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

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Instagram: @telephonesmoothie

Elk Mountain Riding Company

(14 reviews)

42.5 mi

Sam was our guide today for a 2-hour family ride. He was calm, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and…read morewe could not have asked for a better experience! The horses are obviously loved and extremely well cared for, and the views over the countryside and towards the mountains were incredible. Riding through groves of Christmas trees and over babbling streams will remain one of the highlights of our vacation!

Having an incredible time at Elk Mountain! Miss Robyn's love and care for her horses truly shines…read more-- and you can feel how much they love her back. Make sure to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains: ride scenic trails, watch the stars by a campfire ! #ElkMoutainRidingCompany

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Trail ride

Greater Kingsport Family YMCA

3.8

4.9 mi

We are new to the YMCA family and love it so far…read more Plenty of exercise equipment to choose from, variety of classes available. We enjoy their Line Dancing classes on Thursday's and Saturday's. Hope to try the indoor and outdoor pools. Easy to find off the hwy at the Mountain View Marriott exit. Located across the street and one light down from the hotel. Huge parking lot. One of the perks of joining is the pool and Aquatic Center are included in the price. Everything looks new and is kept very clean. When the medicine ball was falling apart at the seams it was replaced.

I was a member of a Lifetime Fitness in Chicago area for around five years. Lifetime was great but…read morevery costly. We moved to Kingsport area and joined the YMCA. Especially for the money the YMCA is a far better deal, but even at the same cost it is a great deal. The equipment is in great condition, the classes are great, and the walking track upstairs is a real plus. I could not be happier and look forward to many years of exercise to come.

Pisgah Forest Riding Stables

4.6

(7 reviews)

48.4 mi

Fantastic mountain trail with a good company. There was no rush through the path and great…read moreconversation

Pisgah Forest Riding Stables was an incredible experience. Our guide Gloria was wonderful and…read morehelpful. Gloria gave us enough space on the guided tour to make us feel like we were one with the horses and nature but at the same time was right there to provide assistance and to guide us along the path. It was our first time horseback riding and the staff provided a fun and safe experience. If you're in Asheville, it's worth the drive out to Pisgah National Forest to go horseback riding. Also, it's a great location because after your ride there are tons of awesome hiking trails and waterfalls in the Pisgah National Forest. 10/10 Thanks to Lazy Daisy and Merle the Mule!!

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Doe River Gorge

(7 reviews)

22.8 mi

love the camp! kids have the best time being a kid. away from TV and phones! they run, play outdoor…read moregames, swim in a lake, ride a zip line, tube down the river, climb a rock wall, rappel and more! all while learning the the creator of the universe LOVES them and they are unique and special. they spend time in the Bible and at live worship music! I wish every child 7-17 could experience the camp!

An AMAZING Christian adventure camp for children of all ages! From the moment you pull into the…read moreproperty you will be in awe of the beauty. The children are immediately excited seeing the huge log cabins, the lake and water activities, etc. I'm on my 4th child whom I drive from Chicago to TN for this camp, it's seriously THAT amazing!

Walking the gorge, train rides also available. Ropes courses, zip lines, tubing, kayaking swimming with fun water toys.

Lake time

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Putt-Putt Fun Center

4.0

6.3 mi

As much as I love Kingsport TN, let's be fair, you don't get the exciting stuff you'd find in other…read moreplaces like Pidgeon Forge. You know like the Go-Karts. The Arcade and all that. You don't get any of that in Kingsport... And that's why I LOVE this place. It sticks out like a sore thumb... In the best way possible. This location couldn't of picked a better location to set up shop. It's right on the main road on the way to the city area. It cost $5 for 18 holes. If this shop was located in an area where the above mentioned Go-Karting/Arcade was, this location wouldn't be as great because it would just be among the norm. But because fun stuff like this ISN'T the norm, this place is always loaded with business! It's quite the genius business practice if I do say so myself. As many times as I have passed by this location, never once have I not see people playing Mini-Golf here. But instead of going on and on about how great this place is, why not check my pictures and see for yourself?

Friendly Staff. Well kept courses. Fun enviornment for putters of all skill levels! This is the…read morekind of place you go to to have a lot of fun for a few dollars.