Find the top rated birding trails in Johnson City, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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It was a little hard to find the actual road to the mouth of the trail and parking is limited. However, the actual hike was great, you do have to cross the creek several times (no problem for us), the trail is well marked (yellow paint on the trees), and so worth the hike. The water stays super cold even in the heat of summer and is so unbelievably clear. It's absolutely gorgeous! You won't regret the hiking adventure to get there.
This is a nice short, flat trail. Nice indoor permanent facilities (closed in winter). There is a link at the end of this trail to go up into the hills- really nice but steep start to it. You can veer off to the left and loop back to the main road (not highly traveled and fine for running) or keep going up to the top for great views of Boone - but be warned - it is a trek to get up there. The main, flat trail is great for biking or running - the hill trails I don't think would work for biking - at least not for the average biker.
This trail continues under Rt 421 on to a country road - if you follow that, it connects about a mile down to the Boone Greenway trails. All in all it is 4 miles - 8m round trip and makes for a nice, scenic long run.
If you have been riding at all before you head to the VCT, don't be afraid to do the trail from Damascus to Whitetop. Yes it goes uphill, but it is not a steep grade and is easily accomplished.
The scenery along the VCT is nice, but the trail isn't as well maintained as many R2Ts on the East Coast. Three trails that offer as much in scenery and a better ride are the GAP (Western PA), Heritage Trail (York,PA) and Pine Creek (Wellsboro, PA).
Given the number of shuttle services in Damascus it looks like the crowds on the weekends are crazy.
What an unbelievable experience. The most beautiful views and surroundings I've ever seen. Which is limited to a very few that take the time to see and work for it. I wouldn't recommend children unless tough and rugged. This was so great that we went yesterday and I'm going back Friday. The trail to devils bathtub is well marked with yellow stripes on the trees. I'd advise where the proper hiking shoes for getting wet yet have a good grip. Right before you reach the first unbelievable fall you get to a ledge very little to get your feet on and a rope I wouldn't trust with my weight I gripped tree roots and moved slow. You would not want to slip. Take your time. It was breathtaking. I'm blind in one eye one. And this is only the second trail I've done. So if I can do it anyone can.
Started riding the trail when it first opened and loved it overall. However, we would love to see it extended to Roan Mountain. Also, people need to clean up after their pets and the trail is not as well maintained as it was in the beginning. On our last ride, there was quite a bit of storm related debris along the trail and it had washed the trail in several areas. Despite these issues, the trail is a great addition to our community and looking forward to future expansion (great potential for tourism growth and improved health of our region). Keep the trail safe & clean! Take some tips from Chattanooga's Riverpark Trail - AMAZING TRAIL - Extremely well maintained with great design & a sense of permanence - A Must See Trail!
I love rails-to-trails and this one is a beauty. I run instead of bike so i did 7 miles that took you by creeks, mountains, and ponds. Awesome morning.
Rode the Creeper on two warm days last November. The scenery is gorgeous--one of the prettiest rail trails anywhere. Abingdon and Damascus are very nice. I have ridden all sorts of trails from the Katy to the GAP/C&O and this is a pretty as they come.
One way road in, parking for no more than 7 cars without getting trapped in. No cell phone service but gps still worked. If you like water crossings (I think we crossed 12) and a sense of adventure this is it. Trees are tagged well with yellow paint. Water is freezing, I had to jump in. Not from the area but would love more trails like this. Little to no trash on trail.
Do not miss this trail, even if you have to travel from Alaska to get to Virginia.
We, my friend and I who hails from Pennsylvania, and who was on a quest to visit all the Virginia waterfalls and swimming holes he could find, arrived at the DFLT around 11:30 on August 13, 2016, prepared for the hike and ready to climb! Took us about an hour or so to hike up the trail to the Devil's Bathtub. The trail was rocky and uneven, but dry at that point of the day. As we wound our way upwards all of a sudden there was a huge change in the air temp. Outside the forest the temp was around 90 degrees; the temp decreased by at least 15 degrees I would say. Very pleasant, actually! We passed many, many hikers on the way down as we traveled up; and vice-versa on our trip down around 3:00. The Bathtub's water was not just cold...it was down right chilling...but so worth the trip and the cold chills from our dip in the icy water! I ran into a lady who recognized me from high school, which was pretty sweet considering that school is at least 3 hours away! You just never know! There were several swimming holes along the trail, but the most beautiful was the Devil's Bathtub! Mother Nature's gift to us all! It began to rain a little and the trail became a little slippery on the descent, so be prepared for that. The only downside was the garbage that littered the trail. Anticipating that we would need to, we took a trash bag that we got from a gentleman at a nearby store and picked up all that we could get to on the way down, and I suggest that anyone making the trip do the same as it appears we have to pick up after those who don't care about the environment surrounding this beautiful gift from God!
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