Near Bays Mountain Cherry Knob Fire Tower
Garden Mountain Lookout Tower
Near Bays Mountain Cherry Knob Fire Tower
View of lake from the dam.
Near Bays Mountain Cherry Knob Fire Tower
Winter woods at Bays.
Near Bays Mountain Cherry Knob Fire Tower
Rough bark.
Near Bays Mountain Cherry Knob Fire Tower
Lake Road covered in leaves in the waning light.

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Driving Directions
Hike Route

Bays Mountain Cherry Knob Fire Tower

4.0 (1 Rating)
A nice route from the lake up to the fire tower then around Cherry Knobs ending back at the lake.
7.1
mi
Distance
1,451
ft
Gain
strenuous
Difficulty
BirdingFall ColorsLakeRiver/CreekViews

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
7.12mi
Distance
1,451ft
Elevation Gain
1,451ft
Elevation Loss
40%
Max Grade
2,403ft
High Point
1,671ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
Starting at the Lakeside Trail, you follow the lake around to Lake Road taking that to the fire tower trail. Once at the fire tower, you'll head west along the Indian Pipes Trail over Holston River Mountain. Heading south through a valley past a few abandoned old cabins you'll eventually take Cross Ridges Trail over to Cherry Knobs Trail. BE WARNED there are a few EXTREMELY steep climbs on this part. Afterwards, you'll descend Cherry Knobs Trail meeting up with Lakeside Trail, now on the opposite side of the lake. You'll follow this across the dam, eventually ending where you began.

Route Conditions

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Contributors
Cass Tippit