Johnson City, Tennessee

Looking for the best hiking in Johnson City? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Johnson City. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Johnson City

  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Camp at the Chimneys in the Linville Wilderness

    5.0
    1 mi / 138 ft gain
    The Chimneys area is a lesser-known camping destination within the Linville Wilderness. The Chimneys are a series of rock formations that rise above Linville Gorge and provide unobstructed panoramic views of the gorge and surrounding mountains. These rocks sit adjacent to Table Rock which hosts w...
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  • Burnsville, North Carolina

    Mount Mitchell via the Old Mitchell Trail

    5.0
    3.74 mi / 1194 ft gain
    After arriving in the park off of the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, park at the first parking lot you encounter on the righthand side of the road. There is a visitor's center there where you can inquire about the park and pick up a park map. Once you do that walk outside and look to the left of t...
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  • Marion, North Carolina

    Hike the Rock Jock Trail

    6 mi / 700 ft gain
    One of the first things I noticed when researching this hike was the conflicting information regarding finding the trail head, length of the hike, and the hike's correct route. Hopefully, as of September 2017, this report will contain the most up-to-date information currently available. To find t...
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  • Barnardsville, North Carolina

    Douglas Falls

    5.0
    1.11 mi / 125 ft gain
    The trail begins at the back of the parking area and is marked by a trail sign. Once on the trail, it is a straight shot to the waterfall with no turnoffs. Overall the trail is very easy and is a slight descent all the way down. Around .3 miles into the trail you enter a forest of now-dead hemloc...
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  • Marion, North Carolina

    Tom's Creek Falls

    5.0
    0.7 mi / 148 ft gain
    The hike to Tom's Creek Falls is a short but enjoyable hike right off the side of the road. The hike is on a wide and mostly flat gravel road that goes right up to the waterfall and a viewing platform that makes for a perfect place for pictures. This hike is a great hike for families and young ki...
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  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Hike to Hawksbill Mountain

    5.0
    2.1 mi / 660 ft gain
    Starting at the Hawksbill Mountain Trailhead, which is clearly marked start hiking up! The trail starts out with some easy uphill switchbacks and leads you to the first lookout point. Enjoy sometime at the lookout point, but you'll want to keep going for a more incredible view. Keep hiking uphill...
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  • Old Fort, North Carolina

    Green Knob Lookout Tower

    4.8
    0.76 mi / 292 ft gain
    Green Knob Lookout Tower is an abandoned fire tower near Mt. Mitchell and located directly off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The tower boasts a full 360-degree, unobstructed view of Mt. Mitchell, Craggy Mountains, Table Rock, Grandfather Mountain, and the Parkway. Unlike most fire towers, this tower is...
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  • Del Rio, Tennessee

    Meadow Creek Fire Tower

    5.0
    0.14 mi / 17.06 ft gain
    Meadow Creek Fire Tower is a great place to spend an afternoon watching the sunset or spend the night gazing at the stars. You can bring a blanket then lay out on the top of the tower and view the entire sky. The tower itself was made back in the early 1920's. Over the years it changed appearance...
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  • Black Mountain, North Carolina

    Craggy Pinnacle Trail

    4.8
    1.03 mi / 285 ft gain
    I usually spend the day visiting restaurants and breweries around Asheville. Before it gets late, so you can enjoy the views, head to the Blue Ridge Parkway located right outside the city. After about 30 minutes on the parkway, you will park at the Craggy Pinnacle parking lot Milepost 364.1. Fro...
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  • Abingdon, Virginia

    Logan Creek Falls

    5.0
    0.13 mi / 26 ft gain
    Logan Creek Falls is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a waterfall located near Saltville, Virginia.
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  • Creston, North Carolina

    Three Top Mountain

    4.2 mi / 1260 ft gain
    Three Top Mountain sits within the same vicinity of Elk Knob. The mountain gets its name from its three prominent rock projections at its peak. The highest point, unofficially named “Big Rock”, is at an elevation of 5020 feet. Prior to the originally named rock peak, you will arrive at Huckleb...
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  • Linville, North Carolina

    Shortoff Mountain Summit

    4.8
    4.64 mi / 1178 ft gain
    Start your hike from the Shortoff Mountain Trail off of Wolf Pit Road at the base of Lake James. From the summit there is a small grassy area off a side trail that provided awesome cliff side views of the Gorge and Linville River! You can setup after making the hour and a half trek (maybe just in...
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  • Morganton, North Carolina

    Camp on Shortoff Mountain in the Linville Gorge

    5.0
    The Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, also known as the Grand Canyon of the East, is one of the wildest, most rugged gorges in the eastern United States. It's also an outdoor paradise for hikers and backpackers. Camping here is always a treat and you are sure to enjoy your time spent in the gorge.D...
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  • Saltville, Virginia

    The Great Channels via Hayters Gap

    4.5
    6.44 mi / 1470.47 ft gain
    Park at the parking lot at the crest of Clinch Mountain at Hayters Gap on Rt. 80, and walk along the road (Raven Ridge Road) behind the gate. The trail is fairly easy with minimum elevation gain and follows an old road bed almost the whole way. Be sure to keep to the left when the road splits and...
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  • Whitetop, Virginia

    Virginia Creeper National Recreational Trail

    5.0
    33.25 mi / 2139 ft gain
    Virginia Creeper National Recreational Trail is a point-to-point trail that takes you by a lake located near Whitetop, Virginia.
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  • Nebo, North Carolina

    Explore Lake James State Park

    The park has about 15 miles of trails with different levels of difficulties . Hiked the Lake Channel Trail  along the lake with good views of the lake and the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Hiked the Mill's creek trail which is nicely shaded and offers good views of the lake and the Linville Gorge area. ...
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