Exploring Bays Mountain Park: Hikes, Howls, and History

Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, Tennessee, is a 3,750-acre nature preserve and the state’s largest city-owned park. It features a nature center, lake, scenic trails, animal habitats, and even a planetarium.

I visited Kingsport recently and spent the afternoon at Bays Mountain Park. From hiking the trails to hearing wolves howl, it provided an unforgettable escape into the wild. Here’s a look at my experience and some highlights to check out when you visit.

Lakeside Trail

With about 44 miles of trails in Bays Mountain State Park (many of which are open to both hiking and biking), there are endless adventure possibilities. My group took a ranger-led hike along the Lakeside Trail, the most popular trail in Bays Mountain State Park, and it’s easy to see why. The ~2.5-mile loop trail winds through some shady, forested areas that periodically open up to stunning views of Bays Mountain Lake.

To reach the Lakeside Trail, you can either cross the dam to hike clockwise or start at the back of the animal habitat by the Lilypad Pavilion to hike counter-clockwise.

Beaver Activity

There are signs of beaver activity all over in Bays Mountain Park! We didn’t spot the beavers themselves, but according to the ranger, there are at least 20 beavers living there. Because it’s a nature preserve, the staff allows the beavers to live freely and naturally without much interference.

Ancient Plants

The ranger stopped to point out this mini pine tree-looking plant on the forest floor. The name slipped her memory, so if you know, tell me! But she said it’s a Paleolithic species that has been around longer than the Appalachian mountains!

Floating Bridge

One of the trail’s highlights was crossing the floating bridge, which gently swayed as we walked over the water. The views from the bridge were spectacular. The channel was teeming with water shields, a favorite snack of white-tailed deer, and bullhead pond lilies, which beavers love to munch on.

Bays Mountain Schoolhouse History

Before the dam was built, this area was home to a small mountain community with two schools. As we walked along the Lakeside Trail, we passed one of the former schoolhouse sites, where you can still see the ruts from the old road. The schoolhouse itself burned down before the lake was created, so any remnants of its foundation are now submerged underwater.

Crossing the Dam

The dam was built in 1916, and the reservoir provided all the water for the city of Kingsport until 1944. Most of the wall’s rocks were quarried from the mountain itself and hauled by mules. The labor force was primarily comprised of people who once lived in the mountain community.

Visiting the Wolves

Our last stop of the day was the wolf habitat. Earlier, while hiking the trail, we had heard the wolves howling in the distance—a sound that was both haunting and beautiful. Did you know wolf howls can be heard up to ten miles away?

Though all the wolves at Bays Mountain Park are geriatric, those aging more slowly tend to be more aggressive. To manage this, the staff separates the wolves into different pens based on their behavior.

Insider Tip: The wolves are especially active in mating season (January and February) so that’s a great time to visit!

Other Animal Habitats

We didn’t have enough time to visit all the animals, but along with the wolves, there were red foxes, bobcats, raptors, reptiles, and amphibians. When we passed the bobcats, they had just captured an afternoon squirrel snack. As a cat person, I could have watched them for hours. They’re such beautiful creatures, aren’t they?

Additional Activities

• Barge Rides – Discover the reservoir’s aquatic life on a 45-minute tour led by a naturalist. ($6 fee, ADA accessible)
• Planetarium Shows – Experience diverse, rotating programs in a state-of-the-art planetarium theater. ($6 fee)
• Nature Programs – Engage in keeper talks, guided hikes, and various educational activities. ($3-6 fee)
• Sky Observation – Check the schedule for weekend SunWatch and StarWatch events.
• Farmstead Museum – Currently closed for construction. (Will be ADA accessible when it reopens.)
• Climb the Fire Tower – If you’re up for a more challenging hike and climb, the view from the top is spectacular.