Family Friendly Hikes Near Bristol, Tennessee
- Alexis Bennett
- Apr 5, 2023
- 3 min read
Tennessee is one of our favorite places. The terrain varies from mountains to plains and everything in between. Varied scenery and good climbing make for great hiking with kids in Tennessee.
These are our favorite hikes near Bristol, Tennessee
If you are looking for a mix of wildlife and a great hike, this is a great place to go. With little kids, there is something around each bend. Bays Mountain boasts a 44 acre lake, 15 trails listed in AllTrails which vary from less than 2 miles to almost 10 miles, nature center and planetarium, so there is something for everyone.
Before you hike, or after, be sure to check out all that Bay Mountain Park has to offer. The animal habitats are easily accessed and will provide a great opportunity to see wolves, bobcats, reptiles, and more before and after your hike. The nature center and planetarium were informative and a great way to cool off/warm up. The activities in the park are a great incentive for your kids to push through the hike.
For our family we chose the Bays Mountain Trail Loop. This trail is a 6 mile hike through the forested area surrounding the park. When we were there it was muddy and washed out in parts, but that made for a especially fun hike for the kids. There were plenty of trees and rocks to climb on which is always a nice distraction (and break) for kids. The trail itself was well maintained and easy to follow.
The great thing about hiking in Bay Mountain is the variety of hikes available as well as the animal habitats, nature center and planetarium. If you are in looking for a fun day with your kids of varying ages, this is a great place to spend your time.
Round Bald via the Appalachian Trail is an easy out and back 1.5 mile trail with stunning views at the top. This is a popular trail so it is very busy most days.
Our kids loved all the rocks to climb as well as the easy path. The spruce trees on the hike up and down were absolutely gorgeous on the trail. From the top you can view the Virginia Highlands, Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain and more!
This trail is great for a family hike or on your own. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can add another 5 miles (and quite a bit of elevation) to your hike by walking east to Jane Bald and Grassy Ridge, as well.
The parking area has a restroom which is a big plus for little kids. I highly recommend this if you want to take your family on an easy hike on the Appalachian Trail, with a spectacular view.
Natural Tunnel State Park is located in Duffield, VA, but was an easy hour drive from Bristol, TN. There are multiple trails in Natural Tunnel State Park, a few moderate and a few easy. We did a one of each.
The first trail we took in Natural Tunnel State Park was the Tunnel Hill Trail. This trail is a moderate hike, less than a mile out and back. There were quite a few elevation changes with great switchbacks. This leads to a great view of the tunnel from which the park gets its name. The tunnel is over 10 stories high and was naturally carved out of limestone over thousands of years. This is a great trail to feel your leg muscles ache a bit.
From the tunnel we continued onto the Lovers Leap Trail which has a beautiful view and was an relatively easy trail for the kids. The views were beautiful, but not nearly as fun of a trail as the Tunnel Hill Trail. It was quite a bit easier for our kids, so if you have littles this might be the better choice in trails.
There is so much beauty in Tennessee. Hiking is a great way to experience the different terrains and history. No matter if you are hiking alone, with adults or with kids, your hiking adventures can be varied in level and scenery.
What are your favorite hikes near Bristol, TN? Let us know, we'd love to check them out next time!
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