State Parks and National Parks

Warrior's Path State Park

Warrior's Path State Park is named for its proximity to an ancient Cherokee trail. Covering 970 hilly and wooded acres, the park sits on the shores of the Patrick Henry Reservoir, a Tennessee Valley Authority impoundment on the Holston River.

Today's trail users find 13 miles of footpaths that follow the reservoir shore and climb up the Holston Bluffs to the scenic Devil's Backbone. Cyclists may use park roads. For equestrians, a concessionaire rents horses for treks on a separate trail network through the woods.

While the wildlife at the park is fairly typical for the region, there's plenty of it, and the park's interpretive programs won the Roger Tory Peterson Award for Nature Educator of the Year in 1994.

The Bays Mountain Nature Center near the park is the largest city-owned facility of its kind in the country. Among its attractions is a zoo featuring local species. The center is on Bays Mountain Park Road, about 15 minutes from the state park.

Pleasure boating, waterskiing and fishing are all popular on the reservoir. Crappie, bass, bream, trout and catfish are among the typical catch. Paddleboats and small fishing boats may be rented at the marina.

The park also has an 8.5-mile mountain bike trail.

Of the 135 campsites at the park, 94 have water and electrical hookups. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A modern bathhouse and trailer dump station are also supplied.

Wheelchair-accessible campsites are available.

Photo credits in order: Photo by Marty Silver, courtesy of Warrior's Path State Park. Photo by Marty Silver, courtesy of Warrior's Path State Park. Photo by Marty Silver, courtesy of Warrior's Path State Park.