FYI: Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium will be closed on December 24 and 25 for Christmas and closed on January 1 for New Year’s Day.

FYI: The picnic areas are closed while staff perform necessary maintenance work.

FYI: The Observation Tower at the end of Cliffside Trail will be closed until further notice, while planned improvements are taking place.

Pre-order your Bays Mountain Park license plate today!

All pets must be placed on a 6ft visible leash at all times when at the park. No pets are allowed in the animal habitat area.

It is highly recommended that program tickets are purchased at least 15 minutes before any program, in-person or online.

Hiking & Biking

Hiking

Bays Mountain Park features over 40 miles of beautiful hiking trails that cover most of the 3,750 acres of the park. Take a relaxing stroll around the lake or, for the more adventurous, make the trek up to the fire tower. No matter where you go, you’re sure to encounter natural wildlife and amazing scenery.

Important Information:

Be sure to download or take a current park map with you on your hike. Printed park maps are available for purchase at the Nature Center Gift Shop.
Bays Mountain is a nature preserve. Please remember to respect the natural environment by staying on the designated trails.
Take drinking water with you and stay properly hydrated.
Take a cell phone with you in case of emergency. If you do get lost, call the Nature Center immediately at 423-229-9447.

Geocaching

There are several geocaches located in the Park.
Guests can access the coordinates of the geocaches by visiting geocaching.com on their smart phones.
All geocaches must be placed within 25 feet of an existing trail.

Places of Interest:

Waterfall Hikes

Fire Tower Hike

Lily Pad Cove

Dolan Branch

Park Map

Biking

Whether getting in a good workout on an old JEEP road or challenging one’s self on a single track trail, Bays Mountain Park offers 40.3 miles of mountain bike trails that provide fun and adventure for mountain bikers of all skill levels. Bikes must be mountain-worthy for safety.

Important Information for All Riders:

No bikes allowed on the following trails: Lakeside, Fire Tower & Cherry Knobs East.
Helmets are required at all times.
Ride at your own risk.
Be sure to take a current Park Map with you on your ride. Park maps are also available at the Nature Center.
Bays Mountain is a nature preserve. Please remember to respect the natural environment by staying on the designated mountain bike trails.
Do not ride up/down the Park entrance road. The road is too narrow to safely accommodate both vehicles and bikes.
Do not ride through animal habitats.
Do not ride across the dam. Push bike across the dam.
The only motor-assisted bike type allowed is a Class I E-bike.
Be mindful of others who are also here to enjoy the peaceful nature of Bays Mountain. Be sure to let hikers and other riders know that you are approaching by calling out your intentions (i.e., “Passing on the left!”).
Yield trail to wildlife.
No alcohol permitted.

Park Map