Buffalo Mountain Needs A Little Bays Mountain

Johnson City and Kingsport...two of the three pillars of the Tri-Cities, but each sit in the shadow of a mountain. Kingsport has Bays Mountain and Johnson City has Buffalo Mountain and I would be lying to say I didn't know Buffalo Mountain better. Going to college at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) I spent some time on Buffalo Mountain.

Entrance to Bays Mountain Park...

...Buffalo Mountain Park.

ETSU...

...from Buffalo Mountain.

When I was at ETSU, Buffalo Mountain was administered by the US Forest Service (USFS). Because of this besides hiking, we also camped on the mountain. However, in 1994, Buffalo  Mountain was transferred to the city of Johnson City and became a municipal park. Bays Mountain Park had long been the property of the City of Kingsport. What is now Bays Mountain Lake was once the Kingsport Reservoir, but went out of service in 1944. From then until 1964 Bays Mountain served hikers, fishermen, and hunters. In 1965, then Mayor Hugh Rule moved what is the modern park forward as the Nature Interpretive Center opening in 1971 creating Tennessee's largest city park.

Sign at the now city park.

The dam for the former Kingsport Reservoir at Bays Mountain.

Bays Mountain Park map...

...& topographic map in the...

...Nature Interpretive Center.

This brings me to the heart of the blog, why Buffalo Mountain Park needs to become more like Bays Mountain Park. They share one thing in common they are both beautiful mountains, but as much as I love Buffalo Mountain...Bays Mountain Park is much nicer. I know Bays Mountain Park has a number advantages, it has a beautiful 44-acre lake and two decades head start. However, Buffalo Mountain does have some things over Bays Mountain Park.

The 44-acre former reservior is now...

...is now Bays Mountain Lake...

...& the centerpiece of the park.

The trails are a little tougher and it does have the better views with three as the ones from Huckleberry Knob, White Rocks and Tip-Top are total natural vistas. The best views of Bays Mountain requires climbing an old Fire Tower. Add to that Buffalo Mountain is closer to all the big peaks like the Roan Highlands, Unaka Mountain, Big Bald and even Holston Mountain.

You have to climb the 60-foot Bays Mountain Fire Tower...

...to get this view.

At Buffalo Mountain, there is Huckleberry Knob...

...with these views...

...of Johnson City...

...White Rocks...

...has this vista...

...this one on the High Ridge Trail...

...to Tip-Top

...this view of JC.

Roan Highlands from Bays Mountain...

...but from Buffalo Mountain, you can see Grassy Ridge Bald.

Unaka Mountain from Bays Mountain...

...from Buffalo Mountain.

Big Bald from Buffalo Mountain.

Holston Mountain from Bays Mountain...

...& Buffalo Mountain.

But, let's just face it Buffalo Mountain Park needs some development. I will be frank and say the Buffalo Mountain Park hasn't changed much since it was Cherokee National Forest land back when I was at University. I get it you can't build a lake on Buffalo Mountain, but a visitor center is more than doable. One of the complaints of Buffalo Mountain Park has a lot of for better word perverts. It is notorious for all kinds of shady types hanging out, especially in summer at the other lot. Bays Mountain Park just feels safer, I guess having park employees on site (plus an entrance fee) has a lot to do this. I think having a visitor center, with some full-time people at Buffalo Mountain Park would do wonders in changing the image of the park and would make it safer. Since a visitor center would need to be built at the upper parking area, this would open this up year-round and improve the winter parking problem at Hartsell Hollow. I mean there are not even bathrooms at the park.

Bays Mountain's Nature Interpretive Center.

At Buffalo Mountain, this would be a good spot for a visitor center.

In winter, the parking at Hartsell Hollow can have issues.

Even Pinnacle Mountain has bathrooms.

I think another project would be to better link from Buffalo Mountain Park to Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower. At Tip-Top, Pinnacle Mountain and it's refurbished fire tower is obviously the closest as it is part of Buffalo Mountain and it's the highest peak. It is possible (I think) to get from the Park to  Pinnacle Mountain via the Lone Oak Trail and the up the ATV accessible Dry Creek Road. However, it is not a hiking trail and one from the Park to Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower would make this area and even better hiking destination.

Pinnacle Mountain...

...& fire tower from Buffalo Mountain.

Lone Oak Trail starts at Tip-Top.

The Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower.

A course I know what most will say...that this would cost money. Well, getting Bays Mountain Park going cost money and it got done. We have got to want to spend money to make something worthwhile, instead of giving it away to the rich and corporations. I  mean I would be willing to pay $3 to hike in a nicer, safer and better park. Johnson City, if Kingsport can do it so can you!