Warriors’ Path State Park Designated National Recreation Trail

On May 20, 2011, the trail system at Warriors’ Path State Park in Kingsport, Tenn., was designated a National Recreation Trail by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The announcement was made on June 2, 2011 by Deputy Secretary David Hayes at an event in Chicago, Ill.

The trail network is located at the end of Freeman Road across the lake from the Warriors Path campground. Hundreds of  people use the trails daily – hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and folks looking for a little serenity close to their front doors.

Approximately 10 years old, the trails were developed by members of the Northeast Tennessee Mountain Bike Association (NTMBA) in partnership with Warriors’ Path State Park. This unique arrangement has produced some of the best built and maintained single-track trails in the state of Tennessee, and sees hundreds of users each day.

Being named a National Recreation Trail is based on several factors, some of which include:  the quality of the trail build, the usefulness of the trail to a variety of trail users, and the cooperation between the state government and the private sector.

Since the creation of the National Trail System Act of 1968, more than 1,000 trails in all 50 states have earned this distinction. These trails range from less than a mile to 485 miles in length. The designation of a National Recreation Trail allows more opportunities for funding to help promote and develop more of these sustainable recreational trails.

“We pin the badge of success on the wonderful folks with Warriors’ Path State Park and to the NTMBA volunteers, past and present, who have spent countless hours building and maintaining these trails,” says Greg Carr, NTMBA president.

Marty Silver, park naturalist, uses the trail system not only for hiking and biking but also as a resource forthe park’s interpretive program and outdoor education.

“A big thanks goes to the members of NTMBA who made this trail system possible, and who continue to protect and care for it,” says Silver.

NTMBA continues to work with Warriors Path State Park with trail maintenance and enhancement of the trail user experience but also maintains relationships with many of the area’s public land managers. “We really want to make this area a premier mountain biking destination for riders across the country, so we help out where we can with trail systems throughout the region,” says Carr. 

“Hopefully, with the accolades that Warriors’ Path’s trail system is getting, it will open up more opportunities for sustainable trail development.”

For more information on NTMBA or to find out how you can help with trails, visit www.ntmba.org. For more about Warriors Path State Park, visitwww.tn.gov/environment/parks/WarriorsPath/ and to find out more about National Recreation Trails, visitwww.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/.