Buffalo Mountain Park

Towering just south of downtown Johnson City sits Buffalo Mountain Park.  The land the park sits on adjoins the Cherokee National Forest and was acquired through a land swap with the US Forest service in 1994. To me it is just as much of a landmark as the old Uhaul sign turned into the de facto Johnson City welcome sign in King Commons Park. 

Buffalo Mountain is visible from almost anywhere in and around the city. 725 acres of beautiful rugged Appalachian Mountain terrain sits just minutes from anyone who lives in Johnson City.  I have used the park for years as a place to trail run and hike.  The park is still quite untapped with regards to a trail system but what is in place is more than adequate to satiate even a hard core hiker's idea of a great place to hike.  The city-owned portion of the mountain only peaks out at 3,282 feet at Tip Top, which is accessible at the convergence of the Tip Top and Lone Oak trails.  

My personal favorite trail is to the White Rock overlook, which is my go-to for runs as it loops the park.  Beginning at the gravel parking lot over Catbird Creek I run along the creek until I reach the White Rock loop trail.  You can choose to go left and get to the White Rock overlook quicker, but the climbs are more arduous making for quite the workout.  I normally head right over the creek and head to the Huckleberry Knob overlook.  It is a short spur off the White Rock trail and looks West towards Greenville, Tennessee.  Continuing on the white rock trail you have views west as you run/hike through an area still rebuilding itself from a fire years ago.  The mountain laurel and blueberry bushes are plentiful on this side of the mountain as you gradually climb from just over 2,000 feet to over 3,000 feet at White rock.  You pass the tip top trail and the radio towers just before coming to the White Rock overlook.