Osborne Farm on the Appalachian Trail, Shady Valley, TN.
Easy strolling path. Valleys and mountains. Lots of sky.
Easy strolling path. Valleys and mountains. Lots of sky.
The Hike. A nice and easy, level trail that winds through an old farm, once occupied by the Osborne family , but purchased in 2001 by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to re-route the Appalachian Trail. You'll love the views of the valleys and mountains all around and it is a great place for a picnic. With kids, a nice aspect to treeless hilltops is that you can let them run ahead or fall behind and still have your eyes on them. When we went, in November of 2012, there were snowdrifts to play in even though we were wearing short sleeve shirts. And, we saw quite a few cows... and their droppings... so watch your step! We wandered through the fields and a short distance into the woods before turning around and coming back the way we came.
Add On: If you finish walking the Osborne Farm Trail and have some more energy and time, stop at "Blue Hole" on your way home. It is a Fantasy Island style triple waterfall with trails all around it for exploring. But please find an empty bag in your car and take it with you to pick up any trash you find. Blue Hole is one of the most beautiful places around, excepting the litter. Maybe if we each fill up a bag every time we go we can keep up with the folks who are just too worn down to carry their empties back to the car.
Directions: From Highway 19E in Elizabethton, TN, take Route 91 (Stoney Creek Road) 18.5 miles to a well-marked parking area on the right side of the road. Cross the road and follow the gentle sloping trail into the pasture.
Add On: If you finish walking the Osborne Farm Trail and have some more energy and time, stop at "Blue Hole" on your way home. It is a Fantasy Island style triple waterfall with trails all around it for exploring. But please find an empty bag in your car and take it with you to pick up any trash you find. Blue Hole is one of the most beautiful places around, excepting the litter. Maybe if we each fill up a bag every time we go we can keep up with the folks who are just too worn down to carry their empties back to the car.
Directions: From Highway 19E in Elizabethton, TN, take Route 91 (Stoney Creek Road) 18.5 miles to a well-marked parking area on the right side of the road. Cross the road and follow the gentle sloping trail into the pasture.