This is a moderate hike of graded trail along the northern ridge of Holston Mountain with occasional views of Holston Lake on the right and Shady Valley on the left, Iron Mountain and Holston Mountain form the western rim of the Appalachians, blending into the Ridge and Valley province between the Blue Ridge and Cumberland mountains. This section of the AT crosses between Iron and Holston mountains on Cross Mountain, a ridge of resistant sandstone deposited sideways by the shifting of a geological fault. After Cross Mountain the AT turns north onto Holston Mountain and heads toward Damascus. Natural history feature: Squirrel nut middens. Social history feature: Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road.
Source: www.trails.com
iNaturalist Observations