AT at Dennis Cove Road (TN/NC area)

[joec]

Will be doing a dayhike there this weekend and will dropping a car at the Hwy321 AT crossing and driving around and starting at Dennis Cove Road near Hampton, TN. Just wondering if anyone here knows if this is a easy trailhead to find? Parking etc?

[Slo-go'en]

The drive up from Hampton is down right crazy. There is a big parking lot at the trail head on Dennis Cove. It shouldn't be hard to find.

[HillMedic]

Keep your eyes peeled for the 321 crossing. There is a sign but not exactly with neon lights.

Just head into Dennis Cove. Weave through the curves. As you come back to the bottom you will see a big obvious parking lot on the right. The trail back to 321 is on the left with the creek.

[oldwetherman]

If you have a GPS it's possible to program latitude/longitude as a destination. You can get those from the AT Guide. It takes all the stress out of getting to road crossings.

[Tennessee Viking]

Be sure to hide everything valuable at 321. Be sure you don't have any food in the car. Nobo of 321 and around Watauga Lake has a bear warning in affect. Parking is ample at the roadside lot next to Shook Branch Rec area

From Watauga Lake head toward Hampton. Go past the Laurel Fork Blue Blaze trailhead. Either turn left at Cate Corner Rd (first road to the left past the Blue Blaze); really easy to miss. Or left onto Dennis Cove Road at Citizens Bank. After turning up on Dennis Cove Road, you will twist and turn up the narrow mountain road. You will eventually hit the top and come down into Dennis Cove. There should be USFS signs for Dennis Cove.

After a few houses, you will have Kincora will be to the right. Then a bit further to the AT trailhead will be to the left. Parking is small so park early or up at Kincora.

[joec]

This was a good hike. The long stretch by the river was very nice and the waterfall was exceptional. All in all, I got more than expected from, what I thought, would be just a walk in the woods. Next up, Dennis Cove Road to Hwy 19 at Elk Park.