Tweetsie Trail

The Tweetsie Trail is a 9.6 miles (15.4 km) multi-purpose rail trail in the United States that follows a portion of the Right-Of-Way (ROW) that was created for the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (ET&WNC) Railroad. Located in northeast Tennessee, the trail runs from Johnson City to Elizabethton, Tennessee. The first mile is in Washington County, and the remainder in Carter County. The entire trail is owned by Johnson City. The Tweetsie name derives from the sound of the whistles used on the steam engines that operated on the narrow gauge railroad. The trail has a fine gravel/ chat surface.

The trail begins at 116 Van Brocklin Way in Johnson City. Two additional nearby parking areas accommodates overflow from the main Trailhead lot. The trail terminates at the intersection of Stateline Road and Blue Ridge Drive at mile marker 9.6, 0.2 miles past a small parking lot and portable restroom at the 9.4 mile marker on the south end of Elizabethton. The many road crossings along the full length of the trail create numerous other access point opportunities.

The trail accommodates walkers, hikers, runners and cyclists. Leashed dogs are allowed. Motorized vehicles and horses are prohibited.

Travelling from Johnson City at about 1,650 feet (520 m) of elevation, the trail drops about 175 feet (53 m) after 4.5 miles, then gains another 150 feet (45 m)through upon reaching the southern most point.  Along the way, the trail crosses 7 bridges and passes the old railroad stops a Milligan Station reproduction, the Bemburg Depot and a quarry.

Future plans include extending the trail 4.5 miles to Hampton including a replacement trestle over the Doe River and the Tweetsie Tunnel #1.

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