Bays Mountain Park is a 3,750 acres (15.2 km2) nature park and planetarium located on Bays Mountain in Kingsport, Tennessee. Opened in 1971, it features a 44 acre lake, over 40 miles of hiking trails, a nature center with a planetarium theater, fire tower, and animal habitats.
Its nature center and outdoor native animal displays include bobcats, a raptor center and gray wolves, among other exhibits. There is also a herpetarium housing reptiles and amphibians.
The park also features an educational pontoon boat ride attraction that runs through the Bays Mountain Reservoir, called the Barge Ride.
Other activities include hiking, orienteering, mountain biking, camping, and fishing. There is also the Steadman Heritage Farmstead Museum, a 19th-century period living history farm museum.
In 2017, the Pavilion at Lily Pad Cove was added for events rentals and special events and in 2019, 75 extra parking spots were added to alleviate peak season parking issues.
It is the largest city-owned park in Tennessee.
The Park features a picturesque 44 acre lake, hiking trails, a Nature Center with a state-of-the-art Planetarium Theater, and Animal Habitats featuring wolves, bobcats, raptors and reptiles.
Entrance Fees: • $7 per vehicle • $15 per bus (school bus or vehicle larger than standard car). Park members must present a current membership card to waive $7 car entrance fee. Public Program Fees: Bays Mountain Park offers a wide variety of public programs. Tickets for all programs may be purchased online or at the Gift Shop in the Nature ...
07 Jan 2025 · Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium, located in beautiful Kingsport, Tennessee, is a 3,750 acre nature preserve and the largest city owned park in the state of Tennessee. The Park features a picturesque 44 acre lake, a Nature Center with a state-of-the-art Planetarium Theater and Animal Habitats featuring wolves, bobcats, raptors and reptiles.
Bays Mountain Park, located in beautiful Kingsport, Tennessee, is a 3,650 acre nature preserve and the largest city owned park in the state of Tennessee.
Bays Mountain Park features over 40 miles of beautiful hiking trails that cover most of the 3,750 acres of the park. Take a relaxing stroll around the lake or, for the more adventurous, make the trek up to the fire tower.
You can access the Park’s map in two ways. Both are free and have different uses: The PDF version allows quick access to the map from your phone or computer. Use the button below. Just download and view. The Avenza version uses a free app viewer commonly used for most state and federal park maps.
A 3,750-acre nature preserve featuring a Nature Center with a state-of-the-art planetarium, Bays Mountain Park also offers a 44-acre lake, 40 miles of trails approved for hiking and mountain biking, native animal habitats, gift shop and much more!
02 Jan 2025 · Bays Mountain Park is home to a state-of-the-art planetarium theater. The only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere!
“One Sky: Finding Patterns” Bays Mountain Park 853 Bays Mountain Park Road, Kingsport, TN, United States
“One Sky: Finding Patterns” Bays Mountain Park 853 Bays Mountain Park Road, Kingsport, TN, United States
