Kingsport Bay-Bay

Did you know the phrase Bays Mountain is shared with an awesome park and a killer brewery? That’s why this Trails and Ales Tour is appropriately titled: Kingsport Bay-Bay.

For those that are unfamiliar with the area, Kingsport is located in northeast Tennessee near the Tennessee and Virginia border. This area is commonly known as the Tri-Cities area and has plenty of hiking, trail running and camping options. If you haven’t been to this part of the Volunteer state, I recommend you find some time to check it out and hit up this recommended Kingsport Bay-Bay Trails & Ales stop.

Kingsport Bay-Bay 1: Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium

There is so much to discover at Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium. In fact, there is previous hiking review on Price-Points covering part of the park. Sitting on 3,550 acres, Bays Mountain Park holds the title of being the largest city owned park in Tennessee. In addition to hiking, visitors can check out the adventure course, bike the park, visit the planetarium, and participate in loads of events. Be sure to check out Bays Mountain Website for all their information.

For this particular Trails & Ales tour, we’ll examine a well-known part of the park – The Fire Tower.

Bays Mountain Fire Tower

If you know me, you know my love for fire towers. There is something unique about climbing an old, questionably stable structure and taking in a beautiful view. The Bays Mountain Fire Tower provides piece of mind since the park maintains the tower ensuring it is (somewhat) safe.

A quick search on apps like AllTrails provides several options to hike up to the fire tower. I suggest setting enough time out of the day to opt for a longer hike and pack a light meal or several snacks. This way you can take see more of the part and enjoy more of what it has to offer.

When reaching the peak of the ridge you’ll see the fire tower hovering over the tree line. Built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corp, this 60-ft tower served the Forestry Service up to the 1960s. Once you climb the tower, you’ll have a panoramic view of the area that includes the city of Kingsport and the Holston River.

One option I suggest is taking the long way back through the park and visiting the animal habitats area. This section includes wolves, bobcats, foxes and a Raptor Center where visitors can see hawks, owls, and other birds of prey.

Kingsport Bay- Bay 2: Bays Mountain Brewing Company

Bays Mountain Brewing opened its doors back in March of 2019. Located in downtown Kingsport, Bays Mountain Brewing has an impressive thirteen beers on tap! The first six taps are their flagship beers, with the remaining taps pouring seasonal and experimental brews. Though they do not have a kitchen; the brewery usually has different local food truck parked out front during evening hours. To their credit, Bays Mountain Brewing is active on IG and Facebook which informs followers every week about food truck availability and special events.

Craft Brewers

Bays Mountain Brewing Company prides itself on being a true craft brewery and it shows! Each can of beer they sell in their taproom is hand-poured every weekend, ensuring customers are purchasing fresh beer.

In addition to freshness, they dedicate half of their taps to seasonal and experimental brews. Every time I visit the brewery, I’m able to try out a new beer. I can say they are the only brewery where I have been able to drink a habaner-based beer, which was pretty tasty. That said, if I ever try something that is out of my comfort zone (which hasn’t happened yet), I know I can also count on my old standby – the NE TN IPA.

High Points of Kingsport Bay-Bay

Level of Variety Bay-Bay

Whether talking about the park or the brewery, there are several choices. The park is one of the most diverse parks I’ve experience in Tennessee. I’ve never hiked the same route twice while visiting Bays, and I’ve always encountered something new when visiting the park. You can stumble upon a new show in the animal habitat or observe one of the many events the park holds throughout the week.

Bays Mountain Brewery lives up to that same spirit of variety. They always have a different dinner option available at their taproom via the massive number of food trucks in the Tri-Cities area, plus they occasionally clear out some room for local musicians to play. As I mentioned before, they’re craft brewers so they not only have new beers on tap, they will also tweak their flagship beers from time to time.

Sense of Pride and Quality

Both Kingsport Bay-Bay locations take great pride in what they do, and it shows. The quality of Bays Mountain Park shines through the cleanliness of the park and their facilities. The staff is incredible friendly and knowledge, which adds to the overall positive experience.

The same can be said about the brewery. Every time I have been there, the staff has been extremely friendly, always offer a good beer, and are very knowledgeable when it comes to their craft.

I highly recommend adding the Kingsport Bay-Bay trails and ales stop to anyone who wants to experience a fun time outdoors followed by a refreshing craft brew!

Once you’ve ventured out, let me know what you think below in the comments section. If you’ve done this trail and ale before, share your thoughts. Is this accurate? Did I miss any important items?

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