HomeTennesseeKingsport › Devil's Backbone Trail

Devil's Backbone Trail

4.6 ★★★★★ 22 Google reviews · Running trail in Kingsport, Tennessee · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Loop distance
Not reported
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Devil's Backbone Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

LoopScenicHilly

What runners say about Devil's Backbone Trail

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (22 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“That aside, it was a beautiful walk.”

This is good hike with a couple of strenuous climbs. If you do the Devils Backbone trail to the Fall Creek loop and back to Devils Backbone, you will hike a total of 3.7 miles with a total elevation gain of 1032 ft. This assumes you start and end at the trailhead at the golf course. See map in the photos.

★★★★☆ — Jeff , May 2024

Fairly hard trail. About 1 1/2 miles one way. Beautiful scenery though.

★★★★☆ — Robert , Oct 2022

For those of you who like a challenging hike this is the place for you! Visit my channel GOTC explore with Albee for a full video in order to get an idea of what is in store for you, should you decide to take the hike.

★★★★★ — Albee , Jul 2024

Great trail at Warriors. It was our first time walking this trail. It was fun. It started raining about 5 mins after starting but it was great. It was nice to be outside and see all of God's wonderful creation. It took about an hour one way.

★★★★★ — William , Jun 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 22 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 10 mentions

“Fall Creek has some nice gentle waterfalls and you are never that deep in the woods.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 6 mentions

“My favorite trail, but not for anyone with strong attachments to their knee cartridge; the climb up can be brutal at certain points”

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🔁 Loop trail 5 mentions

“If you do the Devils Backbone trail to the Fall Creek loop and back to Devils Backbone, you will hike a total of 3.”

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Plan your run at Devil's Backbone Trail

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Where to find Devil's Backbone Trail

Kingsport, Tennessee

Get directions

Running trails near Kingsport

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Warriors' Path State Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,592 reviews

Kingsport, TN

LoopPavedScenic

Lakeside recreation area with disc golf, mountain biking & attractions designed for accessibility.

under a mile away

Duck Island Warriors' Path

4.7 ★★★★★ 102 reviews

Colonial Heights, TN

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Lakefront park for boating and fishing, featuring paved walking trails and a playground.

under a mile away

Overlook Trail

5 ★★★★★ 5 reviews

Colonial Heights, TN

under a mile away

Riverbend Park

4.9 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

Kingsport, TN

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

2.0 miles away

Kingsport Greenbelt Trail Head

4.7 ★★★★★ 221 reviews

Kingsport, TN

MixedShadedScenic

8-mi. wooded path for walking, running & biking with wetlands, picnic areas & views.

2.8 miles away

Borden Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 1,038 reviews

Kingsport, TN

Historic 1906 city park with a formal flower garden & lawns as well as tennis courts & a playground.

3.9 miles away

All running trails in Kingsport, TN →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.