Warriors Path State Park

Description: Summer In The Park, Week of May 27 - June 1

Location: Warriors Path State Park

Come enjoy a week full of outdoor fun! You and your family can hike strenuous and easy, meet wildlife on land and in water, enjoy  traditional games and ghost tales, and much more. And it's all free! 

IMPORTANT NOTE - You DO NOT have to preregister for  these "Summer In The Park" activities.

Here's the detailed schedule for this week:

TUESDAY, MAY 27

6:00 AM SUNRISE HIKE - Yes, it’s VERY EARLY, but it’s the perfect time to  see our green Tennessee hills greet the morning sun! Meet all the other “early birds” at the Duck Island Kiosk.

9:30 AM "ALIENS" AMONG US - Not creatures from Mars, but non-native plants and animals. Come find out how these "invaders" traveled here, and how they affect our native species. Meet at the Duck Island kiosk for a short walk.

11:00 AM WETLAND HIKE - Wetlands are wet, and full of life! Come along for a soggy hike at the Sinking Waters wetland. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool. Be prepared to get a bit wet and muddy!

12 NOON TEN ESSENTIALS - Don’t hit the trail without them! Meet at the Open Air Chapel for a 30 minute program to find out what’s REALLY important for safe and fun nature exploration. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.

2:00 PM LEAVE NO TRACE - Enjoy a hike along the Lakeshore and Connector Trails as we take a look at what it means to “leave no trace” as we enjoy the great outdoors! Please wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water. This hike is 0.7 miles long with some semi-rocky and sloped terrain and can last up to 45 minutes. Meet at the main campground boat ramp, or at the main bath house if it is raining. 

5:00 PM POLLINATORS ARE PRECIOUS- Let’s take a walk through pollinator country! Come help us discover the creatures who help craft our future by helping plants make seeds. Bring yourself and your keen eyes down to the camp store to begin a short hike.

7:00 PM EVENING BIKE RIDE - Let’s gp for a bike ride around the campground while enjoying the beautiful sounds and scenery of the park! Everyone MUST wear a helmet. Those 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. This ride can last up to 30 minutes. Meet at the main bath house.

9:00 PM PLANTS & POLLINATORS - Enjoy a slide-illustrated talk on native wildflowers, and the “busy bugs” who help them thrive. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28

9:30 AM HABITAT MEANS HOME - Let’s hike the Devil’s Backbone Trail, and look for clues about who is “at home” in this rich and rugged habitat. This is a steep and rocky trail - be sure to wear sturdy hiking footwear and bring some water. Drive to the Camp Store, and we’ll carpool

11:00 AM THE WARRIORS’ PATH - Come take a hike in the footsteps of the Cherokee who were here before us! Please bring comfortable hiking shoes and water. This hike is 0.6 miles long with some semi-rocky and sloped terrain and can last up to 45 minutes. Meet at the camp store, or at the main bath house if it is raining.

12 NOON MEET THE TREES - Take a closer look at our woody friends. Trees have a lot to teach us about our land and its history. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for this woody, leafy walk. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.

1:30 PM BACKPACKING - Have you ever wanted to spend more than just a day in the back country? Here’s your chance to gain advice on how to begin your overnight expeditions. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining

2:30 PM CREEK CRITTERS - Come find out what critters are hidden in the water of East Tennessee and what they can tell us about the health of our water. Wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to get wet! Meet at the Boundless Playground.

4:00 PM “I SPY” HIKE - Let’s try a scavenger hunt hike with a new twist! See how much of our list you can “spy” along the trail. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared to hike a bit over a mile. Meet at the main bath house.

6:00 PM NOISY TOYS - How did the pioneer children make music or noise? Make your very own “musical” instrument with a few simple things from nature. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to create some “beautiful music.” In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.

9:00 PM NIGHT SOUNDS - Nature is full of sounds when the sun goes down! Some seem eerie, but there’s no need to be nervous. Come find out whose noise is whose. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for a short slide show of the creatures who “talk” in the night! (At the main bath house if it is raining.) NOTE - there will be a special NIGHT SOUNDS contest for children after the show.

THURSDAY, MAY 29

10:00 AM THE LOST TRACK - Our park is tied to history through the rails! Let's hike the old railroad grade, and hear the stories of these old railroaders' lives. Meet at the Holston Bluffs Trail sign - in the Moody Bluff Campground. Wear sturdy walking footwear.

11:30 AM SET IN STONE - Learn to read the rocks under our feet, and gain new insights into East Tennessee geology. Meet at the main campground boat ramp for a short, rocky hike. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.

1:00 PM LAKE HOLLOW HIKE - Let's enjoy the rich discoveries of land and water life along the Lake Hollow trail. Meet at the Camp Store and we will head down the trail!

2:30 PM CHEROKEE GAMES - Let’s play some traditional Cherokee games. See what life was like for Native American children, before the days of video games! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.

3:30 PM WHO AM I? - Let’s play a game of “Guess Who” with a natural twist! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.

5:00 PM SOIL STUDIES - It’s not just plain old “dirt!” Come “dig into” some new discoveries about the soil beneath our feet. Meet at the Open Air Chapel.

6:00 PM EVENING STROLL - What a great way to end the day - with a relaxing hike along the Riverbank Trail! Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring some water. This hike is 0.5 miles out and back with some semi-rocky terrain and can last up to 45 minutes. Meet at the main bath house.

7:00 PM SEED RACES - Wind, water, and animals carry seeds of new trees and plants all across the land. Our “wind” can help too! Meet at the Open Air Chapel to show off your “hot air” and plant some new life. Meet at the main bath house if it rains.

9:00 PM WILDLIFE TRACKING - You can be a wildlife detective! Learn to read the tracks, scats, and other signs of our nearby wild creatures. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to meet our 4-legged “wildlife ambassador” and enjoy his tracking lesson.(In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.)

FRIDAY, MAY 30

8:00 AM BREAKFAST WITH THE BIRDS - Come wake up to our feathered neighbors. Meet at the main bath house to begin a stroll through bird country! (The first 12 people to come get free doughnut & juice!)

9:00 AM MORNING WALK - Let’s wake up our senses to morning discoveries. Take a leisurely stroll around the campground to soak up nature’s wake-up sounds. Wear comfortable walking shoes and meet at the main bath house.

10:00 AM ANIMAL TRACK DRAWING - Learn to “track down” local wildlife. Use your creative skills at the same time! Your unique design is only a “footstep” away. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or at the main bath house if it’s raining.

11:00 AM SPOTLIGHT STROLL - Let’s shine our light on some bright natural discoveries. Meet at the camp store to begin a short, sunlit hike

1:00 PM NATIVE TREES HIKE - Come hike under our native trees, and get to know them a bit better. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool. (Wear sturdy hiking footwear.)

2:00 PM THOUSAND-YARD SOLAR SYSTEM - What if our solar system was just 1,000 yards wide? With a bit of imagination, we’ll find our place in the universe! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining

3:00 PM WILDLIFE WALK - Let’s wander along the water’s edge and visit with the forest life. You never know who might be “at home” in these shoreline woods! Meet at the camp store.

5:00 PM LAKE HOLLOW ROUNDUP - We can help wildlife, and clean up their home at the same time! If they could talk, the critters would say "THANK YOU!!" Wear sturdy hiking footwear, and meet at the camp store. Be prepared to get a little dirty.

7:00 PM TAG - You’re it! You’re the one we need to make all these great tag games work. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for all kinds of tag games. If it is raining, meet at the main bath house.

9:00 PM CAMPFIRE - What a perfect combination: A dark night, a crackling fire, and some local, traditional ghost tales. Meet at the campfire circle, east end of the main campground. If it is raining, we’ll have an indoor “campfire” at the main bath house.

SATURDAY, MAY 31

9:30 AM RIDGELINE HIKE - Come hike the high ridges to get a new view of our park. Enjoy the ancient forests, the excitement of wildlife activity, and the peace of the deep green woods. Meet at the camp store, and we’ll carpool. 

1:00 PM JUNIOR RANGERS: TRAIL CLEANUP - Make our park a cleaner, healthier environment! You’ll make a big difference for our earth, and begin to earn your Junior Ranger badge. Meet at the main bath house. Be prepared to get dirty!

3:00 PM HOPPER ROUNDUP - It’s time to “round up” some discovery about the park’s amazing hopping insects. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for a hopping good time! In case of rain, meet at the main bath house. 

5:00 PM HIKE TO THE OVERLOOK - Gain a new and beautiful view of our East Tennessee landscape on this short, but steep and rocky hike. Wear good hiking footwear, bring some water, and bring at the Overlook Trail parking area - past the Boundless Playground and Soccer Fields, on the right.

7:00 PM DUCK ISLAND TOUR - Nowadays it's a busy place - full of picnickers, playgrounds, and small "critters." But, not very long ago, it was a peaceful wilderness and then a family farm. Come share discoveries of what was and what is. Put on your walking shoes, and meet at the Duck Island Recreation Building

9:00 PM STAR GAZING - There’s a universe waiting to be discovered just above our heads. Let’s look up and wonder at the stars. Meet at the campfire circle, east end of the main campground. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1

9:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE - Enjoy a peaceful morning worship service at the Open Air Chapel, or at the pool entrance if it is raining. Sponsored by the Colonial Heights Baptist Church.