Panther Creek State Park is located in Morristown, TN. It is next in our series of state parks in the upper East TN area. There are 6 Tennessee State Parks in upper East TN and Panther Creek is located closest to the Knoxville area. Panther Creek spans 1,435 acres and rises high above Cherokee Reservoir down to its banks below.
First Stop After Arriving at Panther Creek
Upon arriving at Panther Creek State park, the first stop should be at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center has a gift shop along with park maps and schedules of the months programming. There are also nice restrooms in the building. Then make sure you visit Teddy, the owl, who lives next door to the Visitor Center. It’s a great place to see an owl up close! There is some great information on how Teddy came to live at Panther Creek and what his job is for the park beside his habitat.
Hiking in Panther Creek State Park
After talking with the attendant in the Visitor Center we set off on a hike from the Visitor Center parking lot. The Panther Path to the Old Wagon Trail made the perfect looped trail for kids. It was fairly flat and it was only about 2 miles long. This hike is one of 17 hikes the park has to offer, along with 15 miles of mountain bike trails. Horses are allowed on some of the trails in the park as well. Everything is well marked!
Playground
Playgrounds are always high on the to-do list in our family so the next stop was the playground. It is a fun playground with many swings, a climbing structure and several slides. There is a shaded picnic area next to it. The playground is located in the same parking lot as the swimming pool, restrooms, tennis and sand volleyball.
Lookout and More
Continue on up the road past the playground and the entrance to the campground will be on the right. Head on up the hill to the most incredible view in the whole park. The Smallman lookout area has amazing views of Cherokee Reservoir. There are many signs that have the history of the area. Spend some time reading them all. You can also gain amazing views on the Point Lookout Trail. There are many pavilions and picnic areas in the park for a gathering or picnic, including some just beside the lookout. .
Lake Area at Panther Creek
The park offers a boat launch along with canoe and kayak rentals for some time on the lake. There is also an 18 hole championship disc golf course and many scheduled activities all year long. There is an excellent calendar on the Panther Creek State Park website.
Panther Creek State Park is local for my family and we love all of the opportunities it has to offer! It has so many amenities that make it perfect for families of all ages to enjoy! Have you been to Panther Creek State Park?
