Out of all the picturesque landscapes that surround Johnson City, Buffalo Mountain has remained a staple for ETSU and the Tri-City area for decades on end.
The mountain has served as a serene lookout point that features a number of trails loomed to explore, taking hikers through dense brush, over creeks and along winding trails to land at the most beautiful, gleaming sunset point in the nearest vicinity. Located just a mere ten minutes from the heart of campus, students and staff alike frequent the park for its vibrant colored leaves in the fall and the lush, green foliage in the spring and summer.
Year after year, visitors flow through the featured trails such as Huckleberry Knob, the most infamous lookout point of Johnson City, the ‘Noggin,’ which takes hikers to the peak of the mountain, and White Rock Loop, which loops around the main points of the mountain itself. The result is a peak point that overlooks all of Johnson City, city lights illuminating the skyline with a view of all the surrounding mountains.
Visiting Buffalo Mountain a total of ten times since she became a Bucaneer, ETSU sophomore Lexy Pappageorge delves into why Buffalo Mountain provides a new level of serenity and completion to the whole of Johnson City.
“There are so many different trails that go through the mountain,” said Pappageorge. “All of them lead to the most beautiful view I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Buffalo Mountain Park is open from 7 a.m. to sunset in the summer months and 9 a.m. to sunset in the winter months. Due to inclimate weather, however, the main trail up the mountain is often closed from vehicle traffic starting Dec. 15 to March 15. This is to ensure the safety of the park’s visitors, so be prepared to hike a few extra miles in colder temperatures for the sunset point.
For students like Pappageorge, however, this hike is no problem and the reward is something straight off a postcard.
“The hike is serene, calming, and beautiful,” said Pappageorge. “Seeing all of Johnson City from a bird’s eye view really puts things into perspective and calms me down when I need it most.”
The park stretches over 725 acres on the northern slope of Buffalo Mountain and has been in operation since 1994. Maps for proper navigation of the trails can be found on QR codes at each trailhead, and are also available online at johnsoncitytn.org.
“Being at Buffalo Mountain, especially the lookout, makes me feel so peaceful and calm and reminds me of why Johnson City feels like home to me,” Natalie Ziolkowski said, an ETSU student.
