Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium

Very nice family experience! Great day trip!! Walking paths and trails are very nice. Plenty of restrooms. Only fault is that you walk downhill from most parking lots, its all uphill back!!! Its a gentle slope but noticeable for anyone who has bad lungs or handicapped. But there is good handicap access.

A beautiful area with some beautiful wildlife! Not to mention a very nice playground setup for the kids. An underrated gem in East Tennessee for a few hours, short walk through the park!

Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium is one of those places where you could really spend the day here. The park is huge with great trails, peaceful lake views, and lots of wildlife to see. The planetarium is a cool bonus so check for show times. You can even do a boat ride which makes it more of a full experience. Pack a picnic lunch and play on the playground.

I love this place! I've been visiting it since I was a kid and I have some of the most treasured and valuable memories I'll ever have. My grandma who raised me would take us ever since we were little. They have animal exhibits. Some animals you may see include squirrels, wolves, turtles, snakes, frogs, fish, falcons, owls, birds, etc. It's a great place for kids. They have Barge Rides. Tickets can be purchased in the gift shop. Gate access is $7 per car. They have shows and museums. It's all about nature. People are friendly. Great atmosphere! Hiking trails are available. I love the Lakeside Trail. Just follow the blue markers. It's awesome! Pack a lunch and a backpack with water & snacks. Here are some pics I added.

**May 2026** They have done some wonderful updates to the park, including the newly added playground and updated look the planetarium. They are still doing updates, so there is construction in some parts of the park, but still just as peaceful and wonderful. I have been going to Bays Mountain since I was a kid and I've taken my own kids many times. It's a great place to get out and walk around and the staff has always seemed very friendly and helpful. They recently updated the inside of the nature center including the outside area of planetarium and it looks great. It's a little older, but they will be doing by more updates soon. It's still a fantastic place for a visit.

Best $7 I've ever spent! We loved the new playground, the herpetarium, and the wolves. Even on a chilly day, it was a wonderful opportunity to get the kids outside and explore all the fun newly constructed spots.

Beautiful hiking trails, very well maintained and clearly marked. Walked up to the fire tower and back. The animal exhibits were a plus, went for a gorgeous hike, got to see foxes, wolves, a bunch of birds of prey, and a bobcat all were visible and looked healthy and well cared for.

Love going here! This trip was my second. Recommend going when it's warm out so that you can take full advantage of everything that is offered. The animal encounters are great and the river barge tour is very educational.