The Appalachian Trail passes through six of the seven counties in the Tri-Cities coverage area — Carter, Johnson, Washington TN, Sullivan, and Washington VA — providing an unparalleled network of day-hiking and backpacking opportunities from Hampton's Laurel Fork to Damascus's Backbone Rock to Roan Mountain's world-famous balds. Hundreds of miles of AT and connector trails are accessible within an hour of downtown Johnson City, making the Tri-Cities one of the richest AT communities on the entire 2,200-mile footpath.