House Mountain State Natural Area

I visited House Mountain in early April, 2013.  The park is owned by the state, but operated by the county.  The parking area is rather small and often full.  However, the park is large enough that it doesn't feel crowded.  There are five trails in the park.  The Left Sawmill Loop is 0.3 miles and the Right Sawmill Loop trail is 0.4 miles.  Both of these are in the valley area around the parking lot.  A short connector trail leads to the West Overlook Trail with white blazes that climbs over 1000 feet to the western end of the ridge in 0.8 miles as well as the blue blazed Mountain Trail that heads north climbing about 1000 feet to reach the top near the middle of the ridge.  The red blazed Crest trail follows the crest of the mountain for 1.5 miles from the junction with the West Overlook trail past the Mountain trail another 0.7 miles to the partially obstructed eastern overlook.  Hiking all three of the mountain trails produces a 4.0 mile loop.

Picnic shelter and vault toilets

Connector Trail

Connector Trail junction

West Overlook Trail

A series of rocks have been strategically placed across the mud

In places, the blazes are the only sure sign of the trail

Switchbacks have been fenced to reduce erosion caused by shortcuts 

The trail wanders along and through a boulder field

Looking west back down the trail

Looking west toward Knoxville from the overlook

Another view west with a second camera

Looking across the valley toward the Smoky Mountains

Crest Trail

Portions of this trail are on private property, so please stay on the obvious trail.  I'm fairly certain there are some wonderful views to the north from just off the trail, but those areas are well marked as being private property that is off limits.  

The trail climbs up from the overlook

The trail on the ridge is well defined

Beautiful vista to the north from near the communication tower

The cap rock is likely the high point along the trail

Part of the trail is loose sand

Junction with the Mountain Trail

The trail was probably a road at some point in the past

There were several blown down trees across the trail

Rock outcroppings along the trail

More downed trees

The end of the trail is fairly obvious even though it is not marked

Eastern overlook view of Clinch Mountain

Rutledge Pike far below

Looking east toward Corryton and the 1752 foot tall radio tower

Closeup of Clinch Mountain

Mountain Trail

The upper trail junction is muddy with rock stepping stones

The upper part of the trail is dry and wide

After the first switchback, the trail narrows and has several muddy sections

The trail meanders around boulders and misshapen trees 

The lower section widens out again

After being bitten numerous times by swarms of flying bugs, I did not hike the two loop trails.  Volunteers have scheduled a trail maintenance day later in the month so expect improvements to the conditions I encountered.
The park website is http://www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/housemtn/.