Spout Spring, Thorn Hill, TN 37881

## Overview Spout Spring, located near Thorn Hill in Grainger County, Tennessee, has been a popular local water source and gathering spot for well over a decade. Situated along Tennessee Highway 25 East (also known as the Andrew Johnson Highway corridor), this public drinking spring draws visitors from the surrounding communities who come to fill jugs and bottles with its naturally flowing water. The spring's history is intertwined with the development of the local road infrastructure. When TN Highway 25 was constructed through the area, the original spring site was disrupted. Resourceful locals, unwilling to lose access to their beloved water source, constructed a pipe system to carry the spring water along the highway and across Forked Deer Creek — ensuring the community could continue to enjoy the spring's flow at a more accessible roadside location. This kind of grassroots effort speaks to how valued the water from Spout Spring has been to the people of Thorn Hill and the broader Grainger County area. The spring sits at an elevation consistent with the ridge-and-valley geography of upper East Tennessee, where limestone karst formations are common and naturally filter groundwater through layers of ancient rock. Visitors have long reported that the water from Spout Spring tastes clean and refreshing, and it has historically been used as a drinking water source by locals. ## Directions 1. From Thorn Hill, TN, head east on **TN Highway 25 East** (a major route through Grainger County). 2. Watch for **Broken Valley Road** — the spring is located near the intersection of Hwy 25 E and Broken Valley Road, close to where the highway crosses **Forked Deer Creek**. 3. The spring flows from a pipe on the roadside. Look for parked vehicles — it's common to see other visitors filling containers. 4. **GPS coordinates:** 36.367766, -83.436893 — use these for precise navigation, as the spring can be easy to pass at highway speed. > **Safety note:** TN Highway 25 East is a busy road with fast-moving traffic. Pull well off the highway when stopping, stay alert, and use caution when entering and exiting your vehicle. ## What to Expect Spout Spring delivers water through a constructed pipe at the roadside, making it easy to fill bottles, jugs, and other containers directly from the flow. The pipe system was built by local residents after the original spring was impacted by highway construction, and it channels the water from its natural source across Forked Deer Creek to its current accessible location. This is a well-known and frequently visited spot — don't be surprised if other visitors are already there when you arrive. During peak times, you may need to wait your turn. The atmosphere is friendly and communal; many of the regulars have been coming here for years. The surrounding landscape features the rolling hills and wooded valleys typical of Grainger County in upper East Tennessee. Forked Deer Creek runs nearby, adding to the scenic character of the stop. The spring flows year-round, though flow rates may vary seasonally. Because the spring is located directly alongside a busy highway, this is primarily a quick stop rather than a place to linger. There are no formal facilities, parking areas, or signage — just the pipe and the pull-off. Visitors should be mindful of traffic and park safely off the road.