Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area - Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)

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Come Explore the Cumberland Plateau

Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.

Camping

Camp at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The park offers two developed campgrounds:
Bandy Creek Campground in Tennessee
and Blue Heron Campground in Kentucky.
Reservations are available April through October.
In addition, group camping, primitive sites,
horse camps, and backcountry camping are available.

Blue Heron Mining Community

A coal-mining town called Blue Heron was in operation from the 1930s through the early 1960s. The abandoned site is now an outdoor museum where the story of life in a company-mining town is told through the words of its former residents.

Special Events

A Spring Planting Festival uses local volunteers to demonstrate turn-of-the-century farm activities and planting with horse and mule drawn equipment. In September, the Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival honors the traditional art of storytelling and mountain crafts. Cultural Heritage Month is held each Saturday during the month of October and features the rich cultural heritage of Appalachian people in their arts, skills and music.

		Special Firewood Notice Certain states have non-native insects that can cause damage to our native trees. Firewood may NOT be brought in from outside the park. We request that firewood not be brought in from outside the park because damaging insects pests can be transported. Be prepared to buy or collect your wood once you arrive at the campground. To download an informational on the emerald ash borer [285 kb PDF]

Follow us on Twitter for up-to-date information @BigSouthForkNRR. No account is needed to view postings. We can also be found on Facebook as BigSouthForkNRRA.

Write to

Big South Fork NRRA
4564 Leatherwood Road
Oneida, Tennessee 37841

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information
(423) 286-7275

Resource Protection Hotline
(423) 569-2404 ext. 505

Fax

(423) 569-5505

Climate

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is located in a humid climatic region, typified by mild winters and moist warm to hot summers. Storm systems typically bring heavy rains from December through March which may cause flooding. Summer thunderstorms are common. Winter snowfall occurs intermittently in the area and averages 17 inches per year. Wear comfortable clothing for the season and bring clothing for the possible extremes.
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