• Angel Falls Rapid on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River

    Big South Fork

    National River & Recreation Area KY,TN

  • Whitewater

    Big South Fork of the Cumberland River is free-flowing with no dam controls. Check the river gauge readings before your river trip. Heavy rains can cause flooding and make river use dangerous. Always use a personal flotation device when on the river. More »

  • Steep Road Grade

    There is a 13% grade for an approximate 5 mile stretch on Highway 297 between Bandy Creek Road on the west of the river and Headquarters on the east side. This is called the gorge. Use caution when traveling with recreational campers or horse trailers. More »

  • Firewood Quarantine

    Firewood Ban is in effect for the park. Only firewood from the surrounding counties of Scott, Morgan, Pickett, and Fentress in Tennessee and McCreary in Kentucky can be brought into the park. Firewood is for sale or you may use dead and down wood. More »

  • Black Bears

    Black bears are found within this area. Store all food, cooking items, feed, cosmetics and coolers properly when in the campgrounds or when using the backcountry. More »

Body of Missing Canoeist Tim Godfrey Recovered

Subscribe RSS Icon | What is RSS
Date: April 29, 2011
Contact: Howard Duncan, 423-569-9778

On Wednesday, April 13, Mr. Godfrey, along with Joshua Breeding and Chad Harbough, was fishing the Big South Fork River when their canoe capsized in some rapids. Breeding and Harbough were able to make it to shore, but Mr. Godfrey was pulled under and believed drowned. This began an intensive search for Mr. Godfrey by personnel from the National Park Service, U. S. Forest Service, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and many local volunteers. Working every day with a wide variety of rescue squad members, agency employees, volunteers and friends and family, the search continued. Resources were brought in from as far away as Knoxville, Tennessee, and Bell County, Kentucky. Searches were conducted utilizing ground search teams, dog teams, boats, sonar, underwater cameras and divers. The river was searched extensively between the point of the accident and the Turkey Creek boat ramp. At times heavy flood waters hampered the search, but did not deter the efforts of the many people looking for Mr. Godfrey. 

The National Park Service would like to thank and commend the many rescue squad members and volunteers who helped with this search. Rescue squads from McCreary, Wayne, Pulaski, and Bell Counties in Kentucky and Knox and Scott Counties in Tennessee all contributed to the search effort, along with personnel from the Whitley City and Pine Knot volunteer fire departments. Canine search teams from as far away as Eubank, Kentucky, and Sevierville, Tennessee, assisted in search efforts. The dive team from the Knox County, Tennessee, sheriff’s office worked under difficult conditions to help in the search efforts. Local business owner Gary Waters also volunteered his time and his boat in the search. The park worked closely with McCreary County emergency management coordinator Rudy Young and Region 10 manager of the Kentucky Emergency Management Agency, Don Franklin, to bring in all of the resources. The employees of the Big South Fork NRRA and all involved in the search and recovery wish to extend their sympathies to the family of Mr. Godfrey in their time of loss.

Did You Know?

Black bear now live in and around Big South Fork.

In the mid-1990's black bear were released in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area to study relocation techniques and to determine whether adequate habitat existed in the area.  There are now an estimated 40 - 50 bear living in and around the park. More...