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Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) is proud to announce its inclusion in the Cumberland Plateau Nature Viewing Trail. While over seventy-five sites in the region were nominated for inclusion in this project only 48 were selected. Sites were judged based upon 23 characteristics including aesthetics, site significance, safety, and presence of cultural and historic assets.

Inclusion in the Cumberland Plateau Nature Viewing Trail will promote visitation to this region, and increase awareness of the unique resources available at Big South Fork NRRA. Superintendent Reed E. Detring, says “Working together to market the whole region of the Cumberland Plateau just makes good sense. It will be good for our site and good for Scott, Fentress, Pickett and Morgan counties.”

The Alliance for the Cumberlands, a non-profit coalition of over 50 member groups dedicated to the ecological and economic sustainability of the Cumberland Plateau region, began the effort to create a self-guided tour of the best nature viewing sites almost a year ago. With funding from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation RTP Education Fund, the Alliance was able to hire Fermata, a nature tourism consulting group, and begin the process of designing the trail. Executive Director, Katherine Medlock sums up the announcement by saying “We are excited that the project is moving along because we feel that it will be beneficial for the whole region, creating a model for eco and heritage tourism.”

The unveiling of the included sites will be made during the Third Annual Conference of the Alliance for the Cumberlands. The Conference will feature numerous speakers and presentations including a joint keynote address from TDEC Commissioner Jim Fyke and Tennessee’s Department of Economic and Community Development Community Development Administrator, Dan Hawk. The focus of the conference is on the beneficial relationship between natural resource conservation and economic development. Please contact Katherine Medlock at 865-546-5998 or kmedlock@tnc.org for more information.