News Release

Big South Fork NRRA Closes Leatherwood Ford Day Use Area until Further Notice

News Release Date: March 27, 2020

Contact: Christopher Derman, 423-569-9778

In response to guidance from the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Park Service (NPS) announced additional modifications to operations at Big South Fork NRRA in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Leatherwood Ford Day Use Area, to include the parking area, and restroom facility will be closed effective immediately, until further notice. The trails of Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area remain open. Park employees remain at work, and will be patrolling the park, assisting visitors, and enforcing all regulations. 

The health and safety of visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Big South Fork and Obed is the park’s number one priority. The NPS is working with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor COVID-19 and will notify the public via updates on the park website and social media channels when full operations resume.

If contemplating a visit to a national park during this pandemic, the NPS asks visitors to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. As services are limited, the NPS urges visitors to continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, including pack-in and pack-out, to keep outdoor spaces safer and healthier.

Updates about NPS operations will be posted on http://www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Please check with individual parks for specific details about park operations.