Alt Text Map of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee. The park area is shown as a green, rippling shape connected to a state park, which is smaller and shown in darker green. A national forest, shown in beige, stretches across the northern border of the park. Extended Description The surrounding gray land is latticed with blue veinlike creeks and rivers and red roads. The Kentucky-Tennessee state line cuts across almost at the halfway point. A black line representing the boundary between the eastern and central time zones travels east from the left edge of the map. About a third of the way across, it angles southeast and then curls back to the southwest before disappearing off the map near the lower left corner. Pickett State Rustic Park and Forest sits below the state line, hemmed in on its eastern border by the time zone marker. Daniel Boone National Forest sits above the state line, with its curved eastern border lying west of the Big South Fork Cumberland River. The Kentucky portion of Big South Fork is mostly narrow, and its Tennessee portion is wider and narrow along the bottom as it straddles the time zone marker. A small middle section in the lower portion is cut out for the Scott State Forest. Dozens of creeks and roads are labeled, along with sections of private property. This description will start with the main roads in the park area, then will work north to south noting the various park features and sites. Surrounding sites will follow, and the description will end with a transcription of the legend. Main Roads and Rivers US Highway 27 runs from top to bottom, east of the park boundary, through Whitley City, Kentucky, and Winfield and Oneida, Tennessee. Many roads branching from Highway 27 reach to and through the park, including State Route 700 to the Cumberland River, State Route 92 through Boone National Forest, State Route 1470 above the state border, State Route 297 from Oneida to Sharp Place outside the western boundary, and State Route 52 from Elgin through Jamestown on the west. The Big South Fork Cumberland River connects to Lake Cumberland at the top of the map and then winds down through the narrow stretch of the park. After the park area flares west as does the river as it approaches the state line. The river continues south through the park’s lower portion and trails off the bottom of the map labeled as the New River. Numerous offshoots, creeks, rapids, and falls are labeled along the way. Kentucky Park Areas Near the top is Yahoo Falls Overlook, with a canoe launch slightly north and a picnic area nearby. At State Route 700 is Alum Ford Boat Launch, which also has a campground. Seven miles downriver is Yamacraw Bridge, which has a boat launch near State Route 92. Next is Worley’s boat launch, followed by Blue Heron Mining Community Outdoor Museum, which has a picnic area and boat launch. Here is also Devil’s Jump Overlook, then Gorge Overlook, and Blue Heron with a campground just below the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Devil’s Jump has hazardous rapids. Continuing south is Bear Creek Horse Camp, which has an equestrian trailhead that winds down and continues east out of the park. Slightly west of the river is Ledbetter hiking trailhead, which heads toward the park’s western boundary. Where the river bends west is Split Bow Arch and Bear Creek Overlook. Just above the state border and east of the river is the Slaven Branch equestrian trailhead, which continues south out of the park. Text near the riverbend reads, “Big South Fork Cumberland River from the Tennessee-Kentucky line to Blue Heron is a Kentucky Wild River.” Tennessee Park Areas The John Muir Trail crosses the western corner of the park’s Tennessee portion at the time zone marker. The trail winds east toward the river and continues south. The Rock Creek Loop hiking trailhead is also in this area, and it connects to the Divide Road and the Gobblers Knob hiking and equestrian trailhead. The multi-use trail continues east, stopping at Terry Cemetery near the river. West and over the time zone marker are the Middle Creek and Sawmill hiking trailheads and the Middle Creek Equestrian trailhead, which join up as the multi-use Fork Ridge Trail. On the east side of the time zone marker is Twin Arches, which has a picnic area and hiking trailhead. Continuing east is Charit Creek Lodge and hiking/equestrian trailheads; Station Camp, on the river’s east bank, which has a canoe launch and picnic area; and Station Camp Campground which also has an equestrian trailhead. Back over to the central time zone is the West Entrance hiking trailhead near Leatherwood Ford Road, also labeled State Route 297. This road runs through the state forest, near the Bandy Creek Visitor Center, Oscar Blevin Trail, Horse stable, Group Camp, and Bandy Creek campground. East of the state forest along the river’s intersection with Leatherwood Ford Road is Leatherwood Ford and Angel Falls Trail, which has a canoe launch, hiking trailhead, and picnic area. Park headquarters are slightly south near the road, as is the East Rim Overlook, followed by Honey Creek Overlook just south. Over on the western park boundary is Mill Creek equestrian trail and Zenith canoe launch and picnic area. Pine Creek canoe launch sits between East Rim and Honey Creek, followed by canoe launches at Confluence and Burnt Mill Bridge, which also has a picnic area and hiking trailhead. The John Muir Trail ends around Burnt Mill. The New River boat launch sits right outside the park boundary near US Highway 27. The bottom tail of the park straddles the time zone boundary with the Gentleman’s Swimming Hole trailhead and White Oak Creek boat launch near the town of Rugby, which is outside the park. Below State Route 52 is Brewster Bridge canoe launch and picnic area and, six miles southwest, Peters Bridge canoe launch and picnic area. Surrounding Areas In the map’s top left corner is the town of Monticello, which has a hospital near State Routes 90 and 92. In the bottom left corner is Jamestown, which has a hospital off of US Highway 127 (business) and State Route 52. To the east, Oneida also has a hospital near Third Ave and US Highway 27. The top of Daniel Boone National Forest is bordered by the Little South Fork Cumberland River. Text here reads “Little South Fork from Ky. 92 to Freedom Chapel is a Kentucky Wild River.” Rock Creek from the state line north to White Oak Junction is also a Kentucky Wild River. Farther west along Rock Creek is a picnic area in Hemlock Grove and a campground in Great Meadow. In Pickett State Rustic Park and Forest, near State Route 154 (which runs from Sharp Place north to Mount Pisgah, outside of Daniel Boone, as State Route 167), is the park office, picnic area, and campground near Pickett Lake. Legend In the bottom left corner of the map, the legend begins with text that reads, “Some land within the park remains private property; please respect the owners’ rights. The Eastern/Central time zone boundary divides the park. The park operates on Eastern time.” Text continues in red lettering, “Any river activity—wading, swimming, boating, rock hopping, or fishing—is inherently dangerous; on average two drownings occur here each year. Wet and slippery rocks, strong currents, and undertows are the culprits. Use caution near the river and wear a life jacket when swimming or boating.” The legend reads as follows: Dark green line separating beige from pale green for Authorized park boundary, Dark blue line over light blue line for Rapids, Thin blue triangle next to a number for River mileage, White line encased in black for Unpaved road, Black dashed line for Trail, and Black dashed line encased in yellow for Multi-use trail: hiking, biking, horses, and motorized vehicles. The legend also has symbols for Canoe launch, Self-guiding trail, Hiking trailhead, Equestrian trailhead, Campground, Picnic area, and Hospital. A scale in the bottom left corner of the map shows distances of 1, 2, and 3 kilometers and 1, 2, and 3 miles.