List of Tennessee state parks and natural areas

This is a list of state parks and natural areas in the U.S. state of Tennessee.

Tennessee State Parks (green), Natural Areas (orange), and former areas (black)
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State parks

Tennessee has 57 designated state parks, operated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). The largest park, Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail, is made up of land along the Cumberland Trail, stretching from Cumberland Gap at the Virginia state line to Prentice Cooper State Forest in Marion County, just northwest of Chattanooga.[1] The smallest state park is Bicentennial Capitol Mall, at just 19 acres (7.7 ha).[2]

Park Name[3] County/Counties Size Year
Established
acres ha
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park Davidson 197.7 1996
Big Cypress Tree State Park Weakley 330130 1973
Big Hill Pond State Park McNairy 4,1381,675 1977
Big Ridge State Park Union 3,6871,492 1934
Bledsoe Creek State Park Sumner 16466 1973
Booker T. Washington State Park Hamilton 353143 1937
Burgess Falls State Park Putnam 350140 1971
Cedars of Lebanon State Park Wilson 9,4203,810 1937
Chickasaw State Park Chester 1,435581 1937
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park Pickett 5823 1997
Cove Lake State Park Campbell 673272 1937
Cumberland Mountain State Park Cumberland 1,720700 1938
Cummins Falls State Park Jackson 21185 2011
David Crockett State Park Lawrence 1,100450 1959
David Crockett Birthplace State Park Greene 10542 1973
Dunbar Cave State Park Montgomery 11045 1973
Edgar Evins State Park DeKalb 6,3002,500 1975
Fall Creek Falls State Park Van Buren, Bledsoe 26,00011,000 1935
Fort Loudoun State Historic Park Monroe 1,200490 1977
Fort Pillow State Park Lauderdale 1,642664 1971
Frozen Head State Park Morgan 24,0009,700 1970
Harpeth River State Park Cheatham, Davidson 520210 1978
Harrison Bay State Park Hamilton 1,200490 1937
Henry Horton State Park Marshall 1,523616 1960s
Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park Polk —— 1972
Indian Mountain State Park Campbell 21386 1971
Johnsonville State Historic Park Humphreys 2,000810 1971
Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park Anderson, Bledsoe, Campbell, Claiborne,
Cumberland, Hamilton, Marion, Morgan,
Rhea, Scott, Sequatchie		 31,50012,700 1998
Long Hunter State Park Davidson 2,6001,100 1978
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park Shelby 12,5395,074 1944
Montgomery Bell State Park Dickson 3,7821,531 1943
Mousetail Landing State Park Perry 1,247505 1986
Natchez Trace State Park Henderson 10,1544,109 1955
Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park Benton 2,5871,047 1929
Norris Dam State Park Anderson, Campbell 4,0381,634 1953
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park Coffee 776314 1973
Panther Creek State Park Hamblen 1,444584 1967
Paris Landing State Park Henry 841340 1945
Pickett CCC Memorial State Park Pickett 19,2007,800 1942
Pickwick Landing State Park Hardin 681276 1969
Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Park Madison 1,200490 1966
Port Royal State Park Montgomery, Robertson 2611 1978
Radnor Lake State Park & Natural Area Davidson 1,368554 1973
Red Clay State Park Bradley 263106 1979
Reelfoot Lake State Park Lake, Obion 280110 1925
Roan Mountain State Park Carter 2,006812 1959
Rock Island State Park Warren, White 883357 1969
Rocky Fork State Park Unicoi 2,036824 2012
Savage Gulf State Park Grundy, Sequatchie 425172 2023
Seven Islands State Birding Park Knox 425172 2013
Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park Fentress 295119 1967
South Cumberland State Park Franklin, Marion, Grundy 30,89912,504 1978
Standing Stone State Park Overton 855346 1939
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area Carter 7028 1975
Tims Ford State Park Franklin 2,200890 1978
T. O. Fuller State Park Shelby 1,138461 1938
Warriors' Path State Park Sullivan 950380 1952

State natural areas

Tennessee has 85 state natural areas that are divided into two classes:[4]

  • Class I – Scenic-Recreational
  • Class II – Natural-Scientific

Nine areas have restricted access and are not open to the public; a tenth, Hubbard's Cave, has limited access during the summer.

Park Name[4] Class County/Counties Size Property Owner Access Status
(Public/Private)		 Year
Established
acres ha
Auntney Hollow State Natural Area II Lewis 2611 Private Private – No access 2002
Barnett's Woods State Natural Area II Montgomery 4016 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1995
Bays Mountain State Natural Area I Sullivan 3,6501,480 City of Kingsport Public – Full access 1973
Beaman Park State Natural Area II Davidson 1,678679 Nashville Parks & Recreation Public – Full access 2013
Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area I Weakley 270110 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Bone Cave State Natural Area II Van Buren 400160 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1974
Burgess Falls State Natural Area I Putnam 21788 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Campbell Bend Barrens State Natural Area II Roane 3514 Private Public – Limited access 2006
Carroll Cabin Barrens State Natural Area II Decatur 250100 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2002
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter State Natural Area II Franklin 931377 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1975
Cedars of Lebanon State Forest Natural Area II Wilson 2,6901,090 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1974
Chimneys State Natural Area I Marion 3313 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1999
Coldiz Cove State Natural Area II Fentress 16567 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1984
Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area II Davidson, Wilson 14057 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1995
Crowder Cemetery Barrens State Natural Area II Roane 156.1 Private Public – Limited access 2006
Devil's Backbone State Natural Area I Lewis 950380 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1997
Dog Cove State Natural Area & Beecher Wallace Homestead[5] — White 757306 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2019
Dry Branch State Natural Area II Lewis (primary),
Hickman, Perry		 2,169878 State of Tennessee Private – No access 2007
Duck River Complex State Natural Area II Maury 2,6121,057 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2002
Dunbar Cave State Natural Area I Montgomery 14458 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1973
Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade State Natural Area II Rutherford 18575 USACE Public – Limited access 1998
Fall Creek Falls State Natural Area II Bledsoe, Van Buren 16,1816,548 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1974
Falling Water Falls State Natural Area I Hamilton 13655 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Fate Sanders Barrens State Natural Area II Rutherford 23093 USACE Public – Limited access 1999
Flat Rock Cedar Glades & Barrens State Natural Area II Rutherford 846342 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1999
Frozen Head State Natural Area I, II Morgan 15,1506,130 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1974
Gattinger's Cedar Glade & Barrens State Natural Area II Rutherford, Wilson 5723 Private Private – No access 2003
Ghost River State Natural Area I Fayette 2,306933 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1997
Grundy Forest State Natural Area I Grundy 23495 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1974
Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area I Carter 693280 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1986
Hawkins Cove State Natural Area II Franklin 249101 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1985
Hicks Gap State Natural Area II Marion 350140 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1989
Hill Forest State Natural Area II Davidson 22591 Friends of Warner Parks
Nashville Parks & Recreation		 Public – Limited access 2010
Honey Creek State Natural Area II Pickett 10944 National Park Service
(Big South Fork)		 Public – Full access 1973
House Mountain State Natural Area I Knox 527213 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1987
Hubbard's Cave State Natural Area II Warren 5020 The Nature Conservancy Public – Limited access
during summer		 1995
John & Hester Lane Cedar Glades State Natural Area II Wilson 4518 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 2009
John Noel at Bon Aqua State Natural Area I Hickman 3514 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2007
Langford Branch State Natural Area II Lewis 239.3 Swan Conservation Trust Private – No access 2001
Laurel–Snow State Natural Area II Rhea 2,259914 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Lost Creek State Natural Area — White 20081 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2012
Lucius Burch Jr. Forest State Natural Area I Shelby 728295 Shelby County Public – Full access 1988
Manus Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area II Rutherford 228.9 State of Tennessee Private – No access 2004
May Prairie State Natural Area II Coffee 492199 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1973
Meeman-Shelby State Natural Area II Shelby 11,0004,500 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2002
Montgomery Bell State Natural Area II Dickson 1,086439 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1998
Morrison Meadow State Natural Area II Warren 208.1 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 2008
Mount View Glade State Natural Area II Davidson 93.6 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1995
Natural Bridge State Natural Area I Franklin 31.2 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area II Hamilton, Sequacthie 7,0932,870 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1999
Overbridge State Natural Area II Rutherford 7028 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1995
Old Forest State Natural Area II Shelby 12551 City of Memphis Public – Full access 2011
Ozone Falls State Natural Area I Cumberland 4317 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Piney Falls State Natural Area II Rhea 818331 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area II Fentress 3,0001,200 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2006
Powell River Preserve State Natural Area II Claiborne 156.1 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1995
Radnor Lake State Park & Natural Area II Davidson 1,368554 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Reelfoot Lake State Natural Area I Lake, Obion 18,0007,300 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Riverwoods State Natural Area II Shelby 218.5 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1978
Roundtop Mountain State Natural Area II Sevier 23796 National Park Service
(Great Smoky Mountains)		 Public – Full access 1974
Rugby State Natural Area I Morgan 762308 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2006
Savage Gulf State Natural Area II Grundy, Sequatchie 15,5906,310 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1974
Sequatchie Cave State Natural Area II Marion 13354 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2001
Sherwood Forest State Natural Area — Franklin 3,0751,244 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2020
Short Springs State Natural Area I Coffee 420170 State of Tennessee,
TVA, City of Tullahoma		 Public – Full access 1994
Stillhouse Hollow Falls State Natural Area I Maury 9036 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2006
Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area II Rhea 783317 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Stones River Cedar Glade and Barrens State Natural Area II Rutherford 18575 National Park Service Public – Full access 2003
Sunk Lake State Natural Area II Lauderdale 1,873758 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1986
Sunnybell Cedar Glade State Natural Area II Rutherford 3615 State of Tennessee Private – No access 1995
Taylor Hollow State Natural Area II Sumner 17370 The Nature Conservancy Private – Access by
permission only		 1995
Twin Arches State Natural Area II Fentress, Pickett, Scott 1,500610 National Park Service
(Big South Fork)		 Public – Full access 1974
Vesta Cedar Glade State Natural Area II Wilson 15061 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1986
Vine Cedar Glade State Natural Area II Wilson 3514 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 2000
Virgin Falls State Natural Area II White 1,157468 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1973
Walker Branch State Natural Area II Hardin 520210 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1997
Walls of Jericho State Natural Area II Franklin 750300 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2006
Walnut Knob State Natural Area — Smith 187.3 State of Tennessee Private – No access 2020
Walterhill Floodplain State Natural Area II Rutherford 3414 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1985
Washmorgan Hollow State Natural Area II Jackson 7330 The Nature Conservancy Public – Limited access 1995
Watauga River Bluffs State Natural Area II Carter 5020 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 1998
William B. Clark Conservation Area II Fayette 460190 The Nature Conservancy Public – Full access 2000
William L. Davenport Refuge State Natural Area II Polk 12049 State of Tennessee Public – Limited access 1997
Wilson School Road Forest and Cedar Glades State Natural Area II Marshall 5823 State of Tennessee Private – No access 2008
Window Cliffs State Natural Area II Putnam 275111 State of Tennessee Public – Full access 2014

State scenic rivers

Tennessee state scenic rivers are divided into three classes:[6]

  • Class I – Natural River Area – Free flowing, unpolluted, and with primitive shorelines and scenic vistas generally inaccessible except by trail.
  • Class II – Pastoral River Area – Free flowing, unpolluted, and with shorelines and scenic vistas partially or predominantly used for agricultural and other recreational activities.
  • Class III – Developed/Partially Developed River Area – Free flowing, unpolluted, and with shorelines and vistas more developed.
River[6] Class County/Counties Location Length Year
Designated
miles km
Blackburn Fork Scenic River I Jackson Cummins Mill Road downstream for 1.5 miles (2.4 km), the entire distance within Cummins Falls State Park 1.52.4 1968
II 1.5 miles (2.4 km) downstream of Cummins Mill Road to the confluence of the Roaring River 12.520.1
Buffalo Scenic River II Lawrence Entire section within Lawrence County, from the head of the river to the Lewis County line 15.524.9 1968
Clinch Scenic River III Anderson, Knox, Roane Melton Hill Dam upstream to the Highway 62 bridge in Solway 18.529.8 1996
Collins Scenic River II Grundy Section within Savage Gulf State Natural Area 58.0 1968
Conasauga Scenic River I Polk Segment in the Cherokee National Forest from the Georgia state line downstream to the
U.S. 411 bridge in Conasauga		 914 1969
Duck Scenic River II Maury Iron Bridge Road near Columbia upstream to Maury–Marshall county line 37.360.0 2001
French Broad Scenic River III Cocke North Carolina state line downstream to J.W. Walters Bridge in Douglas Lake 3353 1968
Harpeth Scenic River II Davidson, Rutherford Entire section in Rutherford County, from the head of the river to the Williamson County line 6.7510.86 1968
III Section in Davidson County, from the Williamson County line at Highway 100 bridge to the Interstate 40 bridge 8.513.7
II Section in Davidson County, from the Interstate 40 bridge to the Cheatham County line 69.7
Hatchie Scenic River I Hardeman, Haywood, Lauderdale,
Madison, McNairy, Tipton		 Entire length in Tennessee from Mississippi state line to Mississippi River confluence 163262 1970
Hiwassee Scenic River III Polk Segment in the Cherokee National Forest from the North Carolina state line downstream to the
U.S. 411 bridge in Delano		 2337 1968
Obed Wild & Scenic River I Cumberland, Morgan Western edge of the Catoosa WMA to the confluence with the Emory River (24.3 mi (39.1 km)), as well as:
  • Clear Creek from the Cumberland–Morgan line to the confluence with the Obed River (18.5 mi (29.8 km))
  • Daddys Creek from the Cumberland–Morgan line to the confluence with the Obed River (2.3 mi (3.7 km))
  • Emory River from the confluence with the Obed River to the Nemo Bridge (0.9 mi (1.4 km))
 4674 1976
Roaring River Scenic River I Jackson, Overton Highway 136 bridge to a point 2 miles (3.2 km) downstream 23.2 1968
II A point 2 miles (3.2 km) downstream of the Highway 136 bridge to the confluence with the
Cumberland River at Cordell Hull Lake		 1931
Soak Creek Scenic River III Bledsoe, Rhea Confluence with Georgia Branch in Bledsoe County downstream to its confluence with the
Piney River in Spring City		 6.7510.86 2016
Spring Creek Scenic River I Jackson, Overton Waterloo Mill downstream to the Jackson–Overton county line 4.47.1 1968
II Jackson–Overton county line to the confluence with the Roaring River 4.67.4
Tuckahoe Creek Scenic River III Knox Entire length in Knox County, from Jefferson County line to confluence with French Broad River 16.125.9 1968

Former state parks and natural areas

State parks

State natural areas
  • Morril's Cave (Worley's Cave) State Natural Area, Sullivan County
  • Short Mountain-Jim Cummings State Natural Area, Cannon County, 500 acres (200 ha)
  • Sneed Road Cedar Glade State Natural Area, Williamson County, 1 acre (0.40 ha)

See also

References
  1. "Cumberland Trail State Park".
  2. "Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park".
  3. "Find a Park".
  4. "List of Natural Areas".
  5. "Beecher Wallace Homestead Added to State Park System". www.tn.gov. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019.
  6. "Tennessee Scenic Rivers". www.tn.gov. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018.
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