Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

About

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.

Events

• Critter Corner at Rugby
• Ranger-led Program at Blue Heron Visitor Center
• Ranger-led Campground Program at Bandy Creek Campfire Circle
• Ranger-led Porch Talks: Bandy Creek
• Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival
• Ranger-led program: Roots of Blue Heron
• Junior Ranger Fishing Program at Alum Ford in Kentucky
• Ranger-led Talk: What Goes Bump in the Night in the Big South Fork?

Before you go

Limits

Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go

Park alert: Black Bears at Big South Fork

Black bears call Big South Fork NRRA home. Help keep them healthy and safe by storing all food, cooking items, feed, cosmetics and coolers properly stored when at campgrounds or in the backcountry.

Park alert: The Use of Drones is Prohibited at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

Currently, the use of drones is prohibited at Big South Fork and all National Parks. Detailed information about the policy is available...

Park alert: Big South Fork Announces Temporary Closure of Blue Heron Tipple Bridge

Big South Fork NRRA has announced the temporary closure of the historic Blue Heron Tipple Bridge, effective immediately in the interest of visitor safety. A recent bridge safety inspection conducted by the Federal Highway Administration identified structural issues specific to the pier’s bridge decking which is now leaning beyond acceptable standards.

Park alert: Firewood ban is in effect for the park.

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.

Getting there

Please use the following link to learn more about how to get here from various locations.

Weather & when to go

The weather along the Cumberland Plateau can be best described as unpredictable. Each season brings its own weather patterns. Summers are generally hot and humid, with high temperatures sometimes eclipsing 90 degrees. The low temperatures in winter often dip below freezing. Spring sees the most amount of precipitation, but rainfall can occur in various amounts throughout the year.

Visitor center

Bandy Creek Visitor Center — Hours of Operation Open daily, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (ET) — Adjacent to Bandy Creek Campground; approximately 15 miles west of Oneida and 24 miles east of Jamestown, off Highway 297.

Visitor center

Blue Heron Interpretive Center — The visitor center is open May 30 through October 31. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Hours of Operation: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:30 AM-4:30 PM ET Saturday and Sunday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM ET Outdoor structures are open year-round — Location: Located via Highways 1651 and 742.

Visitor center

Crossville Visitor Center — Hours of Operation. — Location: Crossville, just off Exit 320, on I-40, across from Stone Memorial High School.

Visitor center

Helenwood Visitor Center — This visitor center is open 7 days a week Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Facilities on the park map

4 visitor information.