South Cumberland State Park

South Cumberland State Park is a state park in the middle and southeast portions of Tennessee on the Cumberland Plateau.

South Cumberland State Park
South Cumberland State Park points of interest. Clockwise: Greeter Falls, the trail down Stone Door, Laurel Gulf Overlook, Stone Door Scenic Overlook.
TypeTennessee State Park
LocationFranklin, Grundy, Marion and Sequatchie counties
Coordinates35.259°N 85.789°W / 35.259; -85.789
Area25,539 acres (103.35 km2)
WebsiteSouth Cumberland State Park

The park is one of Tennessee's newer state parks, established in 1978. It is a collection of nine discrete tracts scattered across Franklin, Marion, Grundy and Sequatchie counties, totaling approximately 30,899 acres (as of 2020).[1] Twelve trailheads provide hiking access to most sections of the park,[2] which protects a series of unique ecosystems on the escarpments and in the ravines of the Southern Cumberland Plateau. There are over a dozen large waterfalls in the park,[3] the tallest of which is Foster Falls, in Marion County. The Grundy Lakes unit includes industrial archaeological remains of the coal mines and coke production facilities of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, as well as a stockade prison it operated that provided convict labor for those facilities.[4]

Areas
Savage Gulf State Natural Area, August 2012

Distinct areas contained within the park include:

  • Savage Gulf State Natural Area (until 2023 when it was separated into a new state park)
  • Fiery Gizzard Trail
  • Grundy Forest State Natural Area
  • Grundy Lakes
  • Denny Cove
  • Carter State Natural Area (Lost Cove ["Buggytop"] Cave)
  • Foster Falls
  • Sewanee Natural Bridge State Natural Area
  • Hawkins Cove State Natural Area
  • Sherwood Forest

Savage Gulf State Natural Area has been named as a National Natural Landmark.[5] Crossing in and out of the park's various sections, the Fiery Gizzard Trail is renowned for its beauty and diversity.[6]

Camping

Camping may be done at the park's Foster Falls Campground, which includes 26 tent/pop-up camper sites and 93 backcountry campsites throughout the park.

See also

References
  1. "TN Property Viewer". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
  2. "Trailhead and Trail Info - Friends of South Cumberland State Park".
  3. "Waterfalls - Friends of South Cumberland State Park".
  4. "Ghosts of Lone Rock". Sewanee: The University of the South. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  5. "National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved March 28, 2019. Year designated: 1971
  6. "Fiery Gizzard Trail: Difficult but interesting overnight trail along Fiery Creek Gorge". Secret Falls. Retrieved May 6, 2012.


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