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HELP THE PARK YOU LOVE!
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— Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities --
Please Give Back to the Park You Love!
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HELP OUT IN THE PARK ON NATIONAL TRAILS DAY, SATURDAY, JUNE 6th
We’ve temporarily experienced life with limited access to trails and natural space. Now more than ever, we realize how much we need them. Celebrate National Trails Day with us on June 6 in these ways: 1. Take the #NationalTrailsDay Pledge The pledge is a simple way to take action to preserve trails and fight for equitable access to quality green space, even while social-distancing. 2. Join us on social media: Visit the Friends Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram pages to show and tell us why trails and natural space are important to you. 3. Join us on Saturday, June 6th, for socially-distanced activities in South Cumberland State Park: Check the SCSP Activities Page to see all that our Rangers have planned in celebration of National Trails Day! We hope you will join us in calling attention to what National Trails Day is all about: trails, stewardship, and programs to create and maintain beautiful trails in South Cumberland State Park, and elsewhere. We know your interest in trails and the outdoors is elevated right now. We are taking this time to showcase recreation opportunities, education, and other programs available in South Cumberland State Park, both in the near-term, and when Covid restrictions are lifted. Thanks again for joining with us. We’re so grateful for your partnership and support! |
Check out this video overview about all the great trails in
South Cumberland State Park: Watch this video to see what our Trail Team has been up to:
Email FSC Trails Team Chair Bruce Blohm to find out how you can help!
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PARK REOPENED on a limited basis
The South Cumberland State Park reopened on Friday, April 24 for day use only -- 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. All trails are open, but the Fiery Gizzard Trail is open on a "travel at your own risk" basis. Please see the short 2 minute video below.
When considering a visit, Tennessee State Parks encourages the following:
Overcrowding may cause entire parks or portions of parks to close again.
Facilities and gathering areas, including pavilions and playgrounds, will remain closed. Cabins, lodges, restaurants, campgrounds, and group camps remain closed. For up-to-date information on park closure please visit www.tnstateparks.com.
The South Cumberland State Park reopened on Friday, April 24 for day use only -- 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. All trails are open, but the Fiery Gizzard Trail is open on a "travel at your own risk" basis. Please see the short 2 minute video below.
When considering a visit, Tennessee State Parks encourages the following:
- Maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other visitors.
- Visit parks that are only a short distance from your home.
- Consider visiting earlier in the day so you can adjust plans if a park is full. Tennessee State Parks may limit access to certain parks or areas if capacity is reached.
- Plan ahead. Many Tennessee State Parks buildings will be closed. Plan to bring your own snacks, water and hand sanitizer.
- Prepare for limited or no bathroom access. Some restrooms remain open, but many will not.
- Please consider bringing a mask and wearing it when around other people.
- Carry your trash with you or dispose of it in the appropriate containers to help keep our cleaning staff safe and our parks litter-free.
Overcrowding may cause entire parks or portions of parks to close again.
Facilities and gathering areas, including pavilions and playgrounds, will remain closed. Cabins, lodges, restaurants, campgrounds, and group camps remain closed. For up-to-date information on park closure please visit www.tnstateparks.com.
Fiery Gizzard Trail Reopened for hikers to “travel at own risk”
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Due to the March 24th collapse of the footbridge over Little Gizzard Creek, the Fiery Gizzard Trail is open,
but requires a creek crossing at Little Gizzard Creek. With recent rains, creeks are high and extremely dangerous. Attempting to ford creeks on foot is strongly discouraged. Only ford creeks at times of low water. Watch this video to learn more »» |
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Mack S. Prichard: 1939-2020
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The environmental conscience of Tennessee has passed. Mack S. Prichard, Jr., died peacefully on April 29, 2020 in Cookeville, Tennessee.
He will be sorely missed by all who care about "all things nature", the great outdoors, Native American culture, and his tireless efforts to protect all these things, while building amazing coalitions to save, understand, interpret and protect these special places. Our thoughts are with his family, as we mourn the loss of a true Tennessee trailblazer and good friend of South Cumberland State Park. |
Open Space Institute’s Earth Day presentation
features South Cumberland and SCSP
The Open Space Institute, one of our outstanding conservation partners,
chose to feature SCSP and the South Cumberland region as part of its Earth Day celebration.
Take a few minutes to scroll through the interactive presentation:
https://osiny.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html
The Friends of South Cumberland were happy to supply some of the photos and video for the presentation.
Thanks to OSI for recognizing the Friends and our amazing South Cumberland State Park team!
features South Cumberland and SCSP
The Open Space Institute, one of our outstanding conservation partners,
chose to feature SCSP and the South Cumberland region as part of its Earth Day celebration.
Take a few minutes to scroll through the interactive presentation:
https://osiny.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html
The Friends of South Cumberland were happy to supply some of the photos and video for the presentation.
Thanks to OSI for recognizing the Friends and our amazing South Cumberland State Park team!
Trail Friends assisted 3,000 visitors in 2019In 2019, FSC's Trail Friends program had 27 active volunteers who donated their time at the park's most popular trail heads, offering assistance to hikers. Volunteers worked 86 shifts, contributed 242 hours and helped 2,960 visitors. The Trail Friends offer park visitors a cheery welcome and useful information about the park, the natural surroundings, and the specifics of the trails. Trail Friends staff five of the busiest trailheads in the Park, and also walk these trails, answering questions and providing assistance as they go. Trail Friends also create trail guides, using the State Park-approved Avenza app, that include historic and nature information about popular trails. The Trail Friends team is always looking for enthusiastic new members! Learn more by visiting our Trail Friends Initiative page.
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Please join us in saying Thank You
to all of our Sponsoring Partners!
HERITAGE PARTNERS
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Mr. Doug Ferris & Dot Neale |
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SILVERBELL PARTNERS
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REDBUD PARTNER
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Mr. John Canale |
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South Cumberland celebrates 42 years!
On July 1, 1978, South Cumberland State Park was dedicated with less than 10,000 acres. Four decades later, it is the largest State Park in Tennessee, at nearly 31,000 acres. Today, the South Cumberland State Park is visited by nearly 750,000 people each year, and thanks to your support of the Friends, is as wild and spectacular as ever, with new trails and new ways to enjoy the park now available through the hard work of our Friends volunteers! Please take a moment to join or renew your membership in the Friends of South Cumberland State Park!
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Shop Online and help the Park with every purchase!
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates a portion of your purchase directly to the Friends of South Cumberland! Bookmark this page, and use it whenever you shop at Amazon! 
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Learn more about the newest areas of the Park |
South Cumberland State Park continues to grow at a remarkable pace; it is now officially Tennessee's largest state park, at nearly 31,000 acres. Click on any of these links to learn more about recent land areas that have been protected and added to the park, and what work is underway to make these areas accessible to the public: |
Our Mission:
To aid and assist the South Cumberland State Park management and staff in meeting its objectives, and to inform, educate, engage, and inspire its members and the public to protect, conserve, and enjoy all the resources of the park.
Why Should You Be a Friends Member?
Now protecting nearly 31,000 acres, South Cumberland is the largest State Park in Tennessee. Although this is great news, more land, and more visitors, creates new and urgent unmet needs for the park. Trails must be maintained or upgraded. Trail bridges require maintenance or replacement. Additional interpretive and wayfinding signage is needed. Guided hikes, seminars and workshops, including programs for area school children, must be prepared and delivered. And, the work of conserving additional environmentally-significant lands is far from complete. Your support makes possible the many initiatives of the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization, working to protect, maintain and enhance Tennessee's largest and most spectacular state park!
By becoming a member of the Friends, you can help insure that South Cumberland will always be a safe, well-maintained and amazing place to experience world-class natural beauty!
Funding for the Friends of South Cumberland is derived from individual and corporate memberships and from private donations.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit public benefit corporation, your membership and gifts may be Federally tax deductible.
To aid and assist the South Cumberland State Park management and staff in meeting its objectives, and to inform, educate, engage, and inspire its members and the public to protect, conserve, and enjoy all the resources of the park.
Why Should You Be a Friends Member?
Now protecting nearly 31,000 acres, South Cumberland is the largest State Park in Tennessee. Although this is great news, more land, and more visitors, creates new and urgent unmet needs for the park. Trails must be maintained or upgraded. Trail bridges require maintenance or replacement. Additional interpretive and wayfinding signage is needed. Guided hikes, seminars and workshops, including programs for area school children, must be prepared and delivered. And, the work of conserving additional environmentally-significant lands is far from complete. Your support makes possible the many initiatives of the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, a volunteer-driven, nonprofit organization, working to protect, maintain and enhance Tennessee's largest and most spectacular state park!
By becoming a member of the Friends, you can help insure that South Cumberland will always be a safe, well-maintained and amazing place to experience world-class natural beauty!
Funding for the Friends of South Cumberland is derived from individual and corporate memberships and from private donations.
As a 501(c)3 non-profit public benefit corporation, your membership and gifts may be Federally tax deductible.
