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HELP THE PARK YOU LOVE!
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— Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities --
Please Give Back to the Park You Love!
FSC Trails Team lead Bruce Blohm places the first of more than 400 mile markers at the Fiery Gizzard North trailhead, marking "Mile 0.0" for the Grundy Day Loop trail.
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FSC Mile Post Marking Project!
Starting in early November The Tennessee Trails Association (TTA) awarded an Evan Means Grant to the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, helping fund an FSC initiative to install custom mileage marker/location identifier medallions on nearly 87 miles of trail in South Cumberland State Park (SCSP). The medallions will improve hiker locational awareness and safety, while assisting in Rangers’ rescue efforts. This system of color-coded markers will also make possible more detailed trail maps. FSC volunteers will be installing Mile Post Markers every half-mile on SCSP trails. If you're interested in being a part of the FSC Mile Post Trail Marking project, please email FSC Trails Committee Chair Bruce Blohm and he will make sure you are included in the upcoming communications on this project! |
Trail Improvement at Fiery Gizzard South
Thursday, October 29 • 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Come out and lend a hand in getting the plunge pool trail at Foster Falls (from the top to the bottom) back into shape. We will be moving football to basketball-sized sandstone rocks to rock guard erosion areas and putting in new steps in. Come prepared by bringing gloves (we can provide some), closed toe shoes/boots, safety glasses, snacks/water, and dress weather appropriately. See you on the trail!
Meet at the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead.
Trail Improvement at Savage Gulf East
Monday, November 2 • 8:15 am - 12:15 pm
Join us for a day of trail repair and maintenance at Savage Gulf, helping bring tools and supplies into the work site, and/or moving cut limbs and tree trunks. Bring work clothes, sturdy footwear, gloves, plenty of water, and food for the trail. Work implements (hand tools only) will be provided, but you may bring your own, if desired. Event is “weather permitting”.
Meet at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead.
Trail Improvement at Savage Gulf East
Tuesday, December 1 • 8:15 am - 12:15 pm
Join us for a day of trail repair and maintenance at Savage Gulf, helping bring tools and supplies into the work site, and/or moving cut limbs and tree trunks. Bring work clothes, sturdy footwear, gloves, plenty of water, and food for the trail. Work implements (hand tools only) will be provided, but you may bring your own, if desired. Event is “weather permitting”.
Meet at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead.
Thursday, October 29 • 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Come out and lend a hand in getting the plunge pool trail at Foster Falls (from the top to the bottom) back into shape. We will be moving football to basketball-sized sandstone rocks to rock guard erosion areas and putting in new steps in. Come prepared by bringing gloves (we can provide some), closed toe shoes/boots, safety glasses, snacks/water, and dress weather appropriately. See you on the trail!
Meet at the Fiery Gizzard South Trailhead.
Trail Improvement at Savage Gulf East
Monday, November 2 • 8:15 am - 12:15 pm
Join us for a day of trail repair and maintenance at Savage Gulf, helping bring tools and supplies into the work site, and/or moving cut limbs and tree trunks. Bring work clothes, sturdy footwear, gloves, plenty of water, and food for the trail. Work implements (hand tools only) will be provided, but you may bring your own, if desired. Event is “weather permitting”.
Meet at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead.
Trail Improvement at Savage Gulf East
Tuesday, December 1 • 8:15 am - 12:15 pm
Join us for a day of trail repair and maintenance at Savage Gulf, helping bring tools and supplies into the work site, and/or moving cut limbs and tree trunks. Bring work clothes, sturdy footwear, gloves, plenty of water, and food for the trail. Work implements (hand tools only) will be provided, but you may bring your own, if desired. Event is “weather permitting”.
Meet at the Savage Gulf East Trailhead.
IF YOU'RE VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OUT AT SOUTH CUMBERLAND STATE PARK...
...please be aware of the Tennessee State Parks COVID-19 Volunteer Guidance, which you can view here.
...please be aware of the Tennessee State Parks COVID-19 Volunteer Guidance, which you can view here.
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Winning pics announced in the Friends’ 2020 Picture the Park photo contest! Over 90 outstanding photos from dozens of talented shutterbugs were donated to the Friends as part of its 2020 “Picture the Park” photo contest. Judges commented on the outstanding composition and unique choice of subject matter among this year’s entries. Many thanks to all of the talented photographers for their donations in support of the Friends, and their love for South Cumberland State Park! Check out this gallery of all the winning entries! |
Michael Mitchell
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Visitor Information and Welcome Center Signage and Trailhead Dedicated
To better orient SCSP visitors with the many areas of the park, the Friends recently dedicated a new trailhead with helpful information signage, adjacent to the parking area at the SCSP Visitor Information and Welcome Center in Monteagle. At the ribbon cutting and "trail shoe drop" are, L-R, Friends President John Hille; SCSP Manager George Shinn; FSC Strategic Planning Chair Rick Dreves; and FSC Trails Committee Chair Bruce Blohm. The information on the new signage panels can also be accessed from the Plan Your Visit page of this website. Photo: Peggy Thoits
To better orient SCSP visitors with the many areas of the park, the Friends recently dedicated a new trailhead with helpful information signage, adjacent to the parking area at the SCSP Visitor Information and Welcome Center in Monteagle. At the ribbon cutting and "trail shoe drop" are, L-R, Friends President John Hille; SCSP Manager George Shinn; FSC Strategic Planning Chair Rick Dreves; and FSC Trails Committee Chair Bruce Blohm. The information on the new signage panels can also be accessed from the Plan Your Visit page of this website. Photo: Peggy Thoits
SCSP Introduces New Names for Trailheads
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SCSP Manager George Shinn has announced a new naming system for the park’s 12 trailheads, effective immediately. “We are such a large, spread-out park that it is difficult for new visitors to grasp where the trailheads are, in relation to the park’s major features,” he explained. “This new naming system, which we developed in cooperation with the Friends group, is more logical and geographically-based. It will make it much easier for visitors to quickly grasp where our trailheads are, in relation to each other, and in which part of the park each trailhead is located.” Shinn noted that it will take time to switch over all of the park’s existing directional signage and update maps, but steps are already underway to begin that process. “The Friends' website is the first resource that has been completely updated to reflect the new names,” he said. “The Tennessee State Parks website has also posted the new trailhead map, and should be fully up-to-date in the near future.” The new, official trailhead map also includes the park’s most popular features and highlights, listed below each of the new trailhead names. A free copy of the new map, which includes driving directions to each trailhead and other useful information, is also available for download from the Downloadable Maps page of this website.
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Click on the map to see an enlargement.
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Join our Trails Team!
The FSC Trails Team assists Park Managers and staff with assessment, design, construction, maintenance and/or rerouting of nearly 100 miles of world-class trails and trail structures in South Cumberland State Park. The Trails Team also assists the park with SCSP wayfinding (directional) signage and mile marking. The Trails Team welcomes all volunteers, and has opportunities for adults of any age and physical ability! Learn more by visiting the Trails Team page of this site!
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In 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. 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. The Trail Friends team is always looking for enthusiastic new members! Learn more by visiting our Trail Friends Initiative page.
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See what our Trails Team has been up to:
Email FSC Trails Team Chair Bruce Blohm to find out how you can help!
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Here's a new video about all the great trails, and things to see & do in South Cumberland State Park:
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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 hiking the trail now requires a creek crossing at Little Gizzard Creek.
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Don’t let South Cumberland State Park be the place
you caught, or shared, the Covid virus!
Help us keep the Park safe for all to enjoy by following these simple steps:
— Please wear masks any time you are in the presence of other Park visitors
— Please maintain six-foot social distancing from anyone not in your immediate group
— Please bring hand sanitizer and be virus-aware at all times during your visit
— Please bring a trash bag and pack out whatever you bring into the Park!
— Enjoy the Park responsibly, and help us keep the Park beautiful!
If you find a crowd (or crowded parking lot) at the trail you planned to hike, remember that South Cumberland State Park has 12 amazing trailheads, waiting for you to explore!
you caught, or shared, the Covid virus!
Help us keep the Park safe for all to enjoy by following these simple steps:
— Please wear masks any time you are in the presence of other Park visitors
— Please maintain six-foot social distancing from anyone not in your immediate group
— Please bring hand sanitizer and be virus-aware at all times during your visit
— Please bring a trash bag and pack out whatever you bring into the Park!
— Enjoy the Park responsibly, and help us keep the Park beautiful!
If you find a crowd (or crowded parking lot) at the trail you planned to hike, remember that South Cumberland State Park has 12 amazing trailheads, waiting for you to explore!
- Check out the newly-released map of all South Cumberland trailheads, below, which also lists the most outstanding features you’ll be able to see from each trailhead.
- Be aware that Savage Gulf North (Stone Door); Fiery Gizzard North (Grundy Forest); and Fiery Gizzard South (Foster Falls) are the busiest trailheads in the Park; consider starting your adventure from one of our other nine trailheads, and discover something new about South Cumberland State Park!
- Get driving directions to any of the Park's 12 trailheads, and more info, by visiting our Trailhead Information Page.
- Please do not park along roadside or on adjacent private properties. Thanks!
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 2020 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 2020 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!
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FSC ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
The 2020 Annual Meeting of the Friends of South Cumberland was held online, via the Zoom app, on Saturday, June 20th. Here are highlights from the meeting:
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John Greeter
Deb Dreves
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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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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, at the age of 81.
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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 second-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; after the state-wide Cumberland Trail, South Cumberland is Tennessee's second 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 second-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 second-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.
