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HELP THE PARK YOU LOVE!
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IMPORTANT! TENNESSEE STATE PARKS ARE MODIFYING
PARK FACILITY SCHEDULES & CLOSINGS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus: Event Cancellations (Statewide)
In the interest of public health, Tennessee State Parks are cancelling all park-hosted events from March 16 to April 15, 2020.
Park trails [only] remain open to visitors at this time.
For more information, please visit TN State Parks' Keeping Visitors Healthy page.
Coronavirus: Day-Use and Overnight Facility Closures (Statewide)
All public gathering spaces at state parks (such as visitor centers, restrooms, shelters, playgrounds, etc.) are closed until April 10, 2020.
All rentable facilities and overnight accommodations (including campsites) are also closed during this time.
For more information, please visit TN State Parks' Keeping Visitors Healthy page.
Temporary Operating Hours for All Parks: 7AM-6PM Daily (Statewide)
Tennessee State Parks are changing schedules for all 56 state parks, opening daily from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. This schedule will be in place until at least April 10.
During this time, certain high volume parks and locations might experience capacity limits as we work to ensure proper social distancing and limit group gatherings.
PARK FACILITY SCHEDULES & CLOSINGS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Coronavirus: Event Cancellations (Statewide)
In the interest of public health, Tennessee State Parks are cancelling all park-hosted events from March 16 to April 15, 2020.
Park trails [only] remain open to visitors at this time.
For more information, please visit TN State Parks' Keeping Visitors Healthy page.
Coronavirus: Day-Use and Overnight Facility Closures (Statewide)
All public gathering spaces at state parks (such as visitor centers, restrooms, shelters, playgrounds, etc.) are closed until April 10, 2020.
All rentable facilities and overnight accommodations (including campsites) are also closed during this time.
For more information, please visit TN State Parks' Keeping Visitors Healthy page.
Temporary Operating Hours for All Parks: 7AM-6PM Daily (Statewide)
Tennessee State Parks are changing schedules for all 56 state parks, opening daily from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. This schedule will be in place until at least April 10.
During this time, certain high volume parks and locations might experience capacity limits as we work to ensure proper social distancing and limit group gatherings.
IN COORDINATION WITH TENNESSEE STATE PARKS, THE FRIENDS ARE CANCELLING
ALL UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH AT LEAST APRIL 15th.
ALL UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH AT LEAST APRIL 15th.
Fiery Gizzard Trail Closed due to Bridge Collapse
Due to the March 24th collapse of the footbridge over Little Gizzard Creek, the Fiery Gizzard Trail is closed until further notice, between the Small Wilds area (south end) and the Grundy Day Loop (north end). With recent rains, creeks are high and extremely dangerous. Attempting to ford creeks on foot is strongly discouraged.
The Grundy Forest Day Loop IS open. We will remove this alert when conditions improve.
The Grundy Forest Day Loop IS open. We will remove this alert when conditions improve.
Trails & Trilliums 2020, Wild Azalea Gala Postponed due to Coronavirus
The 17th Annual Trails and Trilliums festival, and related Wild Azalea Gala fundraiser are both being postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Friends of South Cumberland State Park (FSC), which offers both events to help raise awareness and funding for its work on behalf of the Park, will announce rescheduling plans for both events once the current health crisis has subsided.
The events, both of which were scheduled for the weekend of April 17 through 19, included group gatherings that had potential for facilitating virus spread. FSC Treasurer Rich Wyckoff said the Friends will be refunding fees to guests who have already pre-registered.
“Given the current guidance from the Federal Government, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control, we felt is was in everyone’s best interest that we do our part to prevent community spread of the Covid-19 virus,” said FSC President John Hille.
“We are also in the process of contacting our sponsors and suppliers to explain our decision and discuss options going forward,” Hille added. “This was a difficult decision, but we hope that all of our guests and event partners will understand the necessity for postponement and will look forward to our rescheduling these events after the current health situation has passed.”
Margaret Matens, FSC’s Trails and Trilliums Chair, noted that Tennessee State Parks remain open, and are a welcoming place for people to get out and enjoy nature in wide-open spaces. “Our Park is especially beautiful in the springtime, when the waterfalls and wildflowers are spectacular. We invite everyone to come visit the Park, enjoy the fresh air, and take a break from the stress and disruptions of the current situation.”
For more information about planning a socially-distanced visit to the Park, visit FriendsOfSouthCumberland.org/plan-your-visit.
The events, both of which were scheduled for the weekend of April 17 through 19, included group gatherings that had potential for facilitating virus spread. FSC Treasurer Rich Wyckoff said the Friends will be refunding fees to guests who have already pre-registered.
“Given the current guidance from the Federal Government, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control, we felt is was in everyone’s best interest that we do our part to prevent community spread of the Covid-19 virus,” said FSC President John Hille.
“We are also in the process of contacting our sponsors and suppliers to explain our decision and discuss options going forward,” Hille added. “This was a difficult decision, but we hope that all of our guests and event partners will understand the necessity for postponement and will look forward to our rescheduling these events after the current health situation has passed.”
Margaret Matens, FSC’s Trails and Trilliums Chair, noted that Tennessee State Parks remain open, and are a welcoming place for people to get out and enjoy nature in wide-open spaces. “Our Park is especially beautiful in the springtime, when the waterfalls and wildflowers are spectacular. We invite everyone to come visit the Park, enjoy the fresh air, and take a break from the stress and disruptions of the current situation.”
For more information about planning a socially-distanced visit to the Park, visit FriendsOfSouthCumberland.org/plan-your-visit.
— Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities --
Please Give Back to the Park You Love!
IN COORDINATION WITH TENNESSEE STATE PARKS, THE FRIENDS ARE CANCELING
ALL UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH AT LEAST APRIL 15th.
ALL UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH AT LEAST APRIL 15th.
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.
