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HELP THE PARK YOU LOVE!
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Join the Friends in Nashville for 2020’s first Pint Night
Hey, Nashville! Cumberland Transit will host a Pint Night to benefit the Friends from 6:30 -8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30 at their 2807 West End Avenue location in Nashville.
Join us to learn more about the Friends, the SCSP, and how you can help us help South Cumberland State Park! Learn more about climbing, hiking and climbing opportunities and pick up some great door prizes in the process!
Volunteers needed to clean up CCC camp storm damage
The Civilian Conservation Corps interpretive trail area in the South Cumberland State Park was heavily damaged by recent storms. The site will be closed until repairs are completed. --Photo by Bruce Blohm/Friends of South Cumberland.
Strong storms in mid-January toppled trees and caused damage at the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the Grundy Forest area of South Cumberland State Park, according to park staff.
High winds caused large pines to topple into each other, creating a cascade of downed logs through the center of the CCC Interpretive Area of the park. According to park officials, none of the newly installed interpretive sign panels at the site were destroyed, although one panel did suffer a glancing blow from one of the massive trees.
However, the trail through the site has been blocked by up-turned tree roots, trunks and limbs and will be closed for several weeks as volunteers from the Friends of South Cumberland work with park rangers to remove debris and restore the site.
Volunteers are needed to help SCSP Ranger Dan Wescoat with the clean-up. Four volunteer workdays are scheduled, all in February, weather permitting: 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to meet in the Grundy Forest parking area in Monteagle 15 minutes prior to the start time listed above. Please be prepared with sturdy footwear and plenty of water/snacks. Those with a favorite pair of gloves, a stiff garden rake, and a 4-wheeled wagon or other garden cart suitable for hauling fireplace-length logs and branches are asked to bring them. Most of the work will involve moving logs and branches to a nearby brush pile, and restoring the interpretive trail through the site.
High winds caused large pines to topple into each other, creating a cascade of downed logs through the center of the CCC Interpretive Area of the park. According to park officials, none of the newly installed interpretive sign panels at the site were destroyed, although one panel did suffer a glancing blow from one of the massive trees.
However, the trail through the site has been blocked by up-turned tree roots, trunks and limbs and will be closed for several weeks as volunteers from the Friends of South Cumberland work with park rangers to remove debris and restore the site.
Volunteers are needed to help SCSP Ranger Dan Wescoat with the clean-up. Four volunteer workdays are scheduled, all in February, weather permitting: 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 16; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.
Those interested in volunteering are asked to meet in the Grundy Forest parking area in Monteagle 15 minutes prior to the start time listed above. Please be prepared with sturdy footwear and plenty of water/snacks. Those with a favorite pair of gloves, a stiff garden rake, and a 4-wheeled wagon or other garden cart suitable for hauling fireplace-length logs and branches are asked to bring them. Most of the work will involve moving logs and branches to a nearby brush pile, and restoring the interpretive trail through the site.
Celebrate Earth Day on the Plateau!
The 17th Annual Trails & Trilliums Festival is set for April 17-19 at the Dubose Conference Center.
Reasonably-priced hotel rooms & dining available on site!
-- Over 25 guided hikes in & around the Park
-- Native Plant Sale from Overhill Gardens
-- Great line-up of Programs, Author Talks & Workshops
Keynote Speaker is Park Ranger Bob Fulcher
Naturalist, storyteller and founder of TN State Parks Folklife Project and
2019 Recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts
Cumberland Wild Forum
“Earth Day 2020: Building Resilience on the Plateau”
FREE FAMILY FUN
— Outstanding Outdoor Activities for Children —
All day Saturday
NEW - 1st Annual Trails & Trilliums Family Campout!
Garden & Outdoors Vendors • Music on Stage
Registration opens Feb. 24 to the general public and Feb. 10 for Friends members. Watch this website for more, or visit TrailsAndTrilliums.org.
The 17th Annual Trails & Trilliums Festival is set for April 17-19 at the Dubose Conference Center.
Reasonably-priced hotel rooms & dining available on site!
-- Over 25 guided hikes in & around the Park
-- Native Plant Sale from Overhill Gardens
-- Great line-up of Programs, Author Talks & Workshops
Keynote Speaker is Park Ranger Bob Fulcher
Naturalist, storyteller and founder of TN State Parks Folklife Project and
2019 Recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts
Cumberland Wild Forum
“Earth Day 2020: Building Resilience on the Plateau”
FREE FAMILY FUN
— Outstanding Outdoor Activities for Children —
All day Saturday
NEW - 1st Annual Trails & Trilliums Family Campout!
Garden & Outdoors Vendors • Music on Stage
Registration opens Feb. 24 to the general public and Feb. 10 for Friends members. Watch this website for more, or visit TrailsAndTrilliums.org.
Make plans now...
...to attend the the Wild Azalea Gala, the Friends' annual fundraiser. Proceeds from the Gala help fund Friends' activities and initiatives in support of the Park.
The Gala is now part of the Trails and Trilliums festival weekend. The Gala will take place at the Sewanee Inn on Friday evening, April 17th.
Save the dates! More details coming soon!
...to attend the the Wild Azalea Gala, the Friends' annual fundraiser. Proceeds from the Gala help fund Friends' activities and initiatives in support of the Park.
The Gala is now part of the Trails and Trilliums festival weekend. The Gala will take place at the Sewanee Inn on Friday evening, April 17th.
Save the dates! More details coming soon!
— Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities --
Please Give Back to the Park You Love!
Sherwood Forest Trail Building
Thu., Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. -- Sun., Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. -- Wed., Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.
Join in with other South Cumberland trail blazers to help finish a brand new loop trail at the park! Sherwood Forest is a new area of the park that is now open for a variety of public uses. We need your help to get the trail done! Please be prepared with sturdy footwear and plenty of water/snacks. If you have favorite trail-building tools or pairs of gloves, feel free to bring them. Note: You can only access Old CCC Road from Jumpoff Road; NOT from Sherwood Road! Meet at the Sherwood Forest trailhead parking lot. Contact: jason.reynolds@tn.gov.
Notes/Disclaimers: Please do not bring power tools (chainsaws, etc.). For this event, Volunteers will use hand tools only. Volunteers will be required to sign a Volunteer Form, which may include a liability waiver. Trail maintenance and the use of hand tools, etc., carries certain inherent risks. These include, but are not necessarily limited to: accidents involving the tools; potential exposure to the elements and wildlife; and all-around, general hard work.
Thu., Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. -- Sun., Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. -- Wed., Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.
Join in with other South Cumberland trail blazers to help finish a brand new loop trail at the park! Sherwood Forest is a new area of the park that is now open for a variety of public uses. We need your help to get the trail done! Please be prepared with sturdy footwear and plenty of water/snacks. If you have favorite trail-building tools or pairs of gloves, feel free to bring them. Note: You can only access Old CCC Road from Jumpoff Road; NOT from Sherwood Road! Meet at the Sherwood Forest trailhead parking lot. Contact: jason.reynolds@tn.gov.
Notes/Disclaimers: Please do not bring power tools (chainsaws, etc.). For this event, Volunteers will use hand tools only. Volunteers will be required to sign a Volunteer Form, which may include a liability waiver. Trail maintenance and the use of hand tools, etc., carries certain inherent risks. These include, but are not necessarily limited to: accidents involving the tools; potential exposure to the elements and wildlife; and all-around, general hard work.
Access Fund grant will help tally visitors to Denny Cove, Foster Falls
Ranger Ryan Harris installs infrared tracking devices near Denny Cove.
Rangers and volunteers at the South Cumberland State Park (SCSP) have embarked on a project to track the number of visitors to sections of the park most popular with rock climbers.
An Access Fund grant awarded to the Friends of South Cumberland (FSC) will use infrared trail counters to collect data on the number of rock climbers at the Denny Cove and Foster Falls sections of the park. The FSC worked with park rangers to install the counters at these two locations, which are popular with both hikers and climbers.
The data collected from the counters will give the park a better idea of the number of climbers accessing these two locations and will allow the park and the FSC to better advocate for climber resources in the park, according to FSC Board Vice President Trae Moore.
“The initial trail count project will be limited to Denny Cove and Foster Falls, but if the project is successful, the Friends hope to expand the use of the trail counters throughout the park,” Moore said.
The counters work by using an infrared beam to detect when a person passes by the counter. It then stores this information until the rangers retrieve the data. The counters are positioned in locations to best tally all visitors to these locations.
Denny Cove, one of the park’s newest sections, was added in July, 2016 when The Access Fund, a climbing advocacy group, and Southeast Climbers’ Coalition (SCC), with help from the FSC, purchased the 685-acre tract. It was dedicated and officially opened to the public in March of 2017. Previously held by a Brazilian timber company, Denny Cove is described as “a nearly pristine parcel with outstanding cliff-lines, making it a priority acquisition for climbing enthusiasts.”
Over 150 world-class climbing routes have already been identified on the bluffs at Denny Cove, located just off US Highway 41, two miles south of the entrance to Foster Falls. The mission of the Access Fund is to advocate for climbers on a national level. To learn more, visit AccessFund.org.
An Access Fund grant awarded to the Friends of South Cumberland (FSC) will use infrared trail counters to collect data on the number of rock climbers at the Denny Cove and Foster Falls sections of the park. The FSC worked with park rangers to install the counters at these two locations, which are popular with both hikers and climbers.
The data collected from the counters will give the park a better idea of the number of climbers accessing these two locations and will allow the park and the FSC to better advocate for climber resources in the park, according to FSC Board Vice President Trae Moore.
“The initial trail count project will be limited to Denny Cove and Foster Falls, but if the project is successful, the Friends hope to expand the use of the trail counters throughout the park,” Moore said.
The counters work by using an infrared beam to detect when a person passes by the counter. It then stores this information until the rangers retrieve the data. The counters are positioned in locations to best tally all visitors to these locations.
Denny Cove, one of the park’s newest sections, was added in July, 2016 when The Access Fund, a climbing advocacy group, and Southeast Climbers’ Coalition (SCC), with help from the FSC, purchased the 685-acre tract. It was dedicated and officially opened to the public in March of 2017. Previously held by a Brazilian timber company, Denny Cove is described as “a nearly pristine parcel with outstanding cliff-lines, making it a priority acquisition for climbing enthusiasts.”
Over 150 world-class climbing routes have already been identified on the bluffs at Denny Cove, located just off US Highway 41, two miles south of the entrance to Foster Falls. The mission of the Access Fund is to advocate for climbers on a national level. To learn more, visit AccessFund.org.
Trail Friends assisted 3,000 visitors in 2019
Bruce Blohm (pictured) is one of 27 active volunteers who donate their time at the park's most popular trail heads, offering assistance to hikers. In 2019, volunteers worked 86 shifts, contributed 242 hours and helped 2,960 visitors. Trail Friends offer park visitors a cheery welcome and much-needed 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! Training begins in the spring. Learn more by visiting our Trail Friends Initiative page.
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IN MEMORIAM:
WOODY McLAUGHLIN 
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Woody McLaughlin, a founder and leader of the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, passed away unexpectedly in late July, while on a camping trip with his family in Montana. With Woody's help, the Friends leadership decided to launch the Saving Great Spaces Campaign in 2002. During part of this multi-year campaign, he served as president of the Friends, and worked tirelessly to encourage others to join the effort. This concerted, multi-year conservation campaign leveraged over $8.5 million in total resources, making it possible to add 5,495 acres of priority land at Savage Gulf and the Fiery Gizzard. To make a memorial gift in Woody's name, visit our Make A Gift to the Park page. |
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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!
Your Friends membership directly supports the park.
The Friends of South Cumberland is a group of volunteer citizens dedicated to supporting the South Cumberland State Park, at 30,880 acres, Tennessee's largest state park. A 1993 law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly allows state parks to contract with and receive financial assistance from an organized friends group. As a result, private citizens can be involved with and support the park through both volunteer work and financial support.
Funding for the Friends of South Cumberland is derived from individual and corporate memberships and from private donations. Our tax deductible status was approved in July 1994. As a 501(c)3 non profit public benefit corporation, your membership and gifts may be Federally tax deductible. Please join us in supporting and protecting the South Cumberland State Park!
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!
Your Friends membership directly supports the park.
- Your membership supports the good work of the Friends of South Cumberland. You will become part of a group working to save great spaces in the South Cumberland and supporting this magnificent park with both funding and volunteer initiatives.
- You will receive the quarterly FSC Newsletter and monthly Trail Tracker emails to keep you updated on Friends and Park issues, events and volunteer opportunities.
- You will be eligible for members-only programs and events, such as the Tennessee Naturalist Program.
The Friends of South Cumberland is a group of volunteer citizens dedicated to supporting the South Cumberland State Park, at 30,880 acres, Tennessee's largest state park. A 1993 law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly allows state parks to contract with and receive financial assistance from an organized friends group. As a result, private citizens can be involved with and support the park through both volunteer work and financial support.
Funding for the Friends of South Cumberland is derived from individual and corporate memberships and from private donations. Our tax deductible status was approved in July 1994. As a 501(c)3 non profit public benefit corporation, your membership and gifts may be Federally tax deductible. Please join us in supporting and protecting the South Cumberland State Park!
