Camping
All overnight campsites in South Cumberland State Park now require a fee and advance online reservations.
Both South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks have backcountry campgrounds in many areas of the park. Visit our Overnight Hike page (and scroll down) for a descriptive listing of each of these campgrounds. You can also find information about these campgrounds, and how to reserve specific camping sites in each, on our campsite reservation system. Listed below, next to each campground, is the trailhead you can use to access that campground:
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• Alum Gap Savage Gulf North
• Collins West Savage Gulf South • Dinky Line Savage Gulf East • Father Adamz Fiery Gizzard South • Foster Falls Fiery Gizzard South • Grundy Forest Fiery Gizzard North • Hobbs Cabin Savage Gulf North |
• Sawmill Savage Gulf North
• Stone Door Savage Gulf North • Savage Falls Savage Gulf East • Stagecoach Road Savage Gulf East • Savage Station Savage Gulf East • Small Wild Fiery Gizzard South |
Please read, understand and observe the park's Camping Regulations.
You can reserve a complete hike/camp itinerary with different campsites over up to 14 consecutive camping nights (28 nights November to March) with one reservation. With miles of hiking trails, and plenty of distance between campgrounds, South Cumberland State Park is popular with "hike & camp" visitors. One of the best ways to explore this vast park is by staying in a variety of campsites and hiking, biking or driving between them during your stay.
Multi-Night Camping in Different Locations
Multiple-night itineraries staying in different locations in the park, are limited by the number of sites selected in the first date segment in a reservation. Only the sites selected in the first segment incur a reservation fee. Additional sites, regardless of the number of campsites and nights selected, will not incur additional fees.
Camping in One Location
You can select up to 5 campsites for up to 14 nights (28 nights November to March). A reservation fee is charged for each site selected.
If you need to cancel or change your reservation prior to your visit, or have any questions, please give us a call at 931-924-2980.
You can reserve a complete hike/camp itinerary with different campsites over up to 14 consecutive camping nights (28 nights November to March) with one reservation. With miles of hiking trails, and plenty of distance between campgrounds, South Cumberland State Park is popular with "hike & camp" visitors. One of the best ways to explore this vast park is by staying in a variety of campsites and hiking, biking or driving between them during your stay.
Multi-Night Camping in Different Locations
Multiple-night itineraries staying in different locations in the park, are limited by the number of sites selected in the first date segment in a reservation. Only the sites selected in the first segment incur a reservation fee. Additional sites, regardless of the number of campsites and nights selected, will not incur additional fees.
Camping in One Location
You can select up to 5 campsites for up to 14 nights (28 nights November to March). A reservation fee is charged for each site selected.
If you need to cancel or change your reservation prior to your visit, or have any questions, please give us a call at 931-924-2980.
Some Important Reminders
All overnight camping requires advance online reservations. Camp only in designated campgrounds. Check-in time for camping is 12:00 pm (Central); check-out time is 10:00 am (Central). Your camping receipt or name associated with reservation MUST be placed in the dash of each vehicle that is parked overnight. If you will be camping overnight, you must park in either the Savage Gulf North (Stone Door), Savage Gulf South (Collins Gulf), Savage Gulf East (Savage Creek), Fiery Gizzard North (Grundy Forest) or Fiery Gizzard South (Foster Falls) parking areas. Overnight parking is prohibited in all other areas.
The gathering of firewood is limited to dead materials on the ground. Don't bring in firewood from elsewhere; exotic bugs and diseases will hitch rides, and could easily infect/infest the fragile ecosystems of the South Cumberland region. Fires are permitted in established fire rings only. Don’t move fire rings, burn trash, or leave a fire unattended. Quiet Hours in all campgrounds are between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.
All rock climbing requires advance online registration. At Stone Door, climbing and rappelling is only allowed in the designated climbing area. In the Fiery Gizzard, climbing is restricted to the routes in Foster Falls climbing area only. At Denny Cove, climbing is restricted to the climbing routes on the north cliff face. Rappelling is not allowed, except at Stone Door.
Caving is permitted at Buggytop (Lost Cove) Cave in the Lost Cove area of the park. All caving requires advance online registration, and is only allowed from June thru August to prevent the introduction of white-nose syndrome into the cave's bat population. See the Caving Page of this website for more information.
Hiking after dark is against park rules. It is a risky proposition, particularly on this park's rocky trails. Bluffs and other steep drop-offs are extremely hard to see at night. That said, you might find yourself out in the park after dark: Accidents can happen; you might misjudge how long it will take to reach your destination; or you might take a wrong turn on a trail. Be prepared to hike out after dark if you have to. Even on day trips, carry a good flashlight with fresh batteries and a spare bulb, or even better, an LED flashlight. Using your smartphone as a flashlight is a bad idea; the battery will run down far too quickly to be a reliable light source, and it may be more important for you to be able to use the phone to call for help!
Walk back, the way that you came, to the nearest milepost marker (not more than 1200 feet away) and make note of the unique location code at the bottom of that marker (see example, here). This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Then call 911 and give them the location code. Once you call, do NOT leave that location. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
Both South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks are ecological sanctuaries, and all features including plants and animals (living and dead), rocks, minerals, artifacts and fossils are protected by Tennessee State Law. Leave them as you find them. Violators are subject to prosecution.
As in any wilderness environment, obvious hazards exist. Exercise care, stay on marked trails and be adequately prepared for backcountry trips. Filter all stream- and spring-sourced drinking water. Use extra caution when approaching high bluffs. Be careful with fires (only in designated campground fire rings!) and help keep your state park beautiful and natural.
All overnight camping requires advance online reservations. Camp only in designated campgrounds. Check-in time for camping is 12:00 pm (Central); check-out time is 10:00 am (Central). Your camping receipt or name associated with reservation MUST be placed in the dash of each vehicle that is parked overnight. If you will be camping overnight, you must park in either the Savage Gulf North (Stone Door), Savage Gulf South (Collins Gulf), Savage Gulf East (Savage Creek), Fiery Gizzard North (Grundy Forest) or Fiery Gizzard South (Foster Falls) parking areas. Overnight parking is prohibited in all other areas.
The gathering of firewood is limited to dead materials on the ground. Don't bring in firewood from elsewhere; exotic bugs and diseases will hitch rides, and could easily infect/infest the fragile ecosystems of the South Cumberland region. Fires are permitted in established fire rings only. Don’t move fire rings, burn trash, or leave a fire unattended. Quiet Hours in all campgrounds are between the hours of 10:00 pm and 6:00 am.
All rock climbing requires advance online registration. At Stone Door, climbing and rappelling is only allowed in the designated climbing area. In the Fiery Gizzard, climbing is restricted to the routes in Foster Falls climbing area only. At Denny Cove, climbing is restricted to the climbing routes on the north cliff face. Rappelling is not allowed, except at Stone Door.
Caving is permitted at Buggytop (Lost Cove) Cave in the Lost Cove area of the park. All caving requires advance online registration, and is only allowed from June thru August to prevent the introduction of white-nose syndrome into the cave's bat population. See the Caving Page of this website for more information.
Hiking after dark is against park rules. It is a risky proposition, particularly on this park's rocky trails. Bluffs and other steep drop-offs are extremely hard to see at night. That said, you might find yourself out in the park after dark: Accidents can happen; you might misjudge how long it will take to reach your destination; or you might take a wrong turn on a trail. Be prepared to hike out after dark if you have to. Even on day trips, carry a good flashlight with fresh batteries and a spare bulb, or even better, an LED flashlight. Using your smartphone as a flashlight is a bad idea; the battery will run down far too quickly to be a reliable light source, and it may be more important for you to be able to use the phone to call for help!
Walk back, the way that you came, to the nearest milepost marker (not more than 1200 feet away) and make note of the unique location code at the bottom of that marker (see example, here). This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Then call 911 and give them the location code. Once you call, do NOT leave that location. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
Both South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks are ecological sanctuaries, and all features including plants and animals (living and dead), rocks, minerals, artifacts and fossils are protected by Tennessee State Law. Leave them as you find them. Violators are subject to prosecution.
As in any wilderness environment, obvious hazards exist. Exercise care, stay on marked trails and be adequately prepared for backcountry trips. Filter all stream- and spring-sourced drinking water. Use extra caution when approaching high bluffs. Be careful with fires (only in designated campground fire rings!) and help keep your state park beautiful and natural.
Important Changes to Backcountry Campgrounds
Savage Gulf State Park
Collins East Campground at Savage Gulf
The Collins East Campground is permanently closed due to its remote location, accessibility and proximity to other areas of land that are privately owned and operated. Signage directs visitors away from this campsite to other campgrounds in the park.
South Cumberland State Park
Raven's Point Campground on the Fiery Gizzard Trail
Many long-time guests at SCSP don't know that this popular campsite is actually on private land, and has been permanently closed as a result. It is illegal to camp at Raven's Point. Signage directs visitors away from this campsite to other campgrounds in the park.
Park officials want to create awareness of the fact that the park system has no jurisdiction on private property or land not owned by the park. Visitors should also be aware that most of the trail system along the rim of the Fiery Gizzard is, and will remain, private property. Tread lightly, and leave no trace!
Grundy Forest Campground (replacing the old CCC Campground)
The old "CCC Campground", located in the Grundy Forest area was closed when that site was converted to an interpretive area and partially restored to its original form as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. You can learn more about the CCC Camp Restoration Project here. A new overnight campground, the Grundy Forest Hemlock Grove Campground, was created to replace it. This campground can be accessed from the Grundy Day Loop Trail, about 1/4 mile past the entrance to the CCC Interpretive Area.
Park staff would like to kindly remind visitors to please enjoy and take care of the trail system. The staff and Friends at both parks appreciate your patience and cooperation as these changes take place. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Park Offices (South Cumberland: 931-924-2980 or Savage Gulf: 931-692-3887).
Savage Gulf State Park
Collins East Campground at Savage Gulf
The Collins East Campground is permanently closed due to its remote location, accessibility and proximity to other areas of land that are privately owned and operated. Signage directs visitors away from this campsite to other campgrounds in the park.
South Cumberland State Park
Raven's Point Campground on the Fiery Gizzard Trail
Many long-time guests at SCSP don't know that this popular campsite is actually on private land, and has been permanently closed as a result. It is illegal to camp at Raven's Point. Signage directs visitors away from this campsite to other campgrounds in the park.
Park officials want to create awareness of the fact that the park system has no jurisdiction on private property or land not owned by the park. Visitors should also be aware that most of the trail system along the rim of the Fiery Gizzard is, and will remain, private property. Tread lightly, and leave no trace!
Grundy Forest Campground (replacing the old CCC Campground)
The old "CCC Campground", located in the Grundy Forest area was closed when that site was converted to an interpretive area and partially restored to its original form as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. You can learn more about the CCC Camp Restoration Project here. A new overnight campground, the Grundy Forest Hemlock Grove Campground, was created to replace it. This campground can be accessed from the Grundy Day Loop Trail, about 1/4 mile past the entrance to the CCC Interpretive Area.
Park staff would like to kindly remind visitors to please enjoy and take care of the trail system. The staff and Friends at both parks appreciate your patience and cooperation as these changes take place. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Park Offices (South Cumberland: 931-924-2980 or Savage Gulf: 931-692-3887).
