ParkSmarts™: What you need to know for a safe and fun visit!
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PARKS' TRAIL MILEPOST SYSTEM
LOOK FOR THE MILEPOST MARKERS, AND KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN!
Throughout the parks you’ll see a series of metal disks mounted to trees or posts along our trails, every half mile. These milepost markers will help you keep track of your location.
REMEMBER TO BRING
A MAP WITH YOU!
South Cumberland and Savage Gulf are vast WILDERNESS parks! Park maps are available for download online, here and in paper form at the Park's Information & Welcome Center [view driving directions to the Info & Welcome Center, here]. The trail maps show you each of the nearly 100 miles of trails in the parks, and how to get there. These are huge parks, spanning four counties, and having a trail map is the best way to know where you’re going, and how to safely get back to your car!
• If you, or someone in your group are LOST...
... and you need to call 911 for emergency assistance, stay on the trail, and walk to the nearest milepost marker. Remember, the nearest marker may be in front or behind you, but it should not be more than 1300 feet away! When you get to the marker, call 911 and give them the unique location code you’ll see on the bottom of that marker (see example, above). This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Once you call, do NOT leave that location. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
• If you, or someone in your group are INJURED and can still walk...
... but you still need to call 911 for emergency assistance, stay on the trail, and walk to the nearest milepost marker. Remember, the nearest marker may be in front or behind you, but it should not be more than 1300 feet away! When you get to the marker, call 911 and give them the unique location code you’ll see on the bottom of that marker (see example, above). This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Once you call, do NOT leave that location. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
• If you, or someone in your group are INJURED but CANNOT walk...
... designate one person who can walk to stay on the trail, and walk to the nearest milepost marker. Remember, the nearest marker may be in front or behind you, but it should not be more than 1300 feet away! When you get to the marker, call 911 and give them the unique location code you’ll see on the bottom of that marker (see example, above); and how far from there your injured person is located. This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Once you call, do NOT leave that location, unless it is critical that you attend to the injured person. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
NOT ALL PARTS OF THE PARKS HAVE CELL SERVICE!
If you need to call 911 but cannot get a signal, everyone in your group should always stay on the trail. Walk back, the way that you came, to the nearest milepost marker (not more than 1300 feet away) and make note of the unique location code at the bottom of that marker (see example, above). Everyone in your group, except for one person who will be trying to get a cell signal, should stay at this location, and not leave. Be sure your designated caller takes a picture of the unique location code on the bottom of that marker. Your designated caller should then continue walking back the way you came, staying on the trail at all times, until they get a cell signal AND are standing by another milepost marker, and then call 911 for help. They should give the emergency responder both the location code of their location, and the location code of the marker where the rest of your group is located. This will tell emergency responders exactly where to find each of you.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS.
Check the weather for our area before you head out, and dress accordingly! Many parts of the parks are at an elevation of 2000 feet above sea level, which means it can get colder here than at lower elevations nearby. Rain in the valleys can be snow or ice "up top". Dress appropriately for the weather, with layers in the winter, including eye and face protection; make sure you’re wearing sturdy hiking boots, have plenty of water, high-energy snacks, a first-aid kit, and know how to use it. Hiking poles are always a good idea. Have several sources of light, such as headlamps. Charge your phone before you head out, but don’t try to use it as a flashlight! It won't last long, and it's probably more important to save your battery to make emergency phone calls.
South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks are on Central Time. Know when the sun will set today!
As you visit the parks, be aware of how long it has taken you to hike in, and allow at least an equal amount of time to hike out. Before you begin, make sure you are aware of today’s sunset time. Our shaded gorges, gulfs and coves get dark before our mountaintop and plateau areas! Here is the average local sunset time for each month of the year in the South Cumberland region:
Throughout the parks you’ll see a series of metal disks mounted to trees or posts along our trails, every half mile. These milepost markers will help you keep track of your location.
REMEMBER TO BRING
A MAP WITH YOU!
South Cumberland and Savage Gulf are vast WILDERNESS parks! Park maps are available for download online, here and in paper form at the Park's Information & Welcome Center [view driving directions to the Info & Welcome Center, here]. The trail maps show you each of the nearly 100 miles of trails in the parks, and how to get there. These are huge parks, spanning four counties, and having a trail map is the best way to know where you’re going, and how to safely get back to your car!
• If you, or someone in your group are LOST...
... and you need to call 911 for emergency assistance, stay on the trail, and walk to the nearest milepost marker. Remember, the nearest marker may be in front or behind you, but it should not be more than 1300 feet away! When you get to the marker, call 911 and give them the unique location code you’ll see on the bottom of that marker (see example, above). This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Once you call, do NOT leave that location. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
• If you, or someone in your group are INJURED and can still walk...
... but you still need to call 911 for emergency assistance, stay on the trail, and walk to the nearest milepost marker. Remember, the nearest marker may be in front or behind you, but it should not be more than 1300 feet away! When you get to the marker, call 911 and give them the unique location code you’ll see on the bottom of that marker (see example, above). This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Once you call, do NOT leave that location. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
• If you, or someone in your group are INJURED but CANNOT walk...
... designate one person who can walk to stay on the trail, and walk to the nearest milepost marker. Remember, the nearest marker may be in front or behind you, but it should not be more than 1300 feet away! When you get to the marker, call 911 and give them the unique location code you’ll see on the bottom of that marker (see example, above); and how far from there your injured person is located. This code will tell emergency responders exactly where to find you. Once you call, do NOT leave that location, unless it is critical that you attend to the injured person. This will help insure that help arrives as quickly as possible.
NOT ALL PARTS OF THE PARKS HAVE CELL SERVICE!
If you need to call 911 but cannot get a signal, everyone in your group should always stay on the trail. Walk back, the way that you came, to the nearest milepost marker (not more than 1300 feet away) and make note of the unique location code at the bottom of that marker (see example, above). Everyone in your group, except for one person who will be trying to get a cell signal, should stay at this location, and not leave. Be sure your designated caller takes a picture of the unique location code on the bottom of that marker. Your designated caller should then continue walking back the way you came, staying on the trail at all times, until they get a cell signal AND are standing by another milepost marker, and then call 911 for help. They should give the emergency responder both the location code of their location, and the location code of the marker where the rest of your group is located. This will tell emergency responders exactly where to find each of you.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS.
Check the weather for our area before you head out, and dress accordingly! Many parts of the parks are at an elevation of 2000 feet above sea level, which means it can get colder here than at lower elevations nearby. Rain in the valleys can be snow or ice "up top". Dress appropriately for the weather, with layers in the winter, including eye and face protection; make sure you’re wearing sturdy hiking boots, have plenty of water, high-energy snacks, a first-aid kit, and know how to use it. Hiking poles are always a good idea. Have several sources of light, such as headlamps. Charge your phone before you head out, but don’t try to use it as a flashlight! It won't last long, and it's probably more important to save your battery to make emergency phone calls.
South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks are on Central Time. Know when the sun will set today!
As you visit the parks, be aware of how long it has taken you to hike in, and allow at least an equal amount of time to hike out. Before you begin, make sure you are aware of today’s sunset time. Our shaded gorges, gulfs and coves get dark before our mountaintop and plateau areas! Here is the average local sunset time for each month of the year in the South Cumberland region:
January 4:40 (CST)
February 5:10 (CST)
March 6:44 (CDT)
April 7:04 (CDT)
May 7:29 (CDT)
June 8:01 (CDT)
July 7:46 (CDT)
August 7:10 (CDT)
September 6:27 (CDT)
October 5:48 (CDT)
November 4:30 (CST)
December 4:29 (CST)
CST = Central Standard Time
CDT = Central Daylight Time
February 5:10 (CST)
March 6:44 (CDT)
April 7:04 (CDT)
May 7:29 (CDT)
June 8:01 (CDT)
July 7:46 (CDT)
August 7:10 (CDT)
September 6:27 (CDT)
October 5:48 (CDT)
November 4:30 (CST)
December 4:29 (CST)
CST = Central Standard Time
CDT = Central Daylight Time
Some Important Reminders
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 LED flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries.
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! Be prepared to sit it out until dawn, or until someone finds you. Our rangers and area emergency responders are very good, but SCSP is a huge park; so the more precisely you can describe where you are, the more quickly they can find you. Knowing how to use the park's milepost marker system (above) could be the difference between getting quick help, or spending the night outside, in potentially unpleasant or dangerous weather.
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 LED flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries.
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! Be prepared to sit it out until dawn, or until someone finds you. Our rangers and area emergency responders are very good, but SCSP is a huge park; so the more precisely you can describe where you are, the more quickly they can find you. Knowing how to use the park's milepost marker system (above) could be the difference between getting quick help, or spending the night outside, in potentially unpleasant or dangerous weather.
