What We Do
​The Friends of South Cumberland State Park, Inc. is a non-profit group of volunteer citizens dedicated to supporting both South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks.  Together, these parks protect over 31,000 acres of pristine Tennessee wilderness.  Although this is great news, more land, and more visitors, creates new and urgent unmet needs for the parks. New trails must be built, and existing trails must be maintained or upgraded. New and expanded parking areas, restrooms, camping and picnic facilities, interpretive and directional signage are needed. Invasive pests, like the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and invasive plants must be controlled. Guided hikes, seminars and historical re-enactments, including programs for area school children, must be prepared and delivered. And, the work of conserving additional environmentally-significant lands is far from complete.

Use the links below to learn about the various priorities, initiatives, and projects your membership and gifts help address.
Initiatives
Events
(Links will each open in a new tab or window, so you can easily get back to this page to explore other topics.)
Outreach
Your membership and gifts directly help the parks.
  • Your membership and gifts make possible the many initiatives of the Friends of South Cumberland. Your support will enable a group working to save great spaces in the South Cumberland region, while maintaining and enriching this magnificent park through both funding and volunteer initiatives.
  • As a member, you will receive the quarterly FSC e-newsletter and monthly Trail Tracker emails to keep you updated on Friends and Parks issues, events and volunteer opportunities.
  • You will be eligible for members-only programs and events, such as the Tennessee Naturalist Program.
  • By becoming a member of the Friends, or renewing and upgrading your membership, you can help insure that both South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks will always be a safe, protected, well-maintained and amazing place to experience world-class natural beauty!

Friends help
Mountain Goat Trail Alliance

Picture
Friends President-emeritus Naullain Kendrick, right, presents Patrick Dean of the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance with a $10,000 contribution to help fund construction of the MGT between Tracy City and Monteagle, where it will pass both the SCSP Information & Welcome Center and the Grundy Forest trailhead.

Learn More About Us

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.  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.
Please join us in supporting and protecting both South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks!

Our Mission
To aid and assist the managers and staffs of South Cumberland and Savage Gulf State Parks in meeting their objectives, and to inform, educate, engage, and inspire its members and the public to protect, conserve, and enjoy all the resources of the parks.