Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

Nestled atop the Cumberland Plateau on the Tennessee/Kentucky border in north-central Tennessee is the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (BSF), a 125,000-acre national park.

The park is the fifth-largest national park unit east of the Mississippi River and is widely visited by outdoors recreation enthusiasts seeking a place to ride their horses, hike, paddle their boats and pedal their bikes. The BSF is also a renowned destination amongst rock climbers, hunters and anglers, and those who simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Often called the "quiet alternative to the Great Smoky Mountains", Big South Fork offers scenery that’s just as stunning as the larger national park two hours further east, with smaller crowds to contend with.

The park is perhaps best known for its unique geological landscapes and features. The Twin Arches are among North America's largest natural land bridges, while the park is also home to hundreds of smaller natural arches, rock houses, and waterfalls. The Big South Fork River empties into the Cumberland River in Kentucky. This famous river is one of the few rivers in the nation that flows south to north. The Cumberland River is also one of the few rivers in the South that haven’t been tamed by dams.

Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat borders the Big South Fork, with tens of thousands of acres of the Big South Fork backcountry and trails directly out the back door of the cabins at the retreat.

The Big South Fork hosts two festivals each year: the Spring Planting and Music Festival each April and the Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival each September. The neighboring towns of Jamestown and Oneida host several festivals each year as well.

For more information, please visit the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area official website at nps.gov/biso

Experience Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area!