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Come Explore the Cumberland Plateau

Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.

 
Camper and trailer at Bandy Creek Campground.

Camping

Big South Fork offers two developed campgrounds, Bandy Creek Campground in Tennessee and Blue Heron Campground in Kentucky. Reservations are available at both campgrounds from April through October.
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Bath house at Blue Heron Mining Community

Blue Heron Mining Community

A coal-mining town operating from the 1930’s through the early 1960’s the site once abandoned is now an outdoor museum where the story of life in a company-mining town is told through the words of its former residents.
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Mules plowing field

Special Events

A Spring Planting Festival uses local volunteers to demonstrate turn-of-the-century farm activities and planting with horse and mule drawn equipment. In September, the Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival honors the traditional art of storytelling and mountain crafts.
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Google earth screen shot showing Big South Fork.

Google Earth - Big South Fork

Google Earth combines the power of Google Search with satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips.

Big South Fork staff have compiled a collection of overlays featuring park or regional features, facilities and resources as well as a host of other interesting Google Earth links.
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Write to

Big South Fork NRRA
4564 Leatherwood Road
Oneida, Tennessee 37841

Phone

Visitor Information
(423) 286-7275

Resource Protection Hotline
(423) 569-2404 ext. 505

Fax

(423) 569-5505

Climate

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is located in a humid climatic region, typified by mild winters and moist warm to hot summers. Storm systems typically bring heavy rains from December through March which may cause flooding. Summer thunderstorms are common. Winter snowfall occurs intermittently in the area and averages 17 inches per year. Wear comfortable clothing for the season and bring clothing for the possible extremes.
Communities Surrounding Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
Note: The times listed below are approximate driving times to the park.
Revelo, KY (20 min. )
Stearns, KY (23 min. ) Pop. 1,586
Strunk, KY (23 min. )
Pine Knot, KY (25 min. ) Pop. 1,680
Whitley City, KY (27 min. ) Pop. 1,111
Winfield, TN (30 min. ) Pop. 911
Marshes Siding, KY (30 min. )
Oneida, TN (32 min. ) Pop. 3,615
Parkers Lake, KY (38 min. )
Helenwood, TN (39 min. ) Pop. 846
 Huntsville, TN (45 min. ) Pop. 981
Robbins, TN (49 min. )
Elgin, TN (50 min. )
Emlyn, KY (52 min. )
Liberty, KY (55 min. ) Pop. 1,850
Monticello, KY (56 min. ) Pop. 5,981
Rugby, TN (59 min. )
Jellico, TN (1 hr.  3 min. ) Pop. 2,448
Pioneer, TN (1 hr.  5 min. )
Newcomb, TN (1 hr.  8 min. )