Big South Fork NRRA in Fall
Photo: NPS Photo
About
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.
Activities
Arts and CultureAstronomyStargazingBikingMountain BikingBoatingCampingBackcountry CampingHorse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)RV CampingClimbingRock ClimbingFishingFreshwater FishingFoodPicnickingHikingHorse TrekkingHorseback RidingHunting and GatheringHuntingPaddlingJunior Ranger ProgramTubingSwimmingPool SwimmingWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPark FilmShoppingBookstore and Park Store
Directions
Please use the following link to learn more about how to get here from various locations.
Get directions →Weather
The weather along the Cumberland Plateau can be best described as unpredictable. Each season brings its own weather patterns. Summers are generally hot and humid, with high temperatures sometimes eclipsing 90 degrees. The low temperatures in winter often dip below freezing. Spring sees the most amount of precipitation, but rainfall can occur in various amounts throughout the year.
News
Jun 24, 2026
Big South Fork’s Brewster Bridge Road to Temporarily Close for Repair
Brewster Bridge Road in Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area will temporarily close for repair and re-pavement beginning on Monday, June 29th. The road was heavily damaged from significant rain events in 2022 and 2023.
Apr 29, 2026
Celebrate the Tradition of Decoration Day at Big South Fork with Cemetery Quest Event
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area will celebrate the deeply rooted tradition of Decoration Day on the Cumberland Plateau with its sixth annual Cemetery Quest event. The event begins at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 2 at Bandy Creek Visitor Center. Following a guided booklet, participants can visit cemeteries throughout the region in search of site-specific information.
Apr 21, 2026
Music, Demonstrations and Guided Bird Walk Highlight the 26th Annual Spring Planting Festival Schedule