Obed in Fall
Photo: NPS Photo
About
The Obed Wild and Scenic River looks much the same today as it did when the first white settlers strolled its banks in the late 1700s. While meagerly populated due to poor farming soil, the river was a hospitable fishing and hunting area for trappers and pioneers. Today, the Obed stretches along the Cumberland Plateau and offers visitors a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
Activities
AstronomyStargazingCampingClimbingRock ClimbingFishingFreshwater FishingHikingHunting and GatheringPaddlingCanoe or Kayak CampingJunior Ranger ProgramWildlife WatchingBirdwatchingPark Film
Directions
The Obed Wild & Scenic River Visitor Center is located at 208 North Maiden Street in downtown Wartburg, Tennessee. Please use the link for more information.
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
Mar 31, 2026
The Public is Invited to the Annual Big South Fork and Obed Science Meeting on April 8, 2026
The National Park Service will host an annual public science meeting at Historic Rugby Visitor Center, in Rugby, Tennessee. The public is invited to spend the day with scientists who have been conducting research at Obed Wild and Scenic River, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and other areas on the Cumberland Plateau.
Feb 9, 2026
Obed Adaptive Outdoor Rock-Climbing Program, March 28
Obed Wild and Scenic River will be conducting an adaptive climbing program on Saturday, March 28, from 10 am to 3 pm ET. The program is designed for people with a limb difference or mobility challenge, with the goal of improving the accessibility of rock climbing for a wider range of visitors.
