Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

Big South Fork NRRA in Fall
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.
Map showing location of park.
A black and white photo with a group of people at a funeral.
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.
A woman sitting down demonstrating how to spin.
Music, Demonstrations and Guided Bird Walk Highlight the 26th Annual Spring Planting Festival Schedule
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will feature a full day of music, historic demonstrations and Appalachian traditions for the 26th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival on April 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend. A free shuttle bus will run throughout the day for those who prefer not to walk between festival locations.
Brewster Bridge Road to Temporarily Close for Repair in May
Brewster Bridge Road in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be temporarily closed for repair and repavement from May to mid-summer. The road was heavily damaged during significant rain events in 2022 and 2023.
Paddlers on boat in the river doing a cleanup.
Big South Fork NRRA Hosts River Cleanup, April 11, 2026
On April 11, Big South Fork NRRA will host a river-based cleanup in partnership with Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and East Tennessee Whitewater Club. The park will determine which section of stream to paddle based on river flow levels and other factors.
Studying Cobble Bar
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.
Big South Fork NRRA in Fall
Photo by NPS Photo