From the mighty Mississippi River and Delta in the west to the towering mountains of eastern Tennessee, the versatile “Volunteer State” offers visitors phenomenal outdoor adventures.
In the northwest corner of Tennessee, near Tiptonville, you will find Reelfoot Lake State Park. With a topography created by a series of earthquakes in the early 1800s, today’s Reelfoot Lake is one of the most important game and fishing reserves in the United States. Bird watchers at Reelfoot see American Bald Eagles or Golden Eagles, as well as a host of shorebirds. There is even a video screen in the visitor center with live images of birds nesting in the park’s captive eagle habitat. The 25,000 acre Reelfoot Lake is actually a flooded cypress forest, navigable by canoe or jon boat, producing seasonal catches of crappie, bream, bluegill, bass, or catfish. There are other opportunities to get in touch with the nautical side of the park, as the park’s naturalists lead daily pontoon tours, as well as sunset and full moon cruises. Reelfoot also features a canoe trail, a driving tour that highlights the many points of interest, and three hiking trails spanning forests, lakes, and swamps.
In the middle of Tennessee, on the northern border near Dover, is the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a 170,000-acre piece of land that straddles both Tennessee and Kentucky. At this preserve between Lakes Barkley and Kentucky, hikers, bikers, and horseback riders traverse slopes, meadows, and lakefront getaways on 200 miles of developed trails, abandoned logging trails, and scenic jungle roads. An abundance of lakes and ponds large and small, boat ramps, and a pier make the area a prime spot for fishing for bass, crappies, catfish and bluegill. Visitors can observe resident wildlife at Woodlands Nature Station or see moose and buffalo in the wild in a unique habitat restoration project at the Elk and Bison Prairie and Range.
Want to see the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains? Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park, located between Spencer and Pikeville, has it. The waterfall of the same name is 256 feet high, compared to the 167-foot height of Niagara Falls, on the American side.
What Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park also has are other mighty waterfalls; oak, walnut, poplar and hemlock forests; and picturesque gorges decorated with rhododendrons and mountain laurel. There are canoes and pedal boats to rent for a tour of the lake. Otherwise, hikers, bikers, and mountain bikers do well on their own, enjoying views of forests, waterfalls, rolling streams, and great gorges from a good variety of day-use trails.
Eastern Tennessee, land of the Great Smokies and Cumberland Gap, offers tourists more than 80 miles of spectacular waterways in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the Cumberland River in Oneida. Whitewater adventures for canoeists, kayakers, and rafters are the main attraction here, and seasoned paddlers find that the challenges of the Big South Fork waters are on par with the biggest and best rapids in the eastern states. In addition to the exhilaration of the rapids and magnificent views of the gorge and river valley, Big South Fork offers riders more than 150 miles of designated trails. An equally extensive network of glowing trails was created for hikers.
Another wonder of the east is the Frozen Head State Natural Area, near Wartburg. Located in the Cumberland Mountains, Frozen Head gets its name from its highest summit, a peak that frequently freezes over with ice or snow during the winter months. An observation tower offers a panoramic view of the Great Smokies, Cumberland Plateau, and the Tennessee Valley. Known as a fine local wildflower, Frozen Head also has its fair share of waterfalls. The impressive sandstone formations, 14 picturesque mountain ridges, and teeming streams shouldn’t be overlooked either. There’s even a horseback riding trail and over 50 miles of colorful trails for hikers.
The Cherokee National Forest in Cleveland spans more than 600,000 acres in 10 Tennessee counties. Divided in two by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee is ideal for self-guided driving tours traversing mountain rivers, gorges, cliffs, valleys, forests, canyons, and incredible waterfalls. Your RV will thank you. Canoeing, kayaking, rafting, and floatation are popular pastimes on the Cherokee’s five whitewater rivers. Those who prefer to see forest views on foot can hike 540 miles of hiking trails, including 150 miles of the legendary Appalachian Trail. There are also designated trails for horseback riding and mountain biking where passersby have the opportunity to see all manner of wildlife, from salamanders, chipmunks, and chickadees to black bears and wild boars.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg occupies 500,000 wooded acres in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. The most visited national park in the United States receives nine million visitors a year, which means that peak summer months are probably not the best time to visit. This Appalachian sanctuary offers a wild and wonderful landscape of waterfalls, forests, mountain peaks, tranquil coves, trout streams, and vibrant wildflowers. Great Smoky is criss-crossed by nature trails where hikers and bikers spot bobcats, snapping turtles, marmots, and river otters. Swimming, tubing, fishing, and nature photography are other favorite activities in this incredible park.