Tennessee – While the area is certainly experiencing some wintry weather, there are still a number of special events from hikes to holiday programs at Tennessee State Parks! So, bundle up and join us – but be sure to check for cancellations and road conditions before you brave the cold!
Finding a state park in your own backyard is easy to do and you don’t have to spend a lot of gas money to get there!
Tennessee State Parks offer a variety of activities and events throughout the winter. From great hikes to bluegrass – there’s something designed for the entire family!
Here are just a few state park events in your area.
South Cumberland State Park
South Cumberland State Park will host a variety of unique hikes and programs this weekend, including:
- Animal Tracks: Friday, December 17th at 2:00pm – Meet the ranger at the Stone Door Ranger Station for a discussion on native animals. Participants will create their own field guides to take home for identification of tracks around the park or in your own backyard!
- Pinecone Birdfeeders: Saturday, December 18th at 2:00pm – Join park staff at the Stone Door Ranger Station to learn about our feathered friends and their role in the ecosystem, while making pinecone birdfeeders.
- Snakes: Sunday, December 19th at 2:00pm – Meet at the Stone Door Ranger Station to learn about snakes and how to identify the few venomous snakes in the area.
- Fall Farewell Hikes: Sunday, December 19th at 9:00am and 2:00pm – Bring in the winter weather with a smile and a hike. Meet Ranger Jason at Foster Falls at 9:00am for a moderate jaunt to the TVA Small Wilds area. Unable to make the morning hike? Then join Ranger Brent at 2:00pm for the Sycamore Falls Hike. Meet at the Grundy Forest parking lot for this moderate three-mile hike down to Sycamore Falls. Bring sturdy shoes, water and a light snack.
- Humbug Hike: Saturday, December 25th at 2:00pm – Didn’t get the present you wanted? That’s okay, you can always take a hike! Meet the ranger at the Carter State Natural Area parking lot for this four-mile moderate hike. Carter State Natural Area is in the southwest section of the South Cumberland complex.
Located near Monteagle, South Cumberland is one of the newer Tennessee State Parks. Almost the entire park lies atop the Cumberland Plateau and, unlike most state parks, South Cumberland is made up of ten different areas located in four different counties. The Visitor Center is located between Monteagle and Tracy City on Highway 41. For more information about the park, please call 931-924-2980 or visit www.tnstateparks.com/SouthCumberland.
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park will host “Christmas at the Front: Stories from the World Wars” on Saturday, December 18th, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Against the backdrop of the two greatest military conflagrations the modern world has ever known, the importance of Christmas shone through as unbelievable stories of friendship, courage and compassion emerged triumphant. Citing World War I history, Park Manager Robin Wooten added that this particular war was supposed to be over by Christmas. Yet by December 1914, millions of men lay dead across Europe and the war was just beginning. Twenty years later the world was thrust into another World War even more horrific than its predecessor.
Join park staff for light refreshments as they present amazing Christmas stories recorded by World War I and World War II soldiers. “Christmas at the Front” also will include tales of American soldiers stationed in Iceland on Christmas Day in 1943.
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park and Museum is a historic site near Byrdstown, north of Cookeville. The 45-acre site includes a representation of Hull’s log cabin birthplace, an activities center and a museum housing documents and artifacts, including Hull’s Nobel Peace Prize. The park also features the beautiful Bunkum Cave Trail, leading to an overlook and the entrance of historic Bunkum Cave. For more information about this unique holiday event, please call 931-864-3247. Additional information about the park can be found at www.tnstateparks.com/CordellHull.
Long Hunter State Park
Stay tuned for The Nature Circle’s January programming schedule, which will be announced in the coming weeks. Special cancellation and holiday schedule note: The Evergreen program, previously scheduled for December 20th, has been cancelled. In addition, the park would like to also take this time to inform visitors about the holiday schedule for The Nature Circle, which will be closed December 27th and January 3rd.
The Nature Circle is an interactive group made up of nature-themed stories, puppets, songs and crafts for ages three to five. The group meets at the park visitor center every Monday at 10:00am and is co-sponsored by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park. Children are encouraged to bring an item, such as a favorite book, stuffed animal or photograph that relates to each week’s theme. For a complete schedule of events, please visit www.friendsoflonghunter.com/kidsplace.html or call 615-885-2422.
Long Hunter State Park is situated along the shore of J. Percy Priest Lake. It consists of four units: Couchville, Baker’s Grove, Bryant Grove and Sellars Farm. Picnicking, swimming, hiking, backpacking, boating, fishing, nature photography and wildlife observation are among the activities available to park visitors. Planned activities include interpretive and recreation programs for the general public and environmental education programs for school and other interested groups. For more information about Long Hunter State Park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/LongHunter or call 615-885-2422.
Tennessee State Parks
Tennessee’s 53 state parks and 81 natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families, or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free 1-888-867-2757. For additional information, visit our Web site at www.tnstateparks.com.
