Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park

This article is about a park in Tennessee. For the park in Ohio, see Rocky Fork State Park (Ohio).
Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park
View into Rocky Fork from Buzzard Rock.
Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park is located in Tennessee
Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park
Location of park in Tennessee
TypeTennessee State Park
LocationFlag Pond, Tennessee, US
Nearest cityErwin, Tennessee
Coordinates36°03′03″N 82°34′16″W / 36.05083°N 82.57111°W / 36.05083; -82.57111
Area2,075 acres (8.40 km2)[1]
Operated byTennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
OpenYear-round
Hiking trails8
DesignationOctober 2012[1]
Websitetnstateparks.com/parks/rocky-fork

Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park (RFSP) is a 2,265 acres (9.17 km2)[1] state park in Unicoi County in East Tennessee. It is situated in the Blue Ridge region of the Appalachian Mountains, close to the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. The park is adjacent to the Cherokee National Forest, and it is in close proximity to the Appalachian Trail. The Sampson Mountain Wilderness is also nearby.[1]

Rocky Fork State Park was established in 2013, and facilities have not been developed, however the park does have a ranger station and gift shop located outside the park in the Flag Pond community.

Hiking and mountain biking are permitted on a network of old road beds, and fishing is allowed in Rocky Fork and South Indian Creeks, below and downstream of the State Park Main Entrance Gate.[2]

The park was renamed from "Rocky Fork State Park" in January 2019 in honor of then-Senator Lamar Alexander, who was in his last term.[3]

Nearby state parks

The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Rocky Fork State Park:

Roan Mountain State Park
Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Rocky Fork State Park – About". Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  2. ^ "Rocky Fork State Park – Activities". Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  3. ^ Crocker, Brittany (January 7, 2019). "Rocky Fork State Park renamed to honor Sen. Lamar Alexander". Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee.
A view of the creek from Rocky Fork Trail.