Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Tennessee – Volunteer Vacations 2022

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. There are five bridges in the Jakes Place (Historic) landscape which were built several years ago, and they are in need of being removed and rebuilt. American Hiking Society volunteers will work on replacing one of these bridges during your week of service. There are no buildings left standing at Jakes Place other than the remnants of an old fire place. There are three streams that meet at the Jakes Place to form the beginning of Station Camp Creek. With the beginning of summer the area is abundant with wildlife, wildflowers, birds and lush green trees. It is an area for foot traffic only and it is truly a peaceful area to visit, even if only for one day.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), Shawandasse Tula and (Shawanwaki/Shawnee)peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, and those who continue to steward these lands today. AHS invites all volunteers to join us in our commitment to support and amplify the work of Indigenous communities as they work to dismantle the systems of oppression that these communities continue to face today.