Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park
| Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park | |
|---|---|
 View into Rocky Fork from Buzzard Rock. | |
  Location of park in Tennessee | |
| Type | Tennessee State Park |
| Location | Flag Pond, Tennessee, US |
| Nearest city | Erwin, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 36°03′03″N 82°34′16″W / 36.05083°N 82.57111°W |
| Area | 2,075 acres (8.40 km2)[1] |
| Operated by | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation |
| Open | Year-round |
| Hiking trails | 8 |
| Designation | October 2012[1] |
| Website | tnstateparks |
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
[edit]The following state parks are within 30 miles (48 km) of Rocky Fork State Park:
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Rocky Fork State Park – About". Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ "Rocky Fork State Park – Activities". Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ Crocker, Brittany (January 7, 2019). "Rocky Fork State Park renamed to honor Sen. Lamar Alexander". Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Rocky Fork State Park – Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club's Trail Wiki