Rocky Fork State Park
Rocky Fork is a recent public land acquisition and therefore can provide a remote wilderness experience for those interested in trail hiking or biking. Be warned though that the trails are not clearly marked, if at all, and it is currently not heavily frequented so do not count on the help of others as part of your emergency plan.
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(A) 36.0482662,-82.556677 Trailhead to Rocky Fork Tract Locked gate </googlemap>
Click on line to show the trail name.
How to get there
From I-26 in Tennessee at Exit 46:
- From the Exit 46 Welcome Center follow the access road back under the interstate about 0.2 miles to its end into Clear Branch Road (street sign is often missing).
- If heading east on I-26 and not wishing to stop at the Welcome Center, simply turn right off the Exit 46 ramp and follow the access road a few hundred yards down to Clear Branch Rd. (west-bound traffic will turn left from the exit ramp onto the welcome ctr. access road)
- Turn right onto Clear Branch and head down thru the tiny community of Clear Branch, past the Clear Branch Church, and down the steep grade to the stop sign - about 0.8 mile.
- Turn left onto TN-352 (old US 23 - usually no sign here either) and go about 2.5 miles to Rocky Fork Road on your right.
- Follow RF Rd. about 0.8 mile up to the parking area at the blue gate on your left. The stream along Rocky Fork Road is very scenic, with lots of cascades, deep pools and giant boulders. Great trout fishing too.
- Park in the small area on the right of the short gravel road leading to the gate. Try to leave room for other vehicles if possible.
Alternative routes: Take I-26, Exit 43 (Temple Hill), then right onto Hwy. 352 South to Rocky Fork Rd. on right; or I-26, Exit 50 (Flag Pond) and left onto Higgins Creek Rd. to Flag Pond Rd. (often not signed), then right on Flag Pond Rd. to Rocky Fork Rd. on left
Trails
The Rocky Fork area offers the following trails to explore:
| Trail | Miles | Difficulty | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance Road | 0.7 | Easy | scenic streamside walk |
| Flint Creek Trail | 2.8 | Difficult | Scenic valley hike - sometimes walking in the creek |
| Flint Mountain Trail | 4.7 | Medium | Loop hike |
| Snake Den Ridge Trail | |||
| Blockstand Creek Trail | |||
| Headwaters Trail | 5.3 | Medium | Multiple creek crossings - couple deep |
| High Country Trail | |||
| Hidden Lake Trail | 8.7 | Hard | Long climb to a figure 8 loop around man-made lake |
Fees/Permits
Not permitted on the watershed are horses, motor vehicles, fires or camping.
In October 2012, Rocky Fork was designated as Tennessee’s 55th state park with roughly 2,000 acres to be accessible with future plans of an access road, ranger station, primitive campground, picnic areas and trails.