

Pickett CCC Memorial State Park in Tennessee is not a well-known or even that large of a park. But in terms of the outdoor recreation and natural beauty that can be enjoyed there, not to mention dozens of other unique attractions in the area, it makes an ideal place to visit. This is especially true if you enjoy kayaking/rafting, hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking and stargazing, or just getting away from it all!
Located less than five hours from the Miami Valley (mostly via I-75) in the north-central portion of the state, Pickett CCC State Park is situated inside of the 21,000 acre Pickett State Forest and adjacent to the massive 125,000 acre Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Besides a few small towns and farms here and there, the entire region is nothing but lush Appalachian forest and part of the ancient Cumberland Plateau—known for its dramatic sandstone cliffs, deep gorges and valleys, caves and waterfalls, rock arches and bridges, mountaintop vistas, and rugged beauty.
Pickett CCC State Park is also an official Dark Sky Park, meaning there is very little light pollution in the region to obscure the vivid and beautiful night sky. This sets the stage for a peaceful getaway where the nights are so quiet that you can hear a bird call from miles away, and where the trails, streams and adventures seem to stretch on endlessly.
The park gets its name because it was initially developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1934 and 1942. The CCC constructed hiking trails, cabins, a recreation lodge, the 12-acre Pickett Lake and many other features. A statue and small museum at the entrance of the park pays homage to the workers from this era, who not only built Pickett State Park, but also many other parks in the United States.




There are several lodging options at the state park, and even more in the region, including everything from log cabins to rustic riverside campgrounds. The state park offers a peaceful 26-space campground with a modern bathhouse and rest rooms, as well as 17 fully furnished cabins, each nestled in the woods and situated close to the main attractions at the park, including its sandy beach, numerous trailheads and (the main attraction) the lake.
While more advanced kayakers (and rafters) will find whitewater and adventure on the nearby Big South Fork Cumberland River (especially in the spring), Pickett Lake and Thompson Creek (both located within the state park) are suitable for all ages and skill levels. Both waterways take kayakers through what seems to be a labyrinth of miniature sandstone caverns and cliffs and through a natural rock bridge. Parts of Thompson Creek (which feeds Pickett Lake) are extremely narrow, yet still surrounded by these beautiful sandstone walls and deep waters filled with trout. In some sections, the overgrowth of trees, shrubs and flowering plants creates a forested tunnel that kayakers must pass through.
Although it only takes about an hour or two to kayak the lake and creek, it is a powerful and magical experience.
But the magic doesn’t stop on the lake.




Glow Worms that Look Like Stars in a Cave
According to Tennessee State Parks (TSP), Pickett CCC State Park is also home to a “magical” glowing creature. Within the park (inside of a Hazard Cave to be exact, see below), visitors will find glow worms, a species that is found only in very particular places in the United States, including Pickett State Park and the adjacent Big South Fork National Recreation Area.
The glow worms are not, in fact, worms, but insect larvae of the fungus gnat (Ofelia fultoni). In the dark confines of the Hazard Cave rock house (and other remote locations in the region), these glow worms emit blue, glowing light on the cave walls and the surrounding vegetation. When they are at their peak, and it is dark enough, it looks like the night sky is reflecting on the ground of the huge cave!
According to TSP, these “glow worms” were discovered in 1975, and much is still unknown about them. It is believed that they use their luminescence to attract prey. Nocturnal flying insects that are typically guided by the night sky might mistake the glow worms for the stars and fly into the larvae’s silk webs, becoming food.
The glow worms are typically active from mid May through early July, but are the best and brightest in the early weeks of June. Nighttime cave tours are offered by the state park during this time and are listed on the park’s online event calendar, as are numerous Dark Sky programs and festivals.
Additionally, the area is known for its abundance of synchronous fireflies (lighting bugs), which can light up the forests when the sun goes down, especially on warm summer nights. The park also hosts night hikes through the insect-lit forests in the summer.






Bird Watching at the Park
Bird watching is another popular activity at Pickett State Park, and throughout the region.
According to the TSP, year-round residents include red-tailed hawk, owls, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, eastern towhee, and field and song sparrows. In summer, breeding whip-poor-wills can be heard singing at dawn and dusk, while hooded warbler, worm-eating warbler, wood thrush, and ruby-throated hummingbirds can be found during the day. Flycatchers, eastern wood pewee, blue-gray gnatcatcher, vireos, warblers, and tanagers are also found in summer. Northern rough-winged swallows and eastern phoebes nest on rock faces. In winter, yellow-bellied sapsucker, red-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, winter wren, hermit thrush, kinglets, yellow-rumped warbler, purple finch and sparrows can be encountered. Over 100 species of birds have been observed primarily in spring, summer and fall. For more information, visit tnbirdingtrail.org.
Hiking the Days Away
Ultimately, Pickett State Park is for hikers!
There are hundreds of miles of hiking (and bridle) trails in this part of Tennessee, many that lead to amazing geological features and beautiful vistas, as well as to historic landmarks, including old railroad tunnels (often in very remote parts of the forest), abandoned mining towns and historic farmsteads, among other interesting attractions. Backpackers will find dozens of backcountry campsites along a vast network of trails in the region.
One of the most popular trails (the Ladder Trail), which is accessible from the campground, contains single- rung ladders that hikers must use to move up and down the terrain. It is a shorter trail, while others are tens of miles long.





And So Much More
Whether visiting over a long weekend, a week, or even longer, if you’re looking for a place to really get away from it all, and to find great adventures, Pickett CCC State Park is not too far, but certainly far enough. If you go, listed at right and below are some things to do around the park and in the vicinity.