Bledsoe State Forest
Size: 8,365 acres
Bledsoe State Forest is located on the Cumberland Plateau in Bledsoe, Cumberland, Van Buren, and White Counties.
The land was originally purchased by the State Department of Institutions in 1907. In 1933, 6,656 acres were designated as State Forest.
The timber types present include mixed upland hardwoods, mixed hardwood pine, planted white and loblolly pine, and hemlock pine. Much of the pine timber in the southern section was wiped out and salvaged due to a southern pine beetle outbreak in the early 2000s.
Areas of the forest are used for tree improvement studies where strains of various species are grown to determine their suitability as high quality timber.
Recreational activities include hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing. Fall Creek State Park is approximately 3 miles southwest.
- GPS Coordinates of Main Entrance: 35.681907, -85.269735
This map shows Bledsoe State Forest on the Cumberland Plateau. The forest covers about 8,365 acres across two main tracts. It is accessed via Highway 285, Highway 101 and Highway 30. The forest is home to State Forest Offices and a designated safety zone where no hunting is allowed. Two additional no-hunting areas are located south of Bee Creek and south of Highway 30. Roads and trails are designated for all traffic, hiking only or non-motorized use. Non-motorized use includes hiking, biking and horseback riding. All traffic includes those uses plus motorized vehicles. The forest borders Scotts Gulf Wilderness State Park to the north and Fall Creek Falls State Park to the southwest. The information contained in the map is also available in the button below. This map was most recently updated in March 2026.
This map shows the designated firewood collection area within Bledsoe State Forest, along with the forest boundary, internal road network and State Forest Office location. The harvest area runs along Buck Ridge Road and CC Camp Road in the southern tract of the forest. A permit is required to remove firewood from the state forest, and free permits can be obtained from the local Tennessee Division of Forestry office at 931-319-6959, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on state holidays. This map was most recently updated in May 2026.
Contact
Nica Ables, State Forest Forester
310 Fire Tower Road
Sewanee, TN 37375
931-319-6959