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, including its boundaries, trail system, and designated road and trail uses. The forest covers approximately 8,365 acres across two main tracts on the Cumberland Plateau and includes State Forest Offices and access points along Highway 285, Highway 101, and Highway 30. Trails and roads are designated for all traffic (hiking, biking, horseback, and motorized), hiking only, or non-motorized use only (hiking, biking, and horseback). The map also identifies a designated safety zone where no hunting is allowed near the State Forest Offices, along with two additional no-hunting areas south of Bee Creek and south of Highway 30. The forest is adjacent to 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 sections below. This map was most recently updated in March 2026.
Contact
Nica Ables, State Forest Forester
310 Fire Tower Road
Sewanee, TN 37375
931-319-6959