Lone Mountain State Forest
Size: 3,572 acres
Land for Lone Mountain State Forest was acquired by the state through a tax delinquency sale by the Morgan County Chancery Court in 1929 and through a deed transfer by the Lone Mountain Land Company in 1938. The Forest was known as the Lone Mountain Section of Morgan State Forest until 1970 when Morgan State Forest became part of the Division of State Parks and Lone Mountain became a separate State Forest.
It is located on the Cumberland Plateau in east-central Tennessee, in Morgan County, about 4 miles south of Wartburg, just west of U.S. Highway 27. It is approximately 15 miles north of the Tennessee River and Watts Bar Lake, and 35 miles west of Knoxville.
The land was heavily cutover and abused by the Lone Mountain Land Company during their ownership. As a result, a hands-off management strategy was employed on the forest to allow it to recover and regenerate. Between 1939 and 2002 there was almost no no timber harvesting, with the exception of several small timber sales from “day lighting” roads, a group selection demonstration harvest in 1994, and small salvage harvests in the mid-1970s and in 1999-2000 due to tree mortality caused by the southern pine beetle.
On November 10, 2002, a devastating tornado swept through Morgan County. In addition to loss of lives and homes, the storm blew down about 500 acres of timber on the southwest side of the forest. A timber salvage operation to harvest and regenerate about 300 damaged acres was completed in 2004.
In 1957, major forest types consisted of 55% upland hardwoods, 24% of mixed hardwood-pine, and 21% of pine. Following southern pine beetle infestation in the 1970s and late 1990s, the forest is now predominately upland hardwoods with scattered shortleaf and Virginia pine. Near streams on the cooler, lower slopes of the property, several areas of cove hardwoods with eastern white pine and eastern hemlock can be found.
Approximately 52 acres of the forest are being used for seed orchards and genetic studies.Visitors can enjoy 15 miles of trails, including an interpretive nature trail. Recreational uses include hiking, hunting, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
This map shows Lone Mountain State Forest in East Tennessee, including its boundaries, trail system, and designated road and trail uses. The forest covers approximately 3,572 acres across two parcels and includes a State Forest Office, public parking, and horse trailer parking accessible from Highway 27. BMP Road is the only route within the forest open to limited-motorized use by licensed vehicles and OHVs. Trails are designated for either hiking only or for hiking and horseback riding. ATV use is prohibited on state forest roads and trails except for authorized trail maintenance.
The information contained in the map is also available in the sections below. This map was most recently updated in April 2026.
This map shows the designated firewood harvesting area within Lone Mountain State Forest, along with the forest boundary, surrounding roads, the State Forest Office, and parking locations. The harvesting area runs along the Tree Farm Road corridor in the central portion of the forest. A free permit is required to remove dead and down firewood from the state forest, and permits can be obtained from the local Tennessee Division of Forestry office at 423-346-6655, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on state holidays. This map was most recently updated in March 2020.
Contact
Danny Johnson, Area Forester
4314 Roane State Hwy, Rockwood, TN 37854
(865) 354-0258