Pickett State Forest
Size: 20,844 acres
Pickett State Forest is located in northeastern Tennessee in Pickett and Fentress Counties near the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The eastern side of the forest is adjacent to the Big South Fork Recreation Area.
This forest originated from a land donation to the state by Stearns Coal and Lumber Company in 1933. It became a State Forest in 1935. At the time of donation, most of the merchantable sawtimber had been removed and the area had been repeatedly subjected to fire and grazing.
About 53% of the forest is hardwood types, 24% is pine types, and 21% is mixed hardwood and pine. Almost the entire forest (95%) is in trees older than 40 years and most of the area is well stocked. Basal area averages about 80 square feet per acre and 60% of that is hardwood. There are also three unregulated areas (916 acres) that have been set aside to protect the integrity of view sheds and water quality.
There are 46 known archaeological sites on the forest. The forest has been the site of research projects conducted by various universities.
Hunting has been a traditional use of the forest. In addition, there are 35 miles of hiking trails and certain forest roads are available for horseback riding. All types of OHVs use unimproved roads. Rock climbing, bird watching, and swimming are also popular activities.
February 2025 - An updated Pickett State Forest Recreation Use map shows a total of 14.5 miles of hiking trails designated for foot traffic only, 18.2 miles of non-motorized use on unpaved roads (hiking, biking, horseback riding), and 34.7 miles of motorized use paved and unpaved roads.
In addition, two unpaved roads (Yellow Doors Road, Redmond Rim Road) have been newly designated as seasonal motorized use roads. This will minimize future damage to these roads by removing vehicles from these roads during the seasons that receive the most rain while continuing to allow access during drier months when motorized use will impact the roads less. They will be open to motorized traffic from March 15 through December 20.
Finally, gates have been installed at the northern forest boundary to block entry to Kentucky via Redmond Mountain Road and Carpenter Rockhouse Road.
Designated motorized use roads in the northwestern portion of the forest are accessible from by veering left at the Redmond Mountain Road/Store 14 Road split. Roads and trails in this area of the forest have the following designated usage.
- Redmond Mountain Road (before Carpenter Rockhouse Split): Motorized Use Allowed
- Yellow Doors Road: Seasonal Limited Access for Motorized Use (Closed Dec. 20 to Mar. 15)
- Redmond Rim Road: Seasonal Limited Access for Motorized Use (Closed Dec. 20 to Mar. 15)
- Oil Well Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
- Jim Spike Bluff Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
- Three Corners Ridge Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
- Redmond Cable Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
- Carpenter Rockhouse Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
- Redmond Mountain Road (After Carpenter Rockhouse Split): Non-Motorized Use Only
Please reference maps of the area for more information:
This map shows Pickett State Forest on the Cumberland Plateau in northern Tennessee, including its boundaries, trail system and designated road and trail uses. The forest covers about 20,840 acres and surrounds Pickett CCC Memorial State Park in its southern portion, with Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park located to the southwest. Roads and trails are designated for all traffic — hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorized use — hiking only, non-motorized use, which is open to hiking, biking and horseback riding, or for tagged and registered vehicles only. County and state roads within the forest are closed to OHVs and horseback riding. The map identifies multiple gates, including seasonal gates open from May 15 to October 15, along with several scenic overlooks including Truman Overlook, Kentucky Cutoff Overlook, Thompson Overlook, Yellow Doors and Wagon Gap. The John Muir Trail and Double Falls Trail run along the eastern edge of the forest, and the Hidden Passage Trail loops through the central southern portion near the state park.
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 road and trail designations within Pickett State Forest, including designated road uses, named hiking trails with mileages and parking areas. Roads are designated for non-motorized traffic, which is open to hiking, biking and horseback riding; all traffic, which adds ATV and OHV use; limited access, which is open to hiking, biking, horseback riding and OHVs; or tagged and registered vehicles only, which excludes OHVs and horseback riding.
Designated hiking trails include the Ridge Trail at 2.9 miles, the John Muir Trail at 2.25 miles, the Hidden Passage Trail at 7 miles, the Moccasin Rock Trail at 0.7 miles, the Kentucky Overlook Trail at 0.3 miles, the Tunnel Trail at 0.46 miles, the Indian Rock House Trail at 0.15 miles and the Double Falls Trail at 0.7 miles. Two designated parking areas are located along the central road corridor near Store 14 Road.
The map also identifies state forest gate locations throughout the forest and notes that any unmapped trails or roads are restricted to foot traffic only.
A QR code on the map links to the full rules and regulations.
This map shows the designated firewood collection roads within Pickett State Forest, along with the forest boundary. Firewood harvest roads include Wagon Gap Road, Store 14 Road, Tar Kiln Road, Black House Mountain Road, Spraughs Ridge Road, Kentucky Cutoff Road and Truman Overlook Road, forming a connected corridor through the central portion of the forest.
A permit is required to remove dead and down firewood from the state forest, and free permits can be obtained from the local Tennessee Division of Forestry office at 931-879-7173, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on state holidays.
Contact
Russell Fulcher, Area Forester
1770 Rocky Mound Rd, Livingston, TN 38570
(931) 218-9039