As an avid explorer I love to find the lesser-known spots wherever I go, so today I want to tell you about a scenic spot that you won’t find on any lists of scenic drives in Tennessee. We had to travel far away and along many remote roads, but what we found was completely worth it. The area of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is simply breathtaking and within this place is hidden a plethora of wonderful Tennessee hiking trails, as well as fascinating unique finds. So here are some of the exquisite locations within this natural area which ends at a jaw-dropping overlook!

Deep in the northern part of Tennessee, you won’t find much civilization other than a few homes and an occasional store. The small towns are scattered among farmlands and forested mountains which already makes for a pretty drive. Our destination was Big South Fork, and we had planned to do some hiking in the area; what we discovered was so much more than we were expecting. The scenery takes a dramatic shift once you see the sign for the national river, and that was when we started to take the windy road down. The canopy of trees gets thicker, and the sun seems to darken under its long branches. As we traveled ever down, the rock walls extended higher, affording views of the fascinating rounded edges and Swiss cheese-like holes.

Inevitably, we passed the river from which the park gets its name. It was certainly beautiful, but what caught our attention was a broken bridge down the water. We decided to make a detour in our plans to take a closer look. Navigating the roads, we found our way to the river and found some pretty pathways leading down to the water. The previous bridge was a broken ruin of its former self, and I found the contrast between what was man-made and what was natural and rather beautiful.

After spending some time driving around and taking in the scenery, we found our way to the Bandy Creek Visitor’s Center. In the same spot was a large and nice-looking campground if you are looking for a spot within the park to stay. At the time we went, there was some storm damage, so I went to ask the ranger which roads were still open. Along the way, we discovered a butterfly garden in front of the visitor center. We are never too busy on a scenic drive to stop and appreciate the small details, so we admired the fluttering creatures while waiting for the ranger to be free.

The ranger told me that unfortunately the roads we were planning to go down were closed, but he had a few more suggestions for us to make the most of our day. This is why it can be helpful to talk to your park rangers because what he told me was something I didn’t know existed and was the perfect cap to our day. Our final stop was the East Rim Overlook. 

We didn’t really know exactly what to expect, but we followed his directions to a parking lot. After a very short walk through the woods, this view greeted us! The scene was simply jaw-dropping as we watched the river snake through the lush green mountains. We might not have been able to do the hikes we planned, but a quick change of plans landed us at the prettiest view of the river we could have hoped for. Sometimes, your adventures take you in a different direction than you planned, but it's the unexpected joys of the unknown that can be the greatest rewards. 

Big South Fork may not be on anyone’s list of the most scenic drives in Tennessee, but I can tell you it is not just a pretty drive but also filled with stops to explore further. I am itching to get back and see more of this marvelous area, but if you do hope to take in some hikes, then I would suggest using the AllTrails app to help you navigate the park. The area is very remote, and you won’t have cell service, so downloading the maps ahead of time will be super helpful when you are there.