List of Tennessee state parks and natural areas


This is a list of state parks and natural areas in the U.S. state of Tennessee.

State parks

Tennessee has 61 designated state parks, operated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The largest park, Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail, is made up of land along the Cumberland Trail, stretching from Cumberland Gap at the Virginia state line to Prentice Cooper State Forest in Marion County, just northwest of Chattanooga. The smallest state park is Bicentennial Capitol Mall, at just. The newest state park is Ocoee River State Park, established in September 2025.

State natural areas

Tennessee has 85 state natural areas that are divided into two classes:
  • Class I – Scenic-Recreational
  • Class II – Natural-Scientific
Nine areas have restricted access and are not open to the public; a tenth, Hubbard's Cave, has limited access during the summer.

State scenic rivers

Tennessee state scenic rivers are divided into three classes:
  • Class I – Natural River Area – Free flowing, unpolluted, and with primitive shorelines and scenic vistas generally inaccessible except by trail.
  • Class II – Pastoral River Area – Free flowing, unpolluted, and with shorelines and scenic vistas partially or predominantly used for agricultural and other recreational activities.
  • Class III – Developed/Partially Developed River Area – Free flowing, unpolluted, and with shorelines and vistas more developed.

    Former state parks and natural areas

State parks