Big Ridge State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- reserve.tnstateparks.com(865) 992-5523
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 3,863 acres, Big Ridge State Park lies in Union County, about 14 miles southeast of La Follette.
Popular activities here are canoeing and kayaking, boating, swimming, fishing, and hiking. Water access includes a boat ramp and boat or kayak rentals. Camping is available: 4 camping areas, including RV sites, tent sites, primitive or hike-in sites, and group camping. If you'd rather not camp, the park offers cabins.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Tennessee State Parks reservation site (itinio platform) for camping, cabins, shelters, programs; some lodges/cabins via reseze.net; golf via foreUP
- Phone
- 1-888-867-2757 (888-TNPARKS)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: cabins.
Cabin Pet Policy A limited number of cabins are available at each park for guests who travel with their pets. Guests must sign a Pet Policy Liability Form (CN-1181) upon check-in agreeing to abide by TN State Parks pet policy set forth and there is a $20 charge per night per pet that will be assessed at check-in. Pets are strictly prohibited inside cabins unless they are specifically designated as a pet-friendly cabin and all additional pet charges are paid. Due to allergy issues, pets may not be kept on porches or decks of non-pet cabins. If pets are kept at non-pet cabins, a minimum penalty of $100.00, plus all applicable nightly pet fees will be assessed. Additional charges for damages caused by pets may also be assessed at the discretion of management. Additional charges may also be assessed at the discretion of management for damages caused by guests, their visitors, pets, etc.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Campground | — | — | |
| Dark Hollow West Campsite | — | — | |
| Dark Hollow East Campsite | — | — | |
| Sharps Station Campsite | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Big Ridge has 50 campsites on or near scenic Big Ridge Lake, a split off of larger Norris Lake, to accommodate RV's, trailers, and tent campers.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Big Ridge State Park has 20 one-bedroom rustic cabins available that were built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and still retain the charm and design of that time.
Things to do
CampingBoatingFishingCanoeing and kayakingSwimmingHiking
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Valley Trail | 1.9 mi | Hard | The 1.7-mile Big Valley Trail starts near the gristmill and takes you to the start of the Indian Rock Loop, passing the Ghost House Loop Trail and the Dark Hollow trails along the way. The trail is a strenuous hike that travels a road once used by many of this area's earlier settlers as they hauled corn down to the Norton Gristmill. The trail traverses Pinnacle Ridge, descends into Dark Hollow and then climbs to the top of Big Ridge. It passes Langley Cemetery, where the only modern gravestone marks the resting place of young Edward Loy, who died in 1932 at the age of five. Several species of spring wildflowers can be seen along the entire trail, including pink lady's slippers, yellow star grass, crested dwarf iris and many others.HikeNatural surface |
| Chestnut Ridge Trail | 0.75 mi | Moderate | This 0.75 mile trail leads from the cabin area to the road near the park's back entrance. This easy to moderate hike offers a variety of sites to see including sinkholes, Lyon's Spring Branch and remains of American Chestnut trees. These trees once dominated the ridge before they were decimated by blight. One of the most notable sites is the land itself where signs of erosion, farming uses and forest succession can be seen.HikePaved, natural surface |
| Dark Hollow Trail East | 1.4 mi | — | This trail has an eastern and western portion. The 1.7-mile western portion leads from Big Ridge Dam to the Big Valley Trail, while the 1.3 mile eastern portion starts at Big Valley Trail and dead ends at Norris Lake. This trail was once a country road and there are still many noticeable areas where some of Big Ridge's settlers made their homes. The ridge north of the hollow is Big Ridge and the ridge south of the hollow is Pinnacle Ridge.HikeNatural surface |
| Dark Hollow Trail West | 2 mi | Moderate | This trail has an eastern and western portion. The 1.7-mile western portion leads from Big Ridge Dam to the Big Valley Trail, while the 1.3 mile eastern portion starts at Big Valley Trail and dead ends at Norris Lake. This trail was once a country road and there are still many noticeable areas where some of Big Ridge's settlers made their homes. The ridge north of the hollow is Big Ridge and the ridge south of the hollow is Pinnacle Ridge.HikeNatural surface |
| Fishermans Trail | 0.35 mi | Easy | This short and easy trail begins near the back entrance of the park and takes you to an area of Norris Lake known as Poor Land Valley. Some say that this area obtained its name many years ago because of the poor quality of the soil for farming. Follow this trail to find a quiet spot suitable for fishing.HikeNatural surface |
| Ghost House Trail | 1.25 mi | Easy | This 1.2-mile easy to moderate loop begins near the group camp and takes you deep into the history of this area's pre-1930s inhabitants. According to locals and some park visitors, eerie and unexplainable events occur along this trail. Make a stop at the Norton Cemetery and visit the sunken grave of Maston Hutchinson, who some think is responsible for these strange occurrences. Continue down the trail towards Big Valley and make a stop at the remnants of the famous Ghost House, Maston's home that was thought to be haunted.HikeNatural surface |
| Indian Rock Trail | 2.65 mi | Hard | Recommended for the experienced hiker only, the 2.6-mile Indian Rock Loop Trail begins just past Langley Cemetery via the Big Valley Trail. Indian Rock Trail passes by a rocky area where a plaque commemorates the location where Peter Graves, a settler of Sharp's Station was scalped and killed by Indians while turkey hunting. As legend tells, he though he heard a turkey gobble behind some rocks, but to his surprise, there was no turkey, but a group of Indians.HikeNatural surface |
| Lake Trail | 1.8 mi | Moderate | This 1.5-mile (distance one way) easy to moderate trail meanders around one side of the 49-acre Big Ridge Lake. It crosses Big Ridge Dam, which was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp. The young men of the CCC are responsible for building the dam and many of the other structures in the park. This trail is an excellent one for viewing wildlife such as deer, frogs, heron, wood ducks and much more. If you like, you can also make a stop at the Snodderly Cemetery where many of the area's earlier inhabitants are buried. You can return along the same trail, or take a slightly shorter walk along the park road back to your origination point.HikeNatural surface |
| Loyston Point Trail | 0.3 mi | Hard | This short trail to Loyston Overlook takes hikers to an area where they can see the widest portion of Norris Lake and is where the town of Loyston once sat. The lake was formed in the 1930s with the completion of TVA's first project, Norris Dam. This wide area of the lake is known locally as Loyston Sea. The former once bustling town was founded in the early 1800s by John Loy, who established a foundry in the area. It included a grocery store, gas station, school, churches and even a post office, all of which are now covered by the waters of Norris Lake.HikeNatural surface |
| Lyons' Loop Trail | 1.5 mi | — | HikeMountain bikeNatural surface |
| Meditation Point Trail | 0.1 mi | Moderate | This very short and easily traveled trail climbs to a covered bench shelter which makes for an excellent spot to relax or get more in touch with the natural world.HikeNatural surface |
| Ole Mill Trail | 0.25 mi | Easy | This trail is a short (0.3 mile one direction) and easy hike that leads from the lakeside cabins to Norton Gristmill. The mill was built in 1825 and was privately operated until 1930. The trail meanders along Big Ridge Land and over to Lyon's Spring Branch which once supplied the water to make the millwheel turn. Be sure to look for signs of beaver along the way.HikeNatural surface |
| Sharps Station Trail | 0.25 mi | Hard | This trail branches off from Indian Rock Loop Trail and travels 0.2 miles along the shores of Norris Lake to the site of Sharp's Station Fort. This fort was founded in the 1780s and was one of the first two settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains, the other being James White Fort in Knoxville. A stone wall is all that remains of Sharp's Station, commemorated by a plaque at the area.HikeNatural surface |
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center
- Park or camp store
- Laundry
- Group facilities
Water
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Primitive or backcountry camping
- Group camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 1015 Big Ridge Park Road
Maynardville, TN 37807 - Nearest town
- La Follette — about 14 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 36.2423, -83.9304
- Phone
- (865) 992-5523
- State.Parks@tn.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Tennessee State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- TDEC Bureau of Conservation 'State Park Boundaries Primary' public ArcGIS view
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: BigRidgeStatePark.jpg — Public domain (US federal government work), Unidentified photographer
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology