The Natural Arches of the Big South Fork

• Author(s): McDade, Arthur
• Series: Outdoor Tennessee Series
• Imprint: Univ Tennessee Press
• Publication Date: 2000-02-16
• Status: Active
• Available in Paper: Price $21.00 | Buy Now

No area in the southern mountains boasts a more fascinating array of natural arches and chimney rocks than the rugged Big South Fork country straddling the Tennessee–Kentucky border. Many of the region’s awe-inspiring landforms, carved from stone by water and weather, are accessible to visitors. This book is the first detailed guide to these geological wonders, which bear such intriguing names as Split Bow Arch, Cracks-in-the-Rock, Hidden Passage, and Robber’s Roost.

Arthur McDade focuses on twenty-five landforms that are both impressive and relatively easy to reach. They are found in three adjoining areas of public land: the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Pickett State Park and Forest, and Daniel Boone National Forest. Following introductory chapters about the Big South Fork country and its history, McDade describes each landform in detail and provides road and trail directions, complete with distances, information on parking, and comments on noticeable landmarks. Detailed maps, along with more than thirty photographs, complement the text. In addition, the author offers many safety and conservation tips that will help maximize the visitor’s enjoyment of the area.

As Jim Casada writes in his foreword, “There is vicarious pleasure in perusing these pages, but their real impact comes with the growing realization that an inner voice is telling you, ‘I don’t just want to read about these places; I want to go there.’” For those who do so, The Natural Arches of the Big South Fork will prove to be an indispensable companion.

The Author: Arthur McDade, a native Tennessean, is a freelance writer on conservation and history topics. He has worked as a recreation leader, whitewater guide, and is currently employed by the National Park Service. He is a frequent contributor to The Tennessee Conservationist and other publications. His first book, Old Smoky Mountain Days, is an edited anthology of writings about the Great Smoky Mountains area.