Tennessee State Parks

A visit from a Tennessee State Park Ranger can transform how our youngest citizens view their environment, planting seeds of lifelong stewardship. Recently, Ranger Dalton Smith from Tims Ford State Park participated in a local preschool's "community helper" month. He gave a presentation on the diverse responsibilities of Tennessee State Park Rangers, highlighting key aspects of their role including law enforcement, medical assistance, search and rescue, wildland fire management, and educational programs. The highlight of the visit was the introduction of Jeff the corn snake, offering a hands-on learning experience about local wildlife. These moments nurture a love for the great outdoors, one curious mind at a time! #TNStateParks #CommunityOutreach #ParkRanger

It’s a great day for conservation in Tennessee! North Chickamauga Creek Gorge, formerly a state natural area, has been officially designated as a state park. 🎉 Just 15 miles north of Chattanooga, this stunning park safeguards nearly 6,000 acres of dramatic sandstone bluffs and North Chickamauga Creek—a Tennessee State Scenic River. A sanctuary for wildlife, including rare and endangered species, this breathtaking area plays a significant role in our mission to preserve and protect. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eDxiYkbN. #NorthChickamauga #TNStateParks | 🎥: Valley Vista Drones, Aerial Hiking 🏞️: North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park

Today we’re celebrating a new addition to the Tennessee State Parks system, Middle Fork Bottoms State Park. 🎉 This west Tennessee oasis features sparkling lakes, a serene river, unique wetlands, and sun-soaked grasslands teeming with wildlife. Once used as farmland, this area was revitalized as a floodplain restoration project under the West Tennessee River Basin Authority. The park now offers paved trails for hiking and biking, opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, fishing in the multiple lakes and along the river, and even a place to train retrievers for wetland hunting. Learn more at tnstateparks.info/4dEf53E. #MiddleForkBottoms #tnstateparks 🎥: Jeremy Rasnic, Visit Jackson TN 🏞️: Middle Fork Bottoms State Park

Be a park olympian! 🏅 You don’t have to fly to Paris to participate in olympic sports. Your Tennessee State Parks offer easy access to Olympic games like swimming, archery, volleyball, paddling and so much more. Come out and have your own Park Olympics with us! #tnstateparks #ParisOlympics | 🎥: TSP Staff 🏞️: Paris Landing State Park, Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, Natchez Trace State Park

Today, alongside Gov. Bill Lee, we announced the creation of the new Office of Outdoor Recreation to further the state’s conservation efforts and to help residents and visitors have more access to Tennessee’s great outdoors. Lee made the announcement at the second annual Tennessee Conservation Summit in Nashville, where key stakeholders gathered to align priorities and develop further strategies around conservation. Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly have made record investments in Tennessee’s great outdoors. This new office will help to ensure the state delivers meaningful returns on those investments. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e3VWunjS.

Life through the lens of a Tennessee State Park Ranger is full of adventure! #ParkRanger #TNStateParks

On #WorldRangerDay, we honor the dedicated park rangers who work tirelessly to preserve and protect natural places around the world. Last year, Governor Lee signed a proclamation designating the day as State Park Ranger Day. As we reflect on last year’s proclamation, its message and significance remain important today. Rangers at Tennessee State Parks wear many hats. Whether they’re restoring habitats, educating visitors, enforcing laws, maintaining grounds, or responding to emergencies, they fulfill numerous roles such as resource managers, medics, law enforcement officers, educators, firefighters and much more. Their efforts protect our natural resources, promote stewardship, and ensure safe, high-quality outdoor experiences for all. Today, we thank them for all they do to Preserve, Protect, and Share our Tennessee State Parks. We also pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. #TNStateParks #ParkRanger #Ranger | 📸: Seven Islands State Birding Park

For veterans like Edgar Fierro, spending time outdoors is more than just a pastime—it's a path to healing and peace. 🌲🚴 After bravely serving 8 years in the military and overcoming the mental and physical challenges of combat, Edgar found solace on the bike trails at Tennessee State Parks. To honor the sacrifices and service of veterans like Edgar, we are offering a Salute to Service Discount. This offer provides complimentary camping and golf to veterans on each service branch birthday and Veterans Day leading up to the 250th anniversary of our country. 🇺🇸 Please help us spread the word and honor our veterans! For more information about this offer, visit https://lnkd.in/ea9bAT5H. #TNStateParks #Veterans #HealingOutdoors

For Micah and his family, having access to adult-sized changing tables at Tennessee State Parks transforms what was once a challenging outing into an enjoyable outdoor experience for everyone involved. “For people like us, this is huge. This allows us to get back to nature and enjoy hobbies we love, and we can take Micah with us,” said Micah’s mother, Jessie. With the addition of five new adult-sized changing tables in Tennessee State Parks, more people can make lasting memories in the outdoors. The parks with adult-sized changing tables now include: 🌲 Fall Creek Falls State Park  🌲 Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park  🌲 Natchez Trace State Park  🌲 Paris Landing State Park  🌲 Pickwick Landing State Park  🌲 Reelfoot Lake State Park For more information about these tables, please visit our website at https://lnkd.in/eUUJq5d3. We're thankful for the support in making our parks more accessible! Funding for the new tables came from state appropriations, the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority’s North Region. #TNStateParks #AccessibleOutdoors #AccessibilityForAll #ADA34 | 📸: Aerial Innovations Southeast 🏞️: Natchez Trace State Park 

We are thrilled to announce that Natchez Trace State Park is a finalist in the Cintas America's Best Restroom contest! If you'd like to vote for their restroom, you can do so until August 15th at bestrestroom.com/vote. The restroom inside the new park visitor center features an adult-sized changing table and is a testament to our dedication to creating an environment where everyone can enjoy the beauty of our natural spaces without barriers. We partnered with Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging and the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy to make this possible, enhancing accessibility and catering to the diverse needs of our visitors, ensuring a welcoming environment for all. #NatchezTraceStatePark #BestRestroom #Cintas #TNStateParks