Pickett State Forest

NOTE Feb 12, 2025: Due to weather conditions, Redmond Mountain Road is temporarily closed to motorized traffic beginning at the Redmond Rim Road / Redmond Mountain Road split. We are taking this step to prevent future hazardous conditions for state forest visitors and staff. The gate at this location will be reopened in a few days after the weather has improved.

2016-05-17 09.57.31

Changes to Designated Use Areas:

February 2025 - An updated Pickett State Forest Recreation Use map shows a total of 14.5 miles of hiking trails designated for foot traffic only, 18.2 miles of non-motorized use on unpaved roads (hiking, biking, horseback riding), and 34.7 miles of motorized use paved and unpaved roads.

In addition, two unpaved roads (Yellow Doors Road, Redmond Rim Road) have been newly designated as seasonal motorized use roads. This will minimize future damage to these roads by removing vehicles from these roads during the seasons that receive the most rain while continuing to allow access during drier months when motorized use will impact the roads less. They will be open to motorized traffic from March 15 through December 20.

Finally, gates have been installed at the northern forest boundary to block entry to Kentucky via Redmond Mountain Road and Carpenter Rockhouse Road.

Designated motorized use roads in the northwestern portion of the forest are accessible from by veering left at the Redmond Mountain Road/Store 14 Road split. Roads and trails in this area of the forest have the following designated usage. 

  • Redmond Mountain Road (before Carpenter Rockhouse Split): Motorized Use Allowed
  • Yellow Doors Road: Seasonal Limited Access for Motorized Use (Closed Dec. 20 to Mar. 15)
  • Redmond Rim Road: Seasonal Limited Access for Motorized Use (Closed Dec. 20 to Mar. 15)
  • Oil Well Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
  • Jim Spike Bluff Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
  • Three Corners Ridge Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
  • Redmond Cable Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
  • Carpenter Rockhouse Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
  • Redmond Mountain Road (After Carpenter Rockhouse Split): Non-Motorized Use Only

Please reference maps of the area for more information:

Full Forest - Pickett State Forest Recreation Use Map

Northwestern Area - Pickett State Forest Recreation Use Map (zoomed in on redesignated use roads/trails)

About Pickett State Forest

Size:  20,887 acres / 8,453 ha. 

Pickett State Forest is located in northeastern Tennessee in Pickett and Fentress Counties near the Kentucky-Tennessee border. The eastern side of the forest is adjacent to the Big South Fork Recreation Area.

This forest originated from a land donation to the state by Stearns Coal and Lumber Company in 1933. It became a State Forest in 1935. At the time of donation, most of the merchantable sawtimber had been removed and the area had been repeatedly subjected to fire and grazing.

About 53% of the forest is hardwood types, 24% is pine types, and 21% is mixed hardwood and pine. Almost the entire forest (95%) is in trees older than 40 years and most of the area is well stocked. Basal area averages about 80 square feet per acre and 60% of that is hardwood. There are also three unregulated areas (916 acres) that have been set aside to protect the integrity of view sheds and water quality.

There are 46 known archaeological sites on the forest. The forest has been the site of research projects conducted by various universities.

Hunting has been a traditional use of the forest. In addition, there are 35 miles of hiking trails and certain forest roads are available for horseback riding. All types of OHVs use unimproved roads. Rock climbing, bird watching, and swimming are also popular activities.

Pickett State Forest Road Use Map  

Pickett State Forest Firewood Collection Map

Contact

State.Forest@tn.gov