Things to Do inFentress County
125,000 acres of wilderness. A world-record lake. America’s most decorated WWI soldier. The world’s longest yard sale. And waterfalls nobody has named yet. Here’s everything worth doing.
🎣 Water & Fishing
🐴 Trail Riding
⛺ Camping
🎖️ History & Culture
👨👩👧 Family Fun
✨ Only in Fentress
🍂 By Season
🗺️ Worth the Drive
More to Do ThanYou’d Expect
Fentress County sits on the Cumberland Plateau at around 1,800–2,100 feet elevation — cooler than the rest of Tennessee in summer, spectacular in fall, and surrounded by some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain in the eastern United States. Most of the best things here are free, crowd-free, and exactly the kind of experience people are leaving cities to find. This is the page we wish existed when we first started exploring the county.
125,000 acres of gorges, arches, waterfalls, and plateaus right on Fentress County’s doorstep. Over 300 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and ATV riding. Sandstone arches you can walk under. Overlooks that will stop you cold. And almost no one around. This is the crown jewel.
300+ mi Trails
Camping
Horseback
Year-Round
Trails, Arches &Waterfalls
Fentress County has more miles of trail than most people will hike in a lifetime. From easy walks to all-day epics, here are the highlights.
The largest twin sandstone arches in the eastern US — 103 feet high. Only 1.2 miles round trip. Stops everyone dead in their tracks. Go early morning for the best light and fewest people.
Widely considered the best day hike in Big South Fork — 5.5 miles of waterfalls, caves, boulders, creek crossings, and canyon views. Challenging but absolutely worth it. Wear waterproof boots.
A stunning 60-foot waterfall hidden inside a remote sandstone cove near Allardt. One of Tennessee’s most beautiful hidden gems and almost completely unknown outside the county.
Tennessee’s best-kept secret. 19,200 acres, glow worms, certified dark sky park, CCC-built cabins, 58+ miles of trails, and natural arches and bridges scattered throughout. Absolutely stunning.
The premier base camp for Big South Fork — RV and tent sites, swimming pool, equestrian camping, and direct trail access. The best place to set up for a multi-day adventure.
Dale Hollow Lake is one of Tennessee’s premier bald eagle watching spots. Winter months bring the highest concentration — scan the shoreline trees at dawn and dusk. Free and unforgettable.
Dale Hollow, Big South Fork& Local Lakes
Fentress County has access to some of the finest fishing and boating water in the eastern US — including a lake that holds a 71-year-old world record and a river system with 244 miles of fishable water.
27,700 acres of crystal-clear water. The world-record smallmouth bass (11 lbs 15 oz) was caught here on July 9, 1955 — still standing after 70+ years. Dale Hollow holds 6 of the top 10 smallmouth ever recorded. 14 marinas, houseboats, up to 20-foot visibility. Bill Dance Signature Lake. 30 minutes from Jamestown.
Easiest highway access on Dale Hollow — right off Hwy 111 in Monroe. Houseboats from 50 to 74 feet, pontoon rentals, boat slips, RV camping, motel, and bait shop. Best-equipped marina for a family trip on the lake.
185-acre lake in Monterey stocked with bass, bream, catfish, crappie, and red ear sunfish. No watercraft restrictions — boat or jet ski welcome. Sandy beach, kayak rentals, camp store with hand-dipped ice cream. Rated 4.6 stars. Opens March 1.
244 miles of rivers and streams through Big South Fork — smallmouth bass, walleye, musky, catfish, and rock bass. Access at Leatherwood Ford and Bandy Creek. The Wolf River arm near Pall Mall (Sgt. York’s farm) carries Dale Hollow’s special smallmouth regulations.
Dale Hollow Lake is one of Tennessee’s top bald eagle watching spots. December through February brings the highest concentration. Scan shoreline trees at dawn and dusk from any marina or boat ramp. Free and genuinely spectacular.
Blue Heron and Leatherwood Ford in Big South Fork offer clean, cold Cumberland River swimming surrounded by canyon walls. Bandy Creek Campground has a proper swimming pool open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Horses &Trail Riding
This is what puts Fentress County on the national map for equestrians. 300+ miles of trail through terrain you can’t find anywhere else in Tennessee.
12,000 acres, 300+ miles of trails, waterfalls, overlooks, and rock formations. The Trail Riding Capital of the Southeast. Opened in 1994 and has become one of the premier equestrian destinations in the country. Campgrounds on site.
The NPS horse camp inside Big South Fork — direct access to the Big South Fork trail system from your campsite. Electric hookups, picket posts, and some of the finest riding terrain in the eastern US right outside your trailer.
The John Muir Trail runs 50+ miles through Big South Fork, passing through some of the most dramatic gorge scenery in Tennessee. Multi-day trips with backcountry camping are possible — and worth every step.
Camp in the Heart ofBig South Fork
From 149-site RV campgrounds with swimming pools to primitive backcountry under a certified dark sky — here’s every campground option near Fentress County.
The flagship campground for Big South Fork — 149 sites with 30 & 50-amp hookups, hot showers, flush toilets, swimming pool (Memorial Day–Labor Day), bear-proof lockers, playground, and direct trail access. RVs up to 73 feet. Year-round. Consistently rated 4.6 stars.
Two dedicated equestrian campgrounds in Big South Fork — 24 and 23 sites respectively, both with electric, water, hot showers, and horse tie-outs for 4 horses per site. Direct trail access to 300+ miles of riding. Non-equestrians welcome too.
Tennessee’s best-kept secret — 19,200 acres, certified International Dark Sky Park, glow worms, and CCC-built stone cabins. The campground is currently closed for renovation through mid-2026 but the historic cabins ($167–$301/night) are open and gorgeous.
Camp almost anywhere in 125,000 acres with a free backcountry permit (~$5) from Bandy Creek Visitor Center. Canyon overlooks, river access, complete solitude. No crowds, no noise, just the Milky Way overhead. The reset button for your entire perspective.
For ATV and off-road riders — direct access to Brimstone Recreation’s 300+ miles of trails from your campsite. Trails End has 30-amp/water hookups at $30/night. Brimstone sits riverfront with a dump station and ATV wash station.
Accessible only by foot or horseback — no road access, no electricity. Rustic dormitory bunks in historic log cabins, meals provided, surrounded by canyon wilderness. The most unique overnight experience in the region. Book well in advance.
Stories WorthKnowing
Fentress County history runs deep — from a WWI hero who became a legend to a Victorian utopian colony down the road. This is a county with genuine stories.
America’s most decorated WWI soldier was born, lived, and is buried 9 miles north of Jamestown in Pall Mall. His farm, red gristmill, home, and general store are all preserved and free to visit. Unlike anything else in Tennessee.
Tennessee’s oldest licensed winery — 40+ years in Jamestown. Free tastings, guided tours, and award-winning wines made right here on the Cumberland Plateau. One of the most pleasant surprises in the county.
An English utopian colony founded in 1880, just across the Morgan County line. Walking tours, preserved Victorian buildings, Christ Church Episcopal (still holding services), and the Thomas Hughes Public Library — the oldest lending library in continuous use in the US.
A 100-year-old fourth-generation family general store in Rugby, TN — on the National Register of Historic Places. Famous for the best fried bologna sandwich in Tennessee, hoop cheese, and Polly the stuffed parrot. A genuine time capsule.
John M. Clemens — father of Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) — served as Fentress County’s first circuit court clerk and drew plans for the original courthouse. Mark Twain City Park in Jamestown sits on land where the Clemens family drew water from a natural spring.
Founded by Sgt. York in 1926, one of only four state-funded high schools in Tennessee. Still operating on a 400-acre working farm campus. The school itself is a landmark — and its story is one of the most compelling in Tennessee education history.
Great for All Ages
Fentress County is an exceptional place to bring kids — outdoor adventures, history they’ll actually remember, events they’ll talk about for years, and zero screens required.
Held every May at the Fentress County Fairgrounds — bull riding, barrel racing, mutton bustin’ for the kids, live music, and two nights of real rodeo action. One of the best community events in the county.
One of Tennessee’s most beloved fall traditions — giant pumpkin weigh-off, parade, 5K/10K, car show, vendors. First Saturday of October every year in downtown Allardt. Free to attend.
Pickett is a certified International Dark Sky Park — on clear nights you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye. No light pollution, no crowds. Bring a blanket and let the kids’ minds get blown.
Pickett State Park is home to synchronous fireflies AND glow worms — bioluminescent beetle larvae that glow blue-green in the dark along certain trails. A genuinely magical and rare experience, especially for children.
Rent a 50, 65, or 74-foot houseboat from Sunset Marina and spend a long weekend on the clearest lake in America. No experience necessary. Minimum 3-night stay. A bucket-list experience for the whole family.
The World’s Longest Yard Sale — 690 miles, 6 states, 4 days. Highway 127 runs right through Jamestown every August. Hundreds of thousands of treasure hunters. Even the drive is an experience.
Experiences You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
These aren’t things you can replicate somewhere else. They exist here, and only here.
Annual living history event at the historic Blevins Farm in Big South Fork — mule team plowing, butter churning, quilting, mountain music, and Appalachian heritage demonstrations. Free, family-friendly, and unlike anything else.
People drive 9 hours round trip for this sandwich. Thick-cut bologna with hoop cheese at a 100-year-old general store on the National Historic Register. You have to do it at least once. There is no substitute.
The world-record smallmouth bass was caught in Dale Hollow Lake on July 9, 1955 — a record that has stood for over 70 years. You can fish the same water. Same species. Same lake. Bring your rod and try your luck.
Walk a half-mile trail through the woods to the Wolf River Cemetery and stand at the grave of Sgt. Alvin C. York — one of the most remarkable Americans of the 20th century. Free, quiet, and profound.
Fentress County sits near the heart of synchronous firefly territory — a rare species that flashes in unison, visible on summer evenings in Big South Fork and Pickett. One of the most otherworldly natural light shows in North America.
Big South Fork has backcountry camping throughout the park — permit required, no fee. Spend a night on the rim of a canyon with no one around for miles. It’s the kind of experience that resets your entire perspective.
Fentress CountyYear-Round
At 1,800–2,100 feet elevation, Fentress County has four real seasons — each one different, each one worthwhile.
- Wildflower blooming on plateau trails
- BSF Spring Planting Festival (April)
- FCRA Rodeo (May)
- Best hiking temperatures
- Fishing season opens strong
- Waterfalls at peak flow
- Dale Hollow Lake boating & swimming
- Synchronous fireflies (late May–June)
- Glow worm watching at Pickett
- 127 Yard Sale (early August)
- Houseboat rentals at Sunset Marina
- 5–10°F cooler than Nashville
- Peak foliage mid–late October
- Allardt Pumpkin Festival (Oct)
- Best trail riding weather
- Deer season opens
- Uncrowded trails & overlooks
- Muddy Roots Music Festival (Sept)
- Bald eagle watching on Dale Hollow
- Quiet trails with no crowds
- Snow on the plateau (magical)
- Best time for icicle waterfall photos
- Holiday events in Jamestown
- Deer & hunting season continues
Day Trips fromFentress County
The county itself could fill a week — but if you have extra days, these nearby destinations are worth the drive.
🏛️ Historic Rugby — Morgan County
1880 English utopian colony with Victorian buildings, walking tours, and the oldest lending library in continuous US use. Completely fascinating.
~25 min · Morgan County
🌲 Daniel Boone National Forest — KY
Just across the state line — Sheltowee Trace, Natural Arch, Cumberland Falls. Connects directly to BSF trail system for epic multi-day trips.
~45 min · Kentucky
🎵 Muddy Roots Music Festival
Annual Labor Day weekend roots/punk/blues festival at Junebug Ranch in Cookeville. Weekend passes include camping. Wild and wonderful.
~1 hour · Cookeville
⛰️ Fall Creek Falls State Park
Tennessee’s highest waterfall (256 ft) and one of the most popular state parks. Great for a day trip or overnight when BSF feels familiar.
~1 hour · Van Buren County
🏺 Crossville & Cumberland County
Cumberland Mountain State Park, the Cumberland Homesteads tower, local restaurants, and shopping. A solid half-day trip when you need a change of scene.
~35 min · Crossville
🎸 Cookeville — Tennessee Tech
Regional hub with restaurants, shopping, museums, and Tennessee Tech University. Muddy Roots, Strawberry Festival, and good dining make it worth regular trips.
~55 min · Cookeville
Know Something We Missed?
Fentress County has hidden gems that locals know and visitors never find. If there’s a swimming hole, trail, overlook, or experience we haven’t listed — tell us about it. We read every submission and the best ones get added to the guide.
Thinking About Making This Home?
A lot of people come to Fentress County to do these things and end up asking what it costs to live here. Tim & Lori Denehy are local real estate agents who know every road, ridge, and property in the county — and they’re happy to answer any question, no pressure ever.