Pickett State Forest is a state forest in northeastern Tennessee, situated on the Cumberland Plateau near the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Spanning over 20,000 acres, this area features a landscape characterized by sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, and diverse forests of hardwood and pine. Its geological formations, including natural sandstone bridges and rock houses, create varied terrain suitable for several outdoor activities. The forest's natural composition makes it a relevant destination for sports like hiking and jogging.
16
Routes
5
(3)
Average rating
42
People visited

3
hikers
3.56km
01:01
70m
90m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

24.1km
06:44
400m
560m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

20.6km
05:34
280m
280m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

930m
00:15
0m
30m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3
runners
7.86km
01:02
170m
170m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12.0km
01:28
160m
160m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10.3km
01:16
110m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17.7km
02:11
320m
320m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Pickett State Forest is a state forest located in northeastern Tennessee, near the Kentucky-Tennessee border. It spans over 20,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau, featuring diverse landscapes including sandstone cliffs, gorges, and forests.
Pickett State Forest offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, jogging, rock climbing, and bird watching. Visitors can also enjoy swimming in Arch Lake, horseback riding on designated roads, and kayaking or paddling.
Pickett State Forest features over 35 miles (56 km) of trails within its boundaries, often leading to unique geological formations. For detailed information on routes, refer to the Hiking in Pickett State Forest guide.
Yes, Pickett State Forest offers trails suitable for various skill levels, including easy day-use paths. Specific information on less strenuous routes can be found in the Easy hikes in Pickett State Forest guide.
Pickett State Forest provides trails suitable for jogging. These routes offer different distances and surfaces for runners. More details are available in the Running Trails in Pickett State Forest guide.
The forest is known for its dramatic sandstone cliffs, deep gorges, caves, and waterfalls. Notable geological formations include large rock houses, natural sandstone bridges like the one over Arch Lake, and Indian Rockhouse.
Yes, Pickett State Forest, along with the adjacent Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, is designated as a Silver-tier International Dark Sky Park. This recognition highlights its exceptionally clear night skies with minimal light pollution.
Specific regulations regarding dogs on trails within Pickett State Forest are typically managed by the Tennessee Division of Forestry or Pickett CCC Memorial State Park. Visitors should check official park rules before bringing pets.
Pickett State Forest has attracted more than 80 visitors on komoot, with 6 routes rated an average of 5.0 out of 5 stars. The area features 4 hiking routes and 2 jogging routes.
Komoot offers several guides for Pickett State Forest, including Hiking in Pickett State Forest, Easy hikes in Pickett State Forest, and Running Trails in Pickett State Forest.
For official information, the Pickett State Forest website is tn.gov/agriculture/forests/state-forests/pickett-state-forest.html. The phone number for Pickett State Forest (Tennessee Division of Forestry) is +1-931-218-9039.

