Obed Wild and Scenic River ⓘ

Native Americans came upon the Cumberland Plateau many centuries ago. The last prehistoric cultural period, known as the Mississippian period, saw an influx of different tribes in the region. From roughly 1300 to the mid-1800s, tribes such as the Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Shawnee, Yuchi, and Cherokee all bore witness to the Obed River. These tribes could not farm the land surrounding the river however, due to its poor farming soil and steep bluffs. As a result, the tribes used the area for hunting and gathering, and on many occasions used the sandstone bluffs as shelter during inclement weather.

Many tribes fought with each other. Many members of the Yuchi tribe feared capture and enslavement by the Cherokees so much that they massacred their fellow townsmen and then committed suicide. The Cherokee eventually became the largest tribe in the entire Southeastern region of what is now the United States.

The migration of European pioneers eventually brought about the end of Native American occupation along the river. Various European diseases resulted in a pandemic that killed off many tribes. By the 19th century, the Cherokees were suffering from cultural decline. Added to that were numerous broken treaties by white pioneers in the newly-formed United States. The results of Manifest Destiny and the Westward Movement involved the forced removal of the Cherokee from many Southeastern states in 1838. This "Trail of Tears" led all the way to Oklahoma. Approximately 4,000 Cherokees died on the journey.

During the 18th century, a group of European white males migrated through the Obed area. They were called "Longhunters," and they were in the area primarily to hunt and fish. Like the Native Americans before them, they did not make their homes at the Obed, but used the sandstone bluffs as shelters. Legend has it that they got their name because of the long rifles that they carried. Another legend about the origin of the Longhunter name came from the Native Americans themselves, who felt that these white hunters stayed in the area a very long time.

The muzzle-loading flintlock rifle that the Longhunters used was the most accurate weapon of its time. The long rifle was sometimes called the Pennsylvania Rifle because it was brought to that state by German immigrants in the early 1700s. In short time, the long rifle's popularity made it a much sought after piece of weaponry. It fired a .35 to .60 caliber ball, and it generally weighed anywhere from seven to ten pounds. The long rifle's barrel was typically 40 inches or more in length, and its stock was long and thin. It took almost a full minute to load and fire a long rifle, and most longhunters aimed carefully to make every shot count.

With their rifles, the Longhunters shot plenty of game along the Cumberland Plateau. Turkey, deer and squirrel were particular delicacies, but so were rabbit, pheasant and virtually any other animal that could be used for food or whose skin or fur could be used for clothing.

The pioneer era in American history was visible along the Obed, albeit in small numbers. Most pioneers in eastern Tennessee lived fair distances from the river, but there were some who consistently came to the river for hunting and fishing. After Tennessee became the 16th state in the nation in 1796, many more homesteaders came to the area. Representing their number were nationalities such as the Scotch-Irish, German, French, Irish, and African-Americans.

The log cabin served as the typical abode for these pioneers. Measuring 15 or 20 feet square, the log cabin represented the craftsmanship of the era. The first cabins were made of rounded logs with the bark removed. If a pioneer was fortunate to have several helpers, he could have hewn the logs to make some of them flat, or even square to ensure a snug fit. Most cabins included mud or clay chinking between the logs to serve as insulation against inclement weather. A fireplace was at one end of the cabin, and it was not uncommon to see at least a table and benches inside. The earliest cabins would have a dirt floor, but as time evolved, many had a wooden floor.

By the time the Civil War reached its end in 1865, homesteaders in the area spread out to neighboring towns and distant cities. Industrial growth was becoming visible throughout Tennessee. Railroad lines were becoming more accessible, opening up the opportunities for businesses and travelers alike. Gristmills along the Obed were run by decendents of the Howard and Lilly families (among others). Unfortunately for many settlers, flooding was common along the Obed, and it was floods more than anything else that led to the demise of the local gristmills.

The Obed river is a living reminder of the people who once walked along its banks, as well as the people who continue to do so. Throughout the generations, the Obed has touched the lives of the Native Americans, the pioneers, those living during the burgeoning industrial period of the 20th century, and those comprising the current century of recreational enthusiasts. It is the common thread of those memories which have made the Obed a very special river indeed.

The place names of the Obed Wild and Scenic River give only sparse clues as to the origins of those places and the meanings of their names. Much of the history of the area was not written down, leaving only conjecture and scholarship to try to decipher the clues that are left behind. The most valuable research that we have today in discovering the past is the site itself. By exploring the areas that surround the river, we can better understand the names that are attributed to it, and the people who once walked where we walk today. In this page we will attempt to explore some of those areas and draw some conclusions into the facts (and myths) of their past.

The old bridge at Nemo (pictured above) is but one of those places that have added to the story of the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Built in 1930-31, the bridge is now used by hikers who want to get an above-ground view of the river. During the past century, however, it represented the first iron structure to cross the river. Located just above the Obed-Emory confluence, the old bridge is now closed to motor traffic. A new cement bridge replaced it in 1999, but the old bridge had too much sentimental value to tear down. Local park neighbors still enjoy a leisurely stroll across the bridge.

In the 1930s a fellow by the name of Woodson Hawn built a corn gristmill on the northern bank of Clear Creek near the present Lilly Bridge. This gristmill used a horizontal tub wheel to capture the force of the rushing water to turn the millstone gears. The millstones scraped upon each other and produced cornmeal and flour, dietary staples of early Americans in the region.

The mill was later operated by Alva and Elvie Howard for approximately ten years. The Howards relied on the barter system of payment, grounding cornmeal for customers and keeping a portion for themselves. Decendents of the Howard family still reside in the surrounding counties of the Obed.

Because of its proximity to the old Lilly Bridge, the structure was given the name "Lilly Gristmill." Unfortunately, a flood in the late 1940s destroyed the wooden building and its vertical braces. Many historic villages throughout America today contain reproduction or restored gristmills, and many of those still produce cornmeal for visitors to enjoy. The Obed Wild and Scenic River today offers no such place...only memories of what once was.

Rising almost 50 feet from its base to its top, the Lilly Arch is one of the most impressive structures at the Obed Wild and Scenic River. The arch is made out of Pennsylvania sandstone, and is the only one of its kind in the park. Located near the end of the Point Trail, the Lilly Arch represents a link to the past. Like many of the park's boulders and cliffs, the arch was used by Native Americans and the early pioneers up to the early 20th century as a place of shelter. Today you can walk through the arch and peer down into the rushing waters of the Obed river.

The teaming up of land erosion, the crashing of techtonic plates, and the assaulting flow of the river over many centuries, resulted in the formation of this beautiful arch. It is not a stretch of the mind to believe that there were many more similiar arches located at the Obed during previous centuries. However, many of those either eroded over time, or collapsed and fell into the river below.

The Lilly Arch represents a portion of one of the most unique aspects of the park. Those who make the trek to see it will also pass by many other wonderful sightings of nature along the Obed.

Morgan and Cumberland Counties in eastern Tennessee are renowned for their story-telling traditions. Likewise, the Obed Wild and Scenic River contains many stories of its own. Some of those stories are mired in history, while others evoke personal memories. Taken together, these stories represent just a portion of what makes the Obed WSR a very special place.

Like most early history, the farther you go back in time, the more difficult it is to confirm facts. Many of the Obed's earliest visitors did not collect or record written recollections of the area or of their experiences here. As a result, conjecture and scholarship are a few of the remaining tools that we have at our disposal to discover this area's past. There are a few elderly folks remaining in the neighboring counties of the Obed, and their stories and memories are vital to unveiling the history of the Obed.

The starting point for all of this discussion involves the question, "How did the Obed get its name"? Legend has it that the Obed was named after Obediah (Obey) Terril, a longhunter who passed through the Cumberland Plateau in the late 18th century. Presumably, the Obed and the Obey rivers were named by this same person, and both were named the Obey. Map makers later changed the name of the southern river to Obed, while the northern river remained the Obey.

One of the more unique and hard to believe stories comes from the building of the original Lilly Bridge. According to area folklore, two gentlemen named Mr. Lilly and Mr. Howard set about to build a wooden bridge in the early 20th century that would cross Clear Creek near the site of Howard's Mill. The mill relied on a small creek which ran parallel to the river called the Old Mill Race. It was water from this creek that was diverted to provide power to the mill.

Mr. Howard and Mr. Lilly decided to work at opposite ends when building the bridge. Eventually, they met in the middle and completed the task. When deciding on what to name the bridge, however, both Mr. Howard and Mr. Lilly got into a shouting match. Mr. Howard believed that the bridge should be named after him, because it was close to his mill. Mr. Lilly believed that because he did more work and added more planks to the bridge, his name should be the accepted name. Compromise proved futile. Both men decided to have a fistfight for the naming rights to the bridge. Mr. Lilly won.

Today, the current concrete bridge - dating to the 1990s - replaced the one that Mr. Howard and Mr. Lilly built.

Different sections of the Obed Wild and Scenic River have their own fascinating stories. Most of those stories deal with the origin of the names in question. Take for example the name of Nemo, which in Latin means "no one." Nemo was the name of a small town and railroad junction. The town was located where Island Creek and the Emory River meet. This is also the location where the old Catoosa Railroad line passed. The bridge for the railroad was devastated by the Flood of 1929, and destroyed by the Flood of 1940. Following the latter flood, the bridge was never rebuilt. As a result, the town of Nemo ultimately declined and no longer exists.

Nemo was actually a name that was used for convenience more than anything else. Stops along the railroad line were to be kept in alphabetical order, and Nemo served as the stop after Montgomery and the stop before Oakdale. Ironically, the town of Lancing was formerly known as Kismet, but its name changed in order to keep the alphabetical sequence intact.

Flooding can occur in varying degrees almost annually at the Obed. Some floods are worse than others, and high waters are visible most often along the Nemo area of the park. Flood waters have been known to rise as high as the picnic area.

In 1929, the Obed's most devastating flood swept through much of the river routes. Besides ripping up railway lines, the flood ruined local businesses and mills, causing many of the local inhabitants to move out of the area. Today, only an occasional foundation or two can be seen where once many buildings were present.

On October 12, 1976, the Obed Wild and Scenic River became part of the National Park Service. This monumental membership did not come about by accident. Many concerned citizens and conservation groups throughout Tennessee contributed their time and effort to make it a reality. Battles in the state and federal legislatures over passing the protection bills were lengthy and difficult. Nevertheless, the dream of keeping the Obed area pristine and protected remained a major focus for those who felt strongly about this project. The Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP) were at the forefront of the movement, as were the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The goal was to preserve the area for future generations to enjoy...a wild and scenic area with free-flowing streams of freshwater. Finally, in 1976, their work proved successful. The Obed Wild and Scenic River does have its share of history and stories, but its preservation in the National Park Service was due primarily to its natural significance and wilderness quality.

This area today is home not just to an abundance of wildlife, but also to many recreation enthusiasts who yearn for the chance to climb the Obed's cliffs, or paddle along the river, or hike along the trails. Today, the Obed teams up with the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area to protect dozens of miles of scenic landscape. The Obed has just passed 30 years of federal membership and state cooperation, and looks forward to the next 30 years as being even better!

The Obed Wild and Scenic River Visitor Center, located at 208 North Maiden Street in downtown Wartburg, has a variety of unique specimens in its collection. The specimens are divided into three main themes: Recreation, Cultural History, and Natural History.

The Recreation section displays chronological selections of canoes and kayaks, ranging from a Grumman Aluminum Canoe of the 1960s, to a Perception Dancer Kayak of the 1990s. Also included in the recreation section are ropes, helmets, and various other rock-climbing devices that are used today on the dozens of climbing routes along the Obed.

The cultural history section of the visitor center includes some very unique items. Although many people think its a canoe or a coffin, a long salt-curing box is on display. This box, which was cut from a yellow poplar tree in 1862 in Morgan County, Tennessee, was useful in curing a variety of meats and hams in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Preservation methods of that time may not have included ice as a coolant, so salt-curing boxes such as this were extremely important to pioneer families. Although its weight is unknown, the soft wooden box is set on coasters, and was hewn from primitive axes and tools of the eastern Tennessee region.

Also on display in this section is an actual 350-pound millstone retrieved from Clear Creek in 2002. Several gristmills dotted the area prior to the great flood of 1929, and this millstone is but one surviving artifact of that era. Next to the millstone is a portion of an old wooden tub wheel which belonged to the Howard mill. The mill was operated by the Howard family in the 1940s, and was located near the current Lilly Bridge. Rounding out the collection are several arrowheads that were used by Native Americans during the Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian periods, and a display of pioneer home-making items.

The natural history section includes 15 different animal species. They include a wild turkey, a variety of fish that can still be caught today in the Obed, a river otter, several owls and hawks, small game such as squirrels, foxes and weasels, and what seems to be a visitor favorite, a wild boar. Most of the species can still be seen along the Cumberland Plateau, albeit not during all seasons of the year.

The wild turkey is the largest nesting bird in Tennessee. They are brown in color and barred in black. Their bodies are covered in an iridescent bronze sheen. Their heads and necks have a reddish waddle. The turkey's tail is fan-shaped with white and buff-colored tips. The male (or Tom, as he is known) has a long beard on his chest. The female (or hen) is usually smaller than the male and lacks the beard. The male will be around 48 inches in height, while the female registers an average of 36 inches in height. The female constructs her nest in a small depression filled with grass or leaves in pine or oak woodlands. She will lay eight to 15 brown-spotted eggs each year.

The turkey vulture measures about the same size as an eagle. When in flight their wingspan can often measure up to six feet. This bird is dark in color with a silvery undertone. Their habitat is usually in forests and woodlands. The female will lay her two off-white colored eggs near rocks or in hollow trees. The turkey vulture has the well earned reputation of being a scavenger, and is not bashful about eating from dead animal carcasses.

The cooper's hawk is a medium-sized hawk with short, rounded wings. Its back is dark grey or brown and its underside is barred reddish and white. A cooper's hawk wingspan can stretch out to 35 inches, and it can weigh up to 21 ounces. The cooper's hawk captures small birds with its feet and squeezes its prey repeatedly to administer a painful and agonizing death. Sometimes the cooper's hawk will holds its prey under water to drown it prior to nibbling at the remains.

The barred owls are colored brownish-grey, with white bars across most of its body (hence the name barred). A feature specific to the barred owl is their inner eyelid that can be closed to block sunlight. Additionally, the barred owl has dark brown eyes, in contrast to many owl species with yellow eyes. Its brown eyes help it to see better in bright light. The barred owl has a small, pointed beak that is very sharp. The barred owl, like most owls, are carnivorous. They eat mice, squirrels, foxes, rabbits, bats, small birds, other owls, snakes, lizards, fish and bugs. Barred owls usually perch in a tree to watch and listen for prey. The female lays three to four white eggs each year in an unlined cavity in a hollow tree.

The red-shouldered hawk can measure up to 16 inches in height, and can have a wingspan of up to 40 inches. It has a long, dark tail with several white narrow bars. It also has broad, arched wings. Its brown head and reddish breast contrast with a pale belly. The red-shouldered hawk's habitat is mostly forests, bottomland hardwoods, and flooded swamps. Their diet is made up of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and crayfish. The female will lay two or three spotted, white eggs each year in a large mass of twigs and leaves. Like most birds of prey, the red-shouldered hawk has excellent eyesight and sharp talons with which to capture a meal.

The broad-winged hawk is a medium-sized hawk with dark brown, mottled upperparts and brownish-white underparts. Black margins are visible under their wings when spread out in flight. It has a dark-banded tail. An adult broad-winged hawk can range between 13 to 17 inches in length and can weigh between 11 and 17 ounces. Adults can also have a three-foot wingspan. The female will lay up to four brown eggs each year. A nest of sticks and leaves serves as the usual home for the broad-winged hawk.

The Eastern screech owl gets its name from the distinct call that it makes. The piercing screech call is made in defense of their homes, to call one another, and to announce the site of food. The Eastern screech owl measures only eight to nine inches in length, making it one of the smallest pirds of prey in North America. The Eastern screech owl has pointed ear tufts, but does not have external ears, only crescent-shaped openings on the sides of their head. Their triangular-shaped feathers help to amplify sound and create a fierce appearance to predators. The Eastern screech owl is mostly a nocturnal hunter, preying on mice, insects, snakes, lizards, and even other small birds.

The Great Blue Heron is actually more greyish in color than blue. It has a pale-yellowish bill which extends over half a foot in length. The great blue heron typically measures more than two feet in height, and its large size enables it to feed on a variety of prey, from fish to frogs to small mammals, birds and insects. These birds nest in colonies in small trees. Their nests are made of sticks and are lined with leaves, hay, straw, and virtually anything soft that the heron can obtain.

A trip through Obed Wild and Scenic River reveals a rich landscape of plants of all imaginable colors, textures, form, and function. The area's woodlands, cliff lines, stream sides, and other habitats harbor a tremendous richness of plant species. The Obed area is part of the greater southern Appalachian region, which is widely known as one of the most biologically diverse temperate forest regions in the world. While plants in Obed bear many similarities to other parts of the southern Appalachians, such as the Great Smoky Mountains, the combination of habitats and plants that occur at Obed distinguish it as a special place to explore and protect. At the heart of this landscape lies the Clear Creek and Obed gorges—a rift through the Cumberland Plateau. It is these ecological processes that helped form these gorges over thousands of years that are, in part, responsible for the area's unique plant assemblage.

Within Obed's congressionally authorized boundaries, 45 miles of contiguous forested riparian and upland habitat are protected. Botanists have documented approximately 800 different plant species in the park, and this number continues to grow as new research is conducted. The park's hundreds of species include trees, shrubs, and woody vines as well as non-woody (or herbaceous) plants like spring wildflowers and wetland plants. Wetland species, unlike many terrestrial or upland plants, are actually adapted to growing in or near water.

Floristically speaking, some areas of the park are particularly diverse, and visitors may unwittingly be walking within reach of a number of rare and unique plants. Two species worth highlighting are Cumberland rosemary ( Conradina verticillata ) and Virginia spiraea ( Spiraea virginiana ), which are both listed as federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. In addition, the State of Tennessee lists Cumberland rosemary as threatened and Virginia spiraea as endangered.

Cumberland rosemary, a riverine plant, is a small herbaceous plant in the mint family. Virginia spiraea is a perennial shrub. Surprisingly, these plants thrive in the park under relatively inhospitable conditions. Although not truly aquatic, both grow in areas where they can benefit from the scouring effect of winter's high flows, a force that limits the growth of other plants, and acts to eliminates woody competition.

Eye-catching spring wildflowers like the pink lady's-slipper ( Cypripedium acaule ) add color to a green woodland walk, and clusters of these orchids may be found growing under forest gaps, spotlighted by late afternoon sun. A host of other wildflowers dot the forest landscape. Because many of the park's rare plants are in need of protection, it is important for visitors to stay on established trails or boardwalks to prevent impacts to the park's most sensitive species.

Approximately 30 different forest community types are documented at the Obed Wild and Scenic River and large expanses of mostly uninterrupted forest add a primitive feel and lush backdrop to the paddler's "wild" and "scenic" river experience. Broadleaf deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves in cold weather) and needle-leafed evergreen trees that are common to Obed forests and occur over a wide range of soil conditions from moderately moist (mesic) to zeric (dry) conditions include such species as white oak, chestnut oak, beech, various maple species, tulip tree, Eastern white pine and Virginia pine. These forests share some species and can be found growing in the park in one of two different geographic zones: the area within the gorge and along the river or the upland slopes extending above the gorge rim. Eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) dominates a significant portion of the park. Roughly half of the park's approximate 5,000 acres occurs in a hemlock association of one type or another. Eastern hemlock is another cone producing tree or conifer in the pine family that is extremely vulnerable to the exotic insect pest hemlock woolly adelgid.

Not all of the plants occurring in Obed forests are native to the United States, and many invasives like multiflora rose, mimosa, autumn olive, and hydrilla have the potential to outcompete native upland or aquatic plant communities.

Raccoons are reddish-brown, black, grey and white in color. Their most prominent characteristics are their black masks outlined in white and their bushy tail with brown or black rings on it. Their paws are black with five toes. They live near water in wooded areas, usually making their dens in trees, or in abandoned caves, barns, or even sewers. A female will give birth to a litter of four to six within two months after mating. The young stay with their mother for about a year. Raccoons eat insects, nuts, corn, fruits, berries, frogs, and rodents.

The grey fox has grey fur on its back and most of its sides, but also has reddish-brown fur covering the rest of its body. Their most distinctive feature is their bushy tail, which includes some black fur covering its tip. The grey fox's diet consists of mostly small mammals. It will, however, also eat birds, berries, nuts and grass. They prefer to live in a wooded habitat, and during their mating season, they will also live in a den from a hollow log. The female and male will usually mate for life, having between one and seven pups a year.

First brought to America by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, the boar can weigh up to 300 pounds and grow up to five feet in length. They have course black fur and tusks that can sometimes grow to five inches. Boars do not have sweat glands, so they wallow in mud to keep cool. A boar's diet consists of acorns, hickory nuts, pecans, grass, fruits, mushrooms, bugs, eggs, and sometimes dead animals. Female boars can give birth to 14 piglets in one litter. Boars have been known to do damage to the environment by digging up native plants and roots.

Whitetail deer are tan and brown in color during the summer and greyish-brown in the winter. White fur outlines their facial features, their throats, their stomachs, and the underside of their tails. The male deer can weigh between 150 and 300 pounds, and the female doe can weigh between 90 and 200 pounds. The whitetail deer is a herbivore, meaning that they only eat plants. In the fall and winter, however, they will eat corn, nuts, and acorns. Their offspring known as fawns will have white speckles on their fur during their earliest months.

Bobcats are named for their short, bobbed tails. Their colors are beige, brown, dark brown, black, with spotted markings. Males will weigh an average of 16 to 28 pounds and females will weigh an average of 10 to 18 pounds. The bobcat's diet consists of rodents, deer, birds, bats, pigs, and chickens. A bobcat's den is dense in vegetation, and each bobcat may occupy several dens. Femals will have a litter of 1 to 6 kittens in late spring. A bobcat's lifespan is usually around 12 to 13 years.

The woodchuck (or groundhog as he is also known) is greyish-brown in color with thick, course fur. He has short legs and a long, flat tail. Woodchucks weigh between 4 and 14 pounds and are 16 to 27 inches in length. They prefer to live near stream banks and vegetated gullies, where they often dig their burrows. Woodchucks hibernate during the winter, and their breeding season takes place in mid-February, soon after awakening from hibernation. American folklore says that when a groundhog emerges from his den in mid-February and sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter will result.

The Cottontail has grey-brown speckled fur with reddish-brown fur on its shoulders and around its neck. They have big eyes and a short tail that is puffy and white like a cotton ball. The female builds a nest in a depression in the ground and line sit with fur from her chest. They prefer areas between open land and woodlands in bushy areas, thickets, and fields. The female gives birth to up to nine babies about one month after mating. She will feed her babies twice a day until at about seven weeks of age, when they leave the nest.

The Eastern Grey Squirrel is yellowish-rust in color. This animal prefers to live in trees such as the oak, cypress, magnolia, black gum, holly, pecan, and hackberry. Grey squirrels eat a variety of foods such as buds and masts of oak and pecan trees, amphibians, grapes, grasses, mulberry, larval, and insects. These squirrels breed throughout the year, with the average litter numbering around two to four. The young are born blind and helpless, and stay in a nest made of twings and leaves for up to 12 months.

The Pileated Woodpecker is roughly the same size as a young crow. It has black and white striped feathers on its neck, and a red crest. The male can be determined by its red mustache, while the female can be determined by its black mustache. The pileated woodpecker also gets the nickname "logcock," thanks to its propensity for pecking on trees. The pileated woodpecker's food intake consists of carpenter ants living in dead roots and stumps of trees. A motivated pileated woodpecker can gnaw a deep hole through a two-foot thick sycamore tree in less than two days.

The Blue Jay is one of the most handsome birds in the great outdoors. It combines colors of blue, black, and white on its feathers, along with a dirty white underside. Their prominent crest includes black facial markings. The blue jay can live in an oak forest, suburban yards, and city parks, making it one of the most adaptable birds in North America. The female will make her nest with sticks, tree branches, and grass. Blue Jays often bury acorns and seeds, giving them the reputation as tree planters. They migrate in large flocks every fall and spring.

The American Crow is a large, stocky bird with a fan-shaped tail and a stout bill. Its feathers are dark black, and they almost appear to be glistening in the daylight. This bird makes its home near rivers or streams, orchards and city parks. Their nests are made of a large mass of twigs and sticks lined with grass, feathers, and small roots of plants and shrubbery. The crow has a very hoarse voice, and its caw-caw sound can be heard throughout this region of the United States. The crow is a scavenger, and will eat almost anything. Some of its favorite meals are animals that lie dead on the road after being struck by automobiles.

The Northern Cardinal is also known as the red cardinal. The adult cardinal is generally eight to nine inches in height. The cardinal's face is black in color, with a stout bill. The male has more red feathers than the female, who has a greyish-brown color to her. The female will construct her nest in an area of thickets, gardens, brushy swamps or the edge of the woodlands. The nest will include a deep cut of twigs and leaves. The cardinal, like the blue jay, can be seen throughout this region in all seasons of the year.

Regardless of the time of year, every season offers its own special rewards to those who take the time to explore the Obed Wild and Scenic River on foot. Obed WSR Map

Lilly Bluff Trails The four trails found in the Lilly Bluff area allow visitors to expore Obed's sun-baked bluffs, sheer cliffs, moisture-rich forests, cascading creeks, and expansive boulder fields.

Lilly Bluff Overlook NPS Photo Overlook Trail Distance: 0.3-mile one way Difficulty: Easy Enjoy the high rock outcrop of Lilly Bluff, where you’ll find sweeping views of the river gorge. Strollers and wheelchairs can negotiate the gravel trail and boardwalk with minimal assistance.

Lilly Arch NPS Photo Point Trail Distance: 3.8-mile round-trip Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous The trail dips to Melton Mill Branch, which can be a trickle in summer or a roar in winter and spring, then leads past a hidden natural arch, guiding you along the bluff to a secluded view overlooking the river gorge.

Upper Melton Mill Falls NPS Photo Bridge Trail Distance: 0.5 mile one way Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous The trail runs between Lily Bridge and the Overlook trail. It cuts beneath Lilly Bluff, where sheer cliffs are exposed. It lends you low past the trunks of sycamore and ash trees near the river’s edge, then high among hemlock, oak, and hickory canopies.

Visitors bouldering during a ranger-led program! NPS Photo Boulder Field Trail Distance: 0.4 mile round trip Difficulty: Easy The trail meanders among massive sandstone boulders, which fell from the bluff thousands of years ago. Today climbers train and test their skill on the boulders’ faces while non-climbers look on.

Nemo Trails This day use area offers the perfect natural and historic backdrop for your next picnic, forested hiking adventure, or refreshing dip in the river! Do you want to experience Nemo after dark? Pick up a backcountry permit at the visitor center or online !

A snake ssssssoaking up the sun along the trail. NPS Photo Emory River Nature Trail Distance: 1.0-mile loop. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. The Nature Trail shares a small portion of the Cumberland Trail before looping down and around to return along the Emory River to the Rock Creek Campground. The trail offers a close up appreciation of the transition from bluff to gorge, where massive sandstone boulders fell from the bluff thousands of years ago and now rest in and near the river gorge.

Keep an eye out for evidence of how people used to use Obed's natural resources! NPS Photo Cumberland Trail – Emory River Gorge Section Distance: 2.6-mile round-trip. Difficulty: Moderate. Above the Nemo Picnic Area stands the historic Nemo Bridge, now used by hikers to enjoy an above-ground view of the Emory River. The trail leaves the picnic area from the upstream end of the parking lot and ascends above the river to a sweeping overlook of the confluence of the Obed and Emory Rivers. The trail ends at a seasonal stream cascade.

This trail really pops in the spring! NPS Photo Cumberland Trail – Obed River Section Distance: 14.2 miles one way. Difficulty: Very Strenuous. The trail leaves Rock Creek Campground and includes many ascents and descents along the Obed River leading to remote overlooks that offer solitude and sweeping views of the gorge. The section terminus is at the Devils Breakfast Table trailhead. A popular abbreviated hike on this section is from the campground to Alley Ford and back (5 miles roundtrip – moderate to strenuous). For more information on Cumberland Trail State Park , call 423-566-2229.

While hiking at Obed, it is important to be prepared and to know the possible risks. Ticks Ticks are common throughout the recreation area.

Be alert for poisonous snakes. Copperheads and rattlesnakes are generally found on land but may sometimes be seen in the water. Use ordinary precautions, wear shoes and always carry a flashlight after dusk. If you see a snake, leave it alone!

DIRECTIONS TO CAMPGROUND FROM VISITOR CENTER (6 miles one way): Turn right out of the visitor center parking lot onto Maiden Street and drive until you reach the intersection of Main Street. Continue straight across Main Street to the next intersection and turn right onto Spring Street. Spring Street becomes Catoosa Road at the curve to the left. Stay on this road and follow the signs approximately 5.6 miles to reach your destination.

Reservation Rules What is the maximum consecutive stay? You may stay up to 14 nights during a visit at this campground. What are the maximum reservations I can make on one transaction? You may pay for up to 4 reservations at one time within the same credit card transaction. Are self-service modifications allowed after arrival? This campground allows you to modify your reservation as a self service through your online account (My Reservations). This includes all modifications for remaining nights such as changing sites or leaving early. Past night can't be changed. If I book this reservation today, what are my options to change or cancel? Please remember that reservations at these facilities prevent other visitors from using these sites. Planned changes to your stay should be made as far in advance as possible. You can make changes to your reservation in My Reservations. Changes If your new stay dates are completely different from your original stay dates, there is a $10 change fee (per reserved site). There are no additional fees for: Adding or removing nights to your stay. Changing to a different campsite. Balances will adjust based on your new stay's nightly rate. Cancellations You can cancel the reservation any time before the date of your scheduled arrival. You will receive a refund for your stay, minus the following fees: $10 cancellation fee Any reservation fees (only if paid when booking) Any previous change fees Late Cancellation Defined as a cancellation the day before or the day of check in. Customer will pay the $10 cancellation fee (and reservation fee, if applicable) and forfeit the first night’s use fee. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. What is “Late”? For individual campsites, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 1 calendar day before your scheduled check-in. For cabins and group sites, a late cancellation applies starting from midnight 14 calendar days or fewer before your scheduled check-in. Modifying Before Check-In If you want to make a modification on the day of your scheduled arrival, you have these options: 1. Log into your Recreation.gov account and modify your reservation under the My Reservations option. 2. Request the change upon arrival at the facility. The facility reserves the right to grant or decline the request for modification. Cancelling Before Check-In If you decide to cancel your reservation before you check in, you have these options: 1. Log into your Recreation.gov account and cancel your reservation under the My Reservations option. 2. Call into the Recreation.gov Contact Center at 877-444-6777 with your order number ready. Important Note: The contact center cannot waive cancellation fees for any reason. Modifying After Check-In If you are staying at an unstaffed location and need to check out early, you may call into the Recreation.gov Contact Center at 877-444-6777 with your order number ready for a customer service representative to complete the early departure for you. You will lose the fees for the date of your early departure. Note: The Contact Center cannot make a campsite modification for you once you have been checked in. You must do that online. Cancelling After Check-In To cancel a reservation after you have checked in, you will need to contact a member of the facility where you are staying. The Recreation.gov contact center will NOT be able to cancel a reservation after check-in. Even if you have not physically checked in, you cannot cancel your reservation online on the day you are supposed to check in, or any day after. If you are not able to cancel your reservation due to this, you can wait until the reservation dates have passed and submit a refund request to the facility.