Head of the Crow State Park

Previously managed as part of South Cumberland State Park, Head of the Crow State Park is 4,258 acres located in Franklin County containing the headwaters of Crow Creek. This park joins together the following four state natural areas to provide more and better outdoor recreation opportunities:

• Sherwood Forest State Natural Area is a 3,075-acre parcel in Franklin County that protects the federally-endangered Morefield’s Leather Flower and the federally-threatened painted snake coiled forest snail, in addition to several other state-listed plant and animal species.

• The Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter State Natural Area is a 931-acre natural area with a significant cave system extending from Lost Cove to the head of Crow Creek. The stream systems draining into Lost Cove disappear and travel underground for over a mile, emerging at the main entrance of Buggytop Cave.

• Natural Bridge State Natural Area is a one-acre natural area with a 25-foot high natural sandstone arch spanning 50 feet that provides a scenic overlook of Lost Cove. There is a wet weather spring associated with a rock house located behind the natural bridge.

• Hawkins Cove State Natural Area is a 249-acre natural area located in Franklin County. It was originally acquired by The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee and then sold to the State to protect a population of Cumberland rosinweed. Cumberland rosinweed is a type of sunflower found only on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee.