Big Hill Pond Hiking

Notification Alert

Dismal Swamp Boardwalk is Closed due to Construction

Big Hill Pond State Park

Dismal Swamp Boardwalk was originally built and 1977 and though we have had many people including volunteers and boy scout groups help maintain this asset, it still has some of the same materials from 1977 on it! We honestly can’t say thank you to everyone who has helped keep this asset open and available to the public over the years! With that being said, we, at Big Hill Pond State Park, have exciting news to share with everyone!

Dismal Swamp Boardwalk is being replaced! Last year our park received funding for a new boardwalk which we hope to see started in Spring of 2025! At this time, Dismal Swamp Boardwalk will be closed to the public to prepare for removal of materials and for preconstruction. The new boardwalk will be more user friendly as well as environmentally friendly! If you wish to still hike to the Observation Tower, don’t fret! You can still access the tower by using the blue and red trails.

Travis McNatt Lake Closure

Big Hill Pond State Park

Due to major infrastructure improvements happening at the lake, the Travis McNatt Lake remains closed.

Visitors are welcome to bring small paddling boats to Big Hill Pond Lake during this time.

When the lake reopens, it will be a part of the multi-departmental program, the Bill Dance Signature Lakes, and visitors will find:

A rebuilt bridge on the east side of the lake
A new, wider boat ramp
Two new docks: a fishing pier and kayak-friendly courtesy dock
Spillway repairs
Improved bank fishing areas
Invasion vegetation removal and fish habitat installation
Fishery rebuilding and fish restocking

If you have additional questions, please submit them here: https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/ask_tn_state_parks

Forest view from a metal observation deck under a clear blue sky.

Wooded trail with dappled sunlight, surrounded by lush green trees.

Hiking at Big Hill Pond

Visit any of the nine trails of Big Hill Pond, ranging in difficulty and distance, including Fox Hollow Trail and Rocky Knob Trail.

Trails

Access Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

0.40 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

There is a small parking spot down the gravel road in front of the office at the Big Hill Pond Trailhead. There is also parking at the park office and the trail can be accessed by walking down the gravel road or by taking the Fox Hollow Trail to the foot bridge at Travis McNatt Lake.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Azalea Spring Day Loop

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

2.95 mi.

Difficulty

Moderate

Surface

Mixed

This trail overlays multiple trails. The start of Azalea Spring Day Loop Trail is at the Dismal Swamp Boardwalk. It then goes south towards the railroad tracks, where it parallels the railroad tracks and crosses the john Howell Road. The trail continues to parallel the railroad tracks and then crosses back over going north. The trail parallels the John Howell Road, to the junction of Big Hill Pond Trail and the Dry Ridge Trail. At this junction there are three colors: yellow and green to the left and just yellow to the right. You will then cross the John Howell Road to the next junction, yellow to the right and green and black to the left. After this junction you will turn to the left to go back to the parking area.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Big Hill Pond Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

4.75 mi.

Difficulty

Moderate

Surface

Mixed

This trail overlays the Dry Ridge Trail, black trail on the west side of the John Howell Road. The trail crosses the gravel road in two places and has two trail intersections with the Azalea Spring Day Loop and the Dry Ridge Trail.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Big Hill Pond Water Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

—

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Bridge Access Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

0.30 mi.

Difficulty

Easy

Surface

Mixed

There is a small parking spot down the gravel road in front of the office at the Big Hill Pond Trailhead. There is also parking at the park office and the trail can be accessed by walking down the gravel road or by taking the Fox Hollow Trail to the foot bridge at Travis McNatt Lake.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Dogwood Point Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

3.10 mi.

Difficulty

Moderate

Surface

Natural

The Dogwood Point Trail is south of the railroad tracks and is in a hunting area. This trail has two overnight trail shelters.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Dry Ridge Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

2.85 mi.

Difficulty

Moderate

Surface

Mixed

This trail is composed of many trails that go around the Travis McNatt Lake. The trailheadis at the Travis McNatt Lake boat house. Travel north and then it turns on Tuscumbia Trail, also black. It then goes either to the observation tower or boardwalk, on the blue Turkey Call Trail.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Fox Hollow Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

0.65 mi.

Difficulty

Easy

Surface

Mixed

The trail starts at the visitor center and skirts along the shore of Travis McNatt Lake.

Availability
Open Seasonal

Allowed
Hiking

Horse Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

6.00 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Mixed

This trail starts at the horse trailer parking area and goes across the John Howell Road near the playground, traveling northwest it shares a portion of the Rocky Knob Trail, white, before it turns west and parallels Highway 57. The trail then turns south where is crossesthe Dry Ridge Trail, black, and joins the Turkey Call Trail, blue, near the observation tower.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking Horseback Riding Mountain Biking
Rocky Knob Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

2.40 mi.

Difficulty

Moderate

Surface

Mixed

This trail is at the north end of the park by Highway 57. The trail crosses the park entrance road two times and travels along the horse trail for a short distance on the west side of the park entrance road. There is also a trailhead for this trail between campsites 16 and 17 in the campground. This section is also blazed white.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Travis McNatt Lake Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

—

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Turkey Call Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

2.45 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Paved

Along the Turkey Call and Tuscumbia Trail is a 70 foot lookout tower that offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding landscape. This trail has the one half mile long boardwalk through the Dismal Swamp. This trail also has the starting point of the Azalea Spring Day Loop Trail, green, and the Dry Ridge Trail that surrounds the lake, black. There are three intersections on this trail: the Azalea Spring Day Loop, the Tuscumbia Trail near the tower and the Horse Trail for the loop back to the parking area.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Turkey Call Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Along the Turkey Call and Tuscumbia Trail is a 70 foot lookout tower that offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding landscape. This trail has the one half mile long boardwalk through the Dismal Swamp. This trail also has the starting point of the Azalea Spring Day Loop Trail, green, and the Dry Ridge Trail that surrounds the lake, black. There are three intersections on this trail: the Azalea Spring Day Loop, the Tuscumbia Trail near the tower and the Horse Trail for the loop back to the parking area.

Distance

2.45 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Paved

Allowed

Hiking

Trail Type

Information unavailable

Elevation

Gain 259.00'

Loss 574.40'

Grade

Typical 6.4%

Max 36.2%

Cross Slope

Typical 2.7%

Max 22.0%

Tread Width

Typical 45"

Minimum 12"

Surface Type

Soil 68.6%; Wood decking 20.5%; Sand 6.9%; Gravel 3.8%; Rock 0.3%

Obstructions Exist

Step: 15 in tall; Tree: 18 in of tread remaining

Tuscumbia Trail

Big Hill Pond State Park

Distance

1.50 mi.

Difficulty

Moderate

Surface

Mixed

This trail is marked in black to associate with the Dry Ridge Trail that goes around Travis McNatt Lake. The Tuscumbia Trail can be accessed at the observation tower or from the Dry Ridge Trail, where the Dry Ridge Trail and the Horse Trail meet. This trail also has the Tuscumbia Trail Shelter on it.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Trail Definitions

Cross Slope 

Describes the degree of incline from one side of the trail path to the other; measured as a percentage. Cross slope aids in water drainage and impacts the overall trail stability.  
Grade 

Describes the rise in elevation over a horizontal distance on the trail; measured as a percentage.  Higher percentages represent a steeper grade indicating a more challenging ascent or descent for hikers.   
Standard Ramp Grade

Serves as a reference guide for the grade of the trail.  Standard Ramp Grade is 8.3% across all trail assessments. 
Surface 

A characteristic of the trail expressed in terms of material type, grading, compaction, and roughness of the path. Possible surface types include soil, gravel, paved, and mulch.  
Tread Width 

Represents the horizontal distance from one edge of the trail path to the other; measurements can vary.  Tread width helps to determine the amount of space a hiker has to pass through. Obstacles on the trail can alter the remaining tread width.  
Trail Types: Loop

Trail returns at or near the point from which you started.
Trail Types: Network

Offers multiple route options within one trail, and each route is connected
Trail Types: Out and Back

This type of trail travels out to an endpoint where hikers turn around and travel back to the starting point.  
Trail Types: Stacked Loop

A loop trail contained completely within another trail.

Discover More at Big Hill Pond

Explore the Gift Shops

Big Hill Pond has two gift shops and one camp store to serve the needs of our visitors.

Visitor Center Gift Shop

The Visitor Center Gift Shop is the perfect place to pick up a map, learn about the park, or find a souvenir. You’ll find an assortment of apparel and keepsakes to remember your trip to the park.
Hours: Daily 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Boat Dock Gift Shop

Heading out on the water? The Boat Dock Gift Shop is a great spot to grab boating supplies and snacks for your voyage.
Hours: Seasonal
Camp Store

The park’s camp store is your best spot for finding gear, snacks, and accessories to make your camping experience exceptional. The camp store is your go-to destination for a cold drink, a can of chili, or those matches you forgot to pack.
Hours: Seasonal