Nathan Bedford Forrest Birding
Warning Alert
Campgrounds, Baseball Field, and Volleyball Court Closed for Renovations
Due to structural renovations, the Happy Hollow and Lakefront Campgrounds, the baseball field, and the volleyball court are closed. We anticipate a reopening of all areas in early 2027. Please watch our alerts and our social media accounts for the most updated information.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions, please contact the park office.
GPS Information
To get the most direct route to our Park Office when using GPS, please use the park address - 1825 Pilot Knob Road Eva, TN 38333. If you use the park name, it sends you to the back gate which is the long route, depending on your starting point, and there is no cell phone reception.
Birding at Nathan Bedford Forrest
Numerous migrating and wintering waterfowl along with herons, eagles, egrets and several gull species can be seen from the expansive open waters, available from the boat ramps and at open spots on trails along the shoreline.
The trail system winds from hardwood bottoms uphill through oak-hickory forest, and trails on the Pilot Knob Ridge and the observation deck at the Tennessee River Folklife Center enable views of the canopy for abundant resident and migrant songbirds. Hawks and owls are seen throughout the park.
Featured Birds
- Waterfowl
- Grebes
- Loons
- Gull
- Double-crested Cormorant
- American White Pelican
- Great Blue Heron
- Bald Eagle
- Osprey
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Black Vulture
- Turkey Vulture
- Woodpecker
- Woodland Birds
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Eastern Bluebird
- Wood Thrush
- Summer Tanager
- Scarlet Tanager
- Orchard Oriole
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Wintering Waterfowl
- Herons
- Egrets
- Hawk
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Horned Grebe
- Songbirds
Birding Locations
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Lake Front Road Boat Ramp #1
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Grebes, Loons, Gull, Double-crested CormorantThe boat ramps and other areas along Lake Front Road provide for extensive looks at Kentucky Lake. A third boat ramp found outside the park at the Eva Beach Day Use Area (36.061125, -87.997302) adds yet another location to scan for waterfowl on Kentucky Lake.
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Lake Front Road Boat Ramp #2
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Grebes, Loons, Gull, Double-crested CormorantThe boat ramps and other areas along Lake Front Road provide for extensive looks at Kentucky Lake. A third boat ramp found outside the park at the Eva Beach Day Use Area (36.061125, -87.997302) adds yet another location to scan for waterfowl on Kentucky Lake.
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Pilot Knob Loop Trail
Featured birds: Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, WoodpeckerTrailhead located at the Pilot Knob Interpretive Center which is one of the highest points in West Tennessee. -
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Polk Creek Wildflower Trail
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American White PelicanThis short trail offers a chance to see woodland birds as well as birds on the lake. -
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Pafford Wilson Trail
Featured birds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Woodpecker, Flycatchers, Vireos, Eastern BluebirdBe sure to bird around the fields near the trailhead before hike this trail. -
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Camden Wildlife Management Area Main Entrance
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Herons, Egrets, Hawk, WoodpeckerCall before visiting since areas may be closed due to flooding and hunting.
The 3,692-acre area consists of cropland, bottomland hardwood forests, and flooded ponds. Over 135 species of birds have been identified from the area. -
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Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Britton Ford: Headquarters
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, Bald Eagle, HawkThe headquarters is a great place to start your birding of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. Here you can get information on birding sites within the refuge including the Duck River Unit. The observation deck at the headquarters is a good place to scan the lake for waterfowl in the winter. Over 105 species of birds have been seen at the headquarters.
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Responsible Birding
- Do not endanger the welfare of birds.
- Tread lightly and respect bird habitat.
- Silence is golden.
- Do not use electronic sound devices to attract birds during nesting season, May-July.
- Take extra care when in a nesting area.
- Always respect the law and the rights of others, violators subject to prosecution.
- Do not trespass on private property.
- Avoid pointing your binoculars at other people or their homes.
- Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds.
Discover More at Nathan Bedford Forrest
No events are scheduled at this time, but there's always more to explore.
