Dry Creek Headwaters
These tracts abut Lost Creek SNA, Bridgestone Firestone Centennial Wilderness, and the Caney Fork River. The tracts contain caves and forested habitat important for rare species, especially bats.
In 2018, TennGreen collaborated with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and Open Space Institute (OSI) to acquire 582 acres of land adjacent to Lost Creek State Natural Area (SNA) and Bridgestone Firestone Centennial Wilderness Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The conservation of this natural area not only expanded the two state-owned and managed lands, but also increased hiking access to Virgin Falls SNA and protects the many plant, fish, and wildlife species that depend on its habitat to thrive.
Virgin Falls has long been recognized as a premier hiking and backpacking destination in the Mid-Cumberland region. However, following TennGreen’s assistance of TDEC’s Virgin Falls purchase in 2012, pressures on the trail increased dramatically. Worried that the trail was being “loved to death” from overuse, Parks staff set out to build more trails to help disperse the impact. With the acquisition of Dry Creek Headwaters, TDEC and TWRA coordinated a swap of land management, allowing TDEC to establish a new nine-mile trail to Virgin Falls from Lost Creek SNA. The new trail begins at Rylander Cascades and connects to the western boundary of the heavily traveled Virgin Falls trail. Along the way, hikers can experience beautiful views of the Dry Creek Headwaters property overlooking Big Bottom and the Caney Fork River, as well as across Wilson Ridge.