South Cumberland State Park Visitor Center

DISTANCE: 1 mile total 

DIFFICULTY: Easy

TIME: 1-2 hour hike time

Don’t overlook the park’s Information and Welcome Center on Highway 41 in Monteagle.  Now that school is out, this is a great place to bring the kids.  In the Exhibit Hall, learn about the park's nine individual tracts, watch a video about all of the park's amazing waterfalls, and learn about the area's natural and human history through exhibits, including a full-size pioneer cabin, a great children's exhibit featuring the birds, plants and animals of the park, an interactive microscope; as well as a 3-D map of the park.  During the summer, kids can also pre-register to attend Junior Ranger camp, held right here at the Information & Welcome Center.

Outside, the Meadow Trail features storybook panels that allow the kids to enjoy a great tale of the outdoors as they take in all the natural wonders of the trail, including an authentic Nature Play area, where they can explore a creek, built a fort, or do just about anything their imagination can think of!

Want to know more about the park?  The folks at the information desk can answer all your questions! There is also a great gift shop with plenty of South Cumberland-branded gear and clothing. The Center is open from 8 am until 4 pm daily; closed Mondays.