Head Outdoors for National Public Lands Day in the Tennessee River Valley

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Tennessee River Valley is filled with some of America's most beautiful public lands. Each year, one day is set aside for visitors to visit public lands for free and to have an opportunity to volunteer with cleanup projects and restoration efforts.

Held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day (NPLD), coordinated by NEEF (National Environmental Education Foundation), is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands, which include national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, forests, grasslands, marine sanctuaries, lakes, and reservoirs, as well as state, county, and city parks that are managed by public agencies, but are enjoyed by everyone. Set for Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. NPLD is also a fee-free day where entrance fees are waived at national parks and other public lands.

"There are many ways to participate in National Public Lands Day. Visitors can visit a national park for free or they can take part in a volunteer work project," said Julie Graham, spokesperson for the Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council. "The Tennessee River Valley is home to vibrant river cites, lakes, waterfalls, large tracts of recreational lands and small rural communities that are deeply proud of their cultural roots. September 22 is a perfect time to get outdoors and experience our beautiful country."

Located in Decatur, Ala., Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge consists of 35,000 acres and stretches for 20 miles along both sides of the Tennessee River. It attracts thousands of wintering waterfowl each year and is home to Alabama's largest wintering duck population. The Refuge also supports the state's largest concentration of Sandhill Cranes and the endangered Whooping Crane.

Each year, over 14,000 Sandhill Cranes along with several pairs of Whooping Cranes spend the winter at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. In celebration of these long-legged and long-necked birds, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association hosts a festival in January at the Refuge. The two-day event, Festival of the Cranes, offers nature walks, concerts and special programs for experienced birders and anyone who would like to learn more about birding and other wildlife that call the Refuge home.

Recreational opportunities are plentiful at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the Refuge's waters are open year-round for fishing and boating. Additional year-round activities include wildlife viewing, hiking, photography, bicycling and horseback riding. Public hunting on the Refuge is permitted on approximately 18,000 acres during specific hunt seasons.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile recreational road and scenic drive through three states – Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. It roughly follows the "Old Natchez Trace" a historic travel corridor used by American Indians, "Kaintucks," European settlers, slave traders, soldiers and future presidents. Today, people can enjoy not only a scenic drive but also hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping along the parkway.

There are several key points along the route worth venturing out of the car. Located at milepost 330.2, the nature trail at Rock Spring offers visitors an opportunity to explore a small natural spring as it bubbles forth from the ground.

At milepost 317.0, Freedom Hills Overlook offers a scenic trail to the highest point on the Natchez Trace in Alabama. Several benches are located along the way for hikers to stop and rest.

Jackson Falls, located at milepost 404.7, offers a short (900 feet) but steep, paved trail taking visitors to a clear pool at the base of the falls and making it one of the most popular walks along the Parkway. There are picnic tables at the trailhead, as well as a short trail (0.25 mile) to Baker Bluff Overlook with a viewpoint 30 stories above the Duck River.

Located at milepost 385.9 is the Meriwether Lewis Monument. Here, visitors can learn more about the life and mysterious death of one of America's great explorers. Along with the monument, the 300-acre park includes a cabin constructed in 1935 containing interpretive displays that tell about the life of Lewis, a campground, picnic area, hiking trails and restrooms. Campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hohenwald, in Lewis County, Tenn., is located about eight miles west of the Natchez Trace Parkway. The third largest animal trophy mount collection in North America is located at the Lewis County Museum of Natural History in downtown Hohenwald. Hohenwald is also the home of The Elephant Sanctuary, the largest natural-habitat sanctuary for elephants in the United States. The Elephant Discover Center features indoor self-guided exhibits, an outdoor classroom and live video-feeds from The Elephant sanctuary habitats. It should be noted The Elephant's habitats are closed to the public. All elephants reside within The Sanctuary's 2,700 acres of habitat nearby, retired from public view.

Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of east Tennessee, the Cherokee National Forest is divided into northern and southern sections by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stretching from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border, the 650,000-acre forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee and adjoins other national forests in Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Visitors to Cherokee National Forest come to explore the more than 600 miles of trails including 150 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, hundreds of miles of cold water streams, seven whitewater rivers, three large lakes managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority, 11 congressionally designated Wilderness areas, 30 developed campgrounds, 45 developed day-use sites, and the abundant populations of wildlife.

Additional activities include scenic drives through the mountains, wildlife viewing and solitude hikes on one of many backcountry trails. There's also fun on the water such as fishing in natural trout streams, canoeing and whitewater rafting.

Come Outside and Play is the motto of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, and with 170,000 acres of woods and water, this is certainly a supersized playground. Nestled between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, Land Between the Lakes offers 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline for paddlers, boaters, fishermen and campers. Hundreds of miles of interior trails are dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, backpacking, hunting and riding horses, mountain bikes and ATVs.

Each year volunteers contribute tens of thousands of hours of service to Land Between The Lakes. For those interested in volunteering on Sept. 22, Friends of Land Between the Lakes offers an opportunity for the public to get involved. Volunteer activities range from trail maintenance and shoreline cleanup to monitoring the Elk and Bison Prairie and assisting with administrative work.

Over the past five years, Friends of Land Between The Lakes has organized and conducted volunteer activities for the general public, which produced over 55,000 hours of donated service. The value of this donated service is in excess of $900,000.

For other volunteer opportunities in the Tennessee River Valley, go to http://www.exploretrv.com > things to do > action opportunities.

Beginning in the southwest corner of Virginia, the Tennessee River Valley region cuts through the mountainous areas of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Northern Georgia, into the rolling hills and bottomlands of northern Alabama and Mississippi and then north through the marshes and wetlands of middle-west Tennessee and ending in western Kentucky. The Tennessee River Valley offers a compelling story, captivating visitors with its little unknown facts, pristine, untouched areas and rich, authentic experiences. Save trip ideas and plan a trip easily with the Tennessee River Valley Geotourism MapGuide, an online guide of authentic places and adventures that have been recommended by locals.

SOURCE Tennessee River Valley