What to Do When You See a Snake

The trails and natural areas of the Cumberland Plateau offer some of the finest hiking in the southeastern United States. From the dramatic gorges of the South Cumberland State Park to the quiet hollows of the highland forests, there is always something new to discover.

The restoration of native warm-season grasses on reclaimed mine lands has created valuable early-successional habitat for grassland birds and pollinators. These restored areas, while different from the original forest, serve important ecological functions and demonstrate that damaged landscapes can be returned to productive natural communities.