Restrictions Extended For Pickett State Forest

The usage restrictions on the northwestern trails at Pickett State Forest have been extended to February 1.

The trails closed earlier this year after off-road vehicles and ATVs caused significant damage. Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division Communications and Outreach Unit Leader Megan Carpenter said their trail restoration project is only sixty percent complete. Carpenter said they are still hauling in tons of rocks, changing drainage systems, and making adjustments to roads and trails that currently pose a safety hazard for motorized vehicles.

“We don’t want to end up with somebody accidentally being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Carpenter said. “And in addition we want to halt the erosion and damage that is occurring so that it doesn’t continue while we’re trying to do the repairs.”

Carpenter said they are allowed to close a trail for up to 120 days at a time so they had to start with the first window and expand it as necessary. Carpenter said visitors on foot or horseback are still welcome to explore the trails.

“There’s a gate that has been installed beyond which the restrictions apply,” Carpenter said. “And it is at the point where the Redmond Rim Road and the Redmond Mountain Road split, so it’s at that Y.”

Carpenter said they will monitor the situation closely to determine if an additional extension will be necessary.

“We’ll just be continuing to evaluate the situation for safety and for the project,” Carpenter said. “And (to) ensure that we are creating a situation that has the best interests of visitors and staff and the project itself in mind.”

Carpenter said the work is necessary because there is currently no way to get emergency vehicles through that area of the forest due to erosion and trail damage.

“In addition, that erosion can cause serious problems for forest health as well,” Carpenter said. “And to water quality.”