Laurel-Snow State Natural Area

Laurel-Snow State Natural Area
Laurel-Snow State Natural Area
Map of Tennessee
LocationRhea County, Tennessee
Nearest cityDayton
Coordinates35°31′36″N 85°01′20″W / 35.5267°N 85.0223°W / 35.5267; -85.0223
Area2,259 acres (914 ha)
Designated1973
www.tn.gov/content/tn/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-east-region/east-region-/na-na-laurel-snow.html

Laurel-Snow State Natural Area is a Tennessee Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area located in Rhea County, Tennessee, near Dayton, on Walden Ridge of the Cumberland Plateau. The 2,259-acre (9.14 km2) area is owned by the State of Tennessee and managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. It is a component of the Cumberland Trail, a linear park.

The Laurel-Snow trail within the natural area was the first National Recreation Trail designated in Tennessee.

The Laurel-Snow State Natural Area got its name from two of the four waterfalls in the area, the 80-foot (24 m) Laurel Falls and the 12-foot (3.7 m) Snow Falls.

A 710-acre (2.9 km2) portion of the area was formerly a Bowater pocket wilderness.