Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area
Site Directions: From I-24 exit 81 B and go about one quarter mile on Church St. and turn right on S. Rutherford Blvd. and then proceed approximately five miles and turn right at Greenland and proceed three miles east on Halls Hill Pike, then turn right on Factory Rd. Follow Factory Rd for one mile to the parking lot on the right.
Lat: 35.861035°N Long: -86.298573°W (for access point/parking lot)
Hours: day light hours
Seasonality: year round
Fees: none
Site Description: Flat Rock supports a mosaic of forest types, oak barrens, open grassland barrens, and cedar glades, including federal and state listed plant species and glade endemic species. These glades are characterized by exposed limestone that is typically interspersed with cedar-oak-hickory forest that occurs in deeper soils. This limestone, with its many sinkholes, is a karst topography commonly associated with glades.
There is a hiking trail that loops around the natural area while passing through a variety of cedar glades and barrens.
Open Glade/Barren
Wildlife to Watch: Although not incredibly diverse in terms of birds, the glades provide excellent habitat for Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chats, and Chuck-wills-widows in summer. Year round you can find typical woodland birds, including Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, and Tufted Titmice.
For more information:
Tennessee State Natural Areas web page
Submit your data to eBird and help us build a list of birds seen at this site
More glade/barren.
Be sure to check out our Safety Tips page for important information regarding viewing wildlife in these areas.
