Bear Hollow Mountain WMA
Site Directions: From Winchester, head south on Hwy 16, up onto the plateau and through a small community to WMA signs. The WMA extends to the Alabama state line. Multiple access roads are available throughout the year for hiking and views of the nearby valley.
Overlook and TN trailhead to Walls of Jericho -
Lat: 34.99291°N Long: -86.06518°W
Hours: daylight hours
Seasonality: year round
Fees: none
View from the Walls of Jericho Trailhead at Bear Hollow Mountain WMA.
Site Description: Extensive second growth hardwood forests are found across the 17,000 acre Bear Hollow Mountain WMA. Some ridgetops have been cleared for restoration of native warm season grasses. Small forested wetlands are scattered, but accessible.
Many gravel roads through Bear Hollow Moutnain WMA are gated at various times of the year, but parking is available for hiking at these locations and at trailheads for hiking trails. Hiking trails with parking lots are available at two locations near the Alabama state line. The northern access has a nice overview of the valley and a 1 mile hiking trail loop. Hikers can head south and connect with the trail that leads to the Walls of Jericho in Alabama. Trailhead access for the Walls of Jericho State Natural Area, which is an excellent trail worth hiking, is accessible from just across the state line.
Several hundred acres of early successional forest are accessible via gravel roads.
Wildlife to Watch: Breeding forest interior Neotropical migratory songbirds are common, including Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Wood Thrush. At dusk, Whip-poor-wills are heard along the roads across the WMA. In clearcut areas, Black-and-White Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Towhee, are found. In thick regeneration, you may find Chestnut-sided Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler in migration, with nesting suspected but unconfirmed. In spring migration, nearly all warblers can be found, including Cerulean Warbler.
NOTE: Please refer to TWRA Hunting Guide about hunting seasons and public access dates. Access dates vary by site.
For more information:
Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau Nature Trail
Walls of Jericho SNA web page
Submit your data to eBird and help us build a list of birds seen at this site
Be sure to check out our Safety Tips page for important information regarding viewing wildlife in these areas.