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TENNESSEE WILDLIFE VIEWING TRAIL » East Tennessee

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Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness

Site Directions: This area is very large and there are many entry points. To get to the main entrance, start here:
Located in White county on the Cumberland county line 6 miles south of Hwy 70S. From I-40, take Sparta-Cookeville exit #287-Hwy. 136. Go south for 2 miles and connect with Hwy 111S. Go south on Hwy. 111 to the Sparta-Smithville exit (Hwy 70), which is just past the intersection (stop light near a McDonalds/Wal-mart). Turn left (east) onto Hwy 70, go through Sparta, past the Courthouse ® and up the plateau past the Rock House Historic Site ® and Scenic Overlook (L). About one mile past the Bondecroft School (L), turn right onto Eastland Road at Bondecroft Headstart Village. Travel 6.5 miles. If coming from Crossville on Hwy. 70W, travel to Eastland Road; turn left. Go 6.5 miles. WMA is on right. If coming from Crossville on Highway 70W, turn left on to Eastland Road at Bondecroft Headstart Village. Travel 6.5 miles; WMA is on right.
Lat: 35.87984°N Long: -85.27229°W
Hours: day light hours
Seasonality: year round
Fees: none

Site Description: The 10,000 area includes a wide variety of habitats. A 700 acres tract of native warm season grass occurs near the main entrance and is burned on a rotation to provide continual habitat for grassland species. The majority of the WMA has second growth hardwood forests with some pine plantation in various stages of development. On the south side, not accessible from the main entrance, consists of 2000 acres of early succession pine plantation with extensive presence of warm season grasses and native wildflowers is being converted to native warm season grasses via burning to remove the majority of the pines.

Check access via the main road towards the checking station and old barn with grain silo. The gate is closed there at times, but one can park at the entrance (do not block gate) and walk the roads. Hiking trails and paths/mowed roads around the warm season grass fields are open to the public and a pleasant walk in the cool morning weather. Many miles of hiking trails are also accessible throughout the forests near the barn/silo.

Camping is available at primitive camping sites only in designated areas.

See Virgin Falls SNA account for directions to additional hiking trails adjacent to Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness. Virgin Falls SNA

Wildlife to Watch: In the silo by the barn is occasionally a Barn Owl. Look in the silo for feathers on the ground and for the bird perched near the top of the silo. Warm season grass fields support some nesting Northern Bobwhite, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Yellowthroat, and Henslow's Sparrow. Barn swallows nest in an equipment barn near the checking station and are found in spring and summer. Many Neotropical migratory songbirds nest in the deciduous forests including Black-throated Green Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Worm-eating Warbler, and Ovenbird. Deer and Wild Turkey are common around the WMA.

NOTE: Please refer to TWRA Hunting Guide about hunting seasons and public access dates. Access dates vary by site.

For more information:

Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness or call 931-935-3280 during business hours.

Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau Nature Trail


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.




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