The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Located just west of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Pogue Creek is an ecological and geological jewel of the northern Cumberland Plateau. Its natural features include immense sandstone bluffs, arches, waterfalls and caves as well as the winding creek itself and its deep surrounding gorge.

Location
Pickett County, adjacent to Pickett State Park

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
Tennessee's State Wildlife Action Plan has ranked the northern Cumberland Plateau as among the highest priority wildlife habitat in the state. In addition to its outstanding natural features, Pogue Creek contains an abundant variety of native plants, aquatic animals, amphibians and cave species.

Rare animals in the area include the bald eagle, Swainson's warbler, the Eastern slender glass lizard and the green salamander. Because of its unusual sandstone formations, the area harbors a number of rare plant varieties, such as Cumberland sandwort and Lucy Braun's white snakeroot. The Conservancy acquired the property in 2005 before turning it over to the state of Tennessee in 2006.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy has been sponsoring extensive biological surveys of the property to identify the area's plant and animal species. In 2006, the state of Tennessee purchased Pogue Creek from The Nature Conservancy and designated it a State Natural Area.

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