Frozen Head State Park Photo: Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
United States › Tennessee

Frozen Head State Park

ByWilderness Experts

Fast facts

  • Size: more than 24,000 acres (97 km²)
  • Highest point: Frozen Head, 3,324 feet (1,013 m), named for its winter ice and snow
  • History: a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, and the backdrop of the Barkley Marathons
  • Gateway: Wartburg and Oak Ridge
  • Managed by: Tennessee State Parks

The landscape

Frozen Head rises in the Cumberland Mountains, a rugged range of steep ridges and hollows covered in hardwood forest. Waterfalls and cascades fill the hollows, and spring brings one of the best wildflower displays in the state. Black bears, deer and wild turkeys live here.

Best time to go

Spring wildflowers peak in April. Fall colour peaks in late October. Winter can bring ice to the summit.

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Getting there and around

The park is near Wartburg. A park road leads to the campground and trailheads, and trails climb to the summit lookout tower and across the ridges.

Things to do

Hikers climb to the Frozen Head lookout tower for views across the mountains, and loop past waterfalls such as Emory Gap and Debord falls. Backpackers use primitive campsites for overnight trips.

Staying safe

Trails are steep and rugged; allow extra time. The summit can be icy in winter. Store food from bears and watch for snakes. Leave a trip plan.

Know before you go

This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so confirm what is open with Tennessee State Parks before you go.

Navigation
Coordinates
36.1205, -84.5024
Magnetic declination
5.8° W (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

34 places in Frozen Head State Park

A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.

Getting there 1

Park entrance

On the trail 18

Trailheads

Campgrounds

Sights 15

Waterfalls

Peaks 13

Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).

Trip types
Day hikeWeekend backpackingBackcountry

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Terrain
MountainsForestRivers
Key hazards
Steeprugged trailsIce on the summit in winterBlack bearsVenomous snakes
Best seasons
Spring (wildflowers), Fall (foliage), Winter
Difficulty
Moderate to strenuous
Access / trailheads
Near Wartburg in Morgan County, off State Route 62 northwest of Oak Ridge.
Water
Streams; treat all water.
Cell / satellite coverage
Patchy.
Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
Emergencies: 911.
Permits & regulations
Primitive and backcountry camping need reservations through Tennessee State Parks (1-888-867-2757).
Leave No Trace
Camp only at reserved sites, stay on trail and pack out all waste.
Conditions by month

October This month

Average high70°F(21°C)21°C(70°F)
Average low43°F(6°C)6°C(43°F)
Rainfall3.3 in(84 mm)84 mm(3.3 in)
Daylight, mid-month11 h 20 minSunrise 7:43 a.m., sunset 7:03 p.m.

What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.

Plan a trip here →

Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Lancing station, 13 miles (21 km)21 km (13 miles) away at 1,520 feet (463 m)463 m (1,520 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.

Before you go Conditions, permits, fire bans and closures change constantly — we summarise and link out, but always confirm with the managing agency first.
Official park website → Last verified 2026-09-21

Nearby parks

Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.

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