Public Use - Emory River Acquisition Information

Managed public access and the types of activities allowed at Emory River include:

Hunting and ATV use for individuals who are hunting with hunting licenses during a hunting season on

1. 7,000 of the acres owned by the state that is located to the north and west of Frozen Head, and
2. 18,875 acres owned by Conservation Forestry on which the State owns a conservation & public use easement.

ATV use for recreational purposes is not permitted on any of the Emory River property.

Hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing and other non-hunting recreational activities will be permitted on Love and Bird Mountains, which encompass 3,000 acres around the entrance to Frozen Head State Park and Natural Area. Hunting and fishing will not be permitted on Love and Bird Mountain.

Gates at the following locations are open for access to the 7,000 acres where hunting is permitted:

At the confluence of the Laurel Fork Branch with the Emory River at Emory River mile 45 (Gate #2);

• At the confluence of Phillips Creek with the Emory River (Gate #3);

• At the confluence of Rayder Creek with the Emory River (Gate #4).

The Department of Environment and Conservation, the management at Frozen Head and Morgan County representatives are working together to determine access through gates at:

• The confluence of the Sang Branch with the Emory River between Emory River miles 43 and 44 (Gate #1 at Sang Branch); and

• The old tipple site (Gate #5).

Within the next 30 days, the Department of Environment and Conservation will work with Morgan County representatives to open Gate #1 at Sang Branch by locating a new gate approximately one mile from Frozen Head State Natural Area. The new gate will address safety and boundary concerns between the Park and the area where hunting is permitted.

Within the next 30 days, the Department Environment and Conservation will work with the Department of Transportation to inspect the bridge at Gate #5 where there are safety concerns. If the bridge is deemed safe for crossing, Gate #5 will be opened with a new gate installed to provide a safety buffer between the park and the area where hunting is permitted. If the bridge is deemed unsafe, cost estimates for repairing bridge will determine the feasibility and timing of such action.

Macedonia Road is open to vehicular traffic (cars, trucks and ATV-riders) for access from Morgan County to Brimstone in Scott County and Sundquist Wildlife Management Area in Campbell and Anderson Counties.

The Brimstone and Sundquist areas are managed by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and with proper TWRA permits allow hunting, fishing and recreational ATV use.
For additional information please contact: Frozen Head State Park 423-346-3318