Park

Jefferson National Forest

Kentucky, USA Upper Tennessee watershed 36.976°, -82.868°
Today high
--
Tonight low
--
Campgrounds
33
Trails
60
Points of interest
26
Loading current conditions…
Next 24 hours
Loading next 24 hours…

Community Reviews

Loading reviews…

Been here? Share the conditions.

Reviews, ratings & photos are added in the free Snoflo iOS app — rate a spot, tag the conditions, and your visit is verified by location. Add or manage your reviews from the app.

Get the app
Jefferson National Forest -- Kentucky park
Jefferson National Forest Kentucky · Upper Tennessee watershed
About this park

Jefferson National Forest

Jefferson National Forest, while primarily in Virginia, extends slightly into eastern Kentucky near the Cumberland Mountains. It's known for its rugged scenery, diverse wildlife, dark skies, and access to the iconic Appalachian Trail. Visitors enjoy hiking, camping, birdwatching, and scenic drives. Top spots include High Knob Lookout, Mount Rogers, and Cascades Falls. Trails like Dragon’s Tooth and the Virginia Creeper Trail offer panoramic views. Open year-round with no entry fee; best visited in spring and fall for mild weather and foliage. Wildlife includes black bears, deer, and hawks. Permits may be needed for camping or special activities.
StateKentucky
WatershedUpper Tennessee
Latitude36.9765°
Longitude-82.8685°
In the park

Streamflow in Jefferson National Forest

Live USGS discharge at streamgauges inside the park boundary.

GaugeFlow
Johns Creek At New Castle · 2.92 ft gage 25 cfs
N F Holston River Near Saltville · 3.12 ft gage 956 cfs
In the park

Trails in Jefferson National Forest

Named trails whose route falls inside the park.

Allegheny Trail
27.8 mi · Hiking, Running
Apple Orchard Spur
1.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Bald Knob Trail
0.7 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Barton Gap Moto Trail
1.7 mi · Hiking, Running
Bearpen Trail
3.1 mi · Hiking, Horseback, Running
Beaver Creek Dam Trail
0.5 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Belfast Trail
2.7 mi · Hiking, Running
Brumley Mountain Trail
12.2 mi · Hiking, Running
Buckhorn Mountain Lane
3.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Bushwacker Trail
1.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Camp Mountain Lane
0.3 mi · Hiking, Running
Channels Trail
5.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Chimney Loop
3.3 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Cornelius Creek Spur
1.2 mi · Hiking, Running
Deerfield Lane
0.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Fairwood Valley Trail
1.9 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Feather Camp Road
2.9 mi · Hiking, Running
Flat Spur Road
2.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Forest Road 3099
1.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Forest Service Road
1.9 mi · Hiking, Running
Forest Service Road
1.8 mi · Hiking, Running
Glenwood Horse Trail Alternate Loop
4.4 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Grave Mountain Trail
1.2 mi · Hiking, Running
Helveys Mill Shelter Side Trail
0.3 mi · Hiking, Running
Hidden Valley Road
1.8 mi · Hiking, Running
High Rock Loop Trail
3.3 mi · Hiking, Running
Hoof And Hill Trail
1.7 mi · Hiking, Running
Hunting Creek Trail
2.0 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Jerry's Creek Trail
4.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Larkspur
0.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Laurel Creek Trail
0.3 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Little Dry Run Trail
2.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Little Laurel Trail
2.8 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Mike's Gap Trail
1.1 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Mill Creek Road
6.4 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Old At - High Water Trail
2.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Old Orchard Trail
1.6 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Piney Ridge Trail
3.2 mi · Hiking, Running
Poppy Lane
1.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Potts Mountain Jeep Trail
7.2 mi · Hiking, Running
Potts Valley Rail Trail
7.6 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Poverty Creek Connector
1.3 mi · Hiking, Running
Queen Anne
0.8 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Rocky Mount Road
0.8 mi · Hiking, Running
Roses Ridge Lane
2.7 mi · Hiking, Running
Rowlands Creek Trail
3.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Smith Flats
1.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Smith Ridge Rd
1.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Sulphur Spring Trail
5.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Two Pond Trail
0.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Virginia Highlands Horse Trail
76.6 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Virginias' Walk
2.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Vista Trail
0.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Walker Mountain Road
2.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Wetlands Trail
0.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Wilburn Ridge Trail
0.7 mi · Hiking
Wild Steer Road
7.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Wolf Creek Loop Trail
1.9 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Yellow Branch Trail
2.0 mi · Hiking, Horseback, Running
Zane
0.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Detailed forecast

Plan your visit down to the hour

Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.

Hourly detail

Next 5 days, hour by hour

Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.

Loading hourly forecast…
Deep dive

5-day forecast table

Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.

TimeConditionTemp (°F)Snow (in)Rain (in)Humidity (%)Wind (mps)Wind dir
Loading detailed forecast…
Long-term outlook

15-day temperature & precipitation

Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.

Loading 15-day outlook…

Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace

Know before you go
Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
Stay on trail
Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
Respect wildlife
Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
Pack it in, pack it out
Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
Leave what you find
Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.

Set push alerts in the Snoflo app

Save Jefferson National Forest as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.

FAQ

About Jefferson National Forest

What can I do at Jefferson National Forest?

Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).

How fresh is the weather data?

The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.

When is the best time to visit?

Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.

How do I get to Jefferson National Forest?

Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.

Can I get alerts when conditions change?

Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.

Land designation

Park & land designation reference

A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.