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COUNTY: Weakley ACREAGE: 270
7.5' QUADRANGLE: Rutherford OWNERSHIP: State of Tennessee
PHYSIOGRAPHIC
PROVINCE:
Coastal Plain YEAR DESIGNATED: 1973

DESCRIPTION:

Map to Big Cypress Tree
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Big Cypress is a 270-acre natural area in Weakley County. It is a bottomland hardwood and bald cypress forest that occurs along the old river meanders and the channelized Middle Fork of the Obion River (MFOR). A bald cypress forest is present in the many sloughs and the depressions areas along the river. This forest is comprised of bald cypress, river birch, sweet gum, sycamore, overcup oak, water oak, willow oak, and cherrybark oak. The bottomland hardwood forest that occurs at higher locations includes green ash, swamp chestnut oak, red maple, and slippery elm with some white oak.

The natural area includes the remains of the largest bald cypress tree in the United States and largest known tree of any species east of the Mississippi River for which it is named. The stately cypress, historically referred to as the "Tennessee Titan" stood at 175 feet tall, 40 feet in circumference, 13 feet in diameter, and was estimated to be 1350 years old. Unfortunately, the tree was struck by lightning in July 1976, leaving only a stump.

The bottomland and the sloughs surrounding the MFOR provide abundant habitat for wildlife and opportunities for bird watching. Swainson's warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii), a bird deemed in need of management in Tennessee, is known to occur in the natural area and surrounding bottomland forest. Persistent wet conditions have closed the Big Cypress Tree trail. The MFOR must be crossed to reach the site of the big cypress tree and at this time no bridge or trail exists. Crossing the MFOR is not recommended. Contact the Division of Natural Areas or Tennessee State Parks for access information. Future trail development is pending.

Site Management:

Big Cypress Tree State Park, 295 Big Cypress Rd., Greenfield TN 38230, phone (731) 235-2700. Division of Natural Areas, 7th Floor L&C Annex, 401 Church St., Nashville, TN 37243, phone (615) 532-0431. Division of Natural Areas, Jackson Environmental Field Office, 1625 Hollywood Drive, Jackson TN 38305, phone (731) 512-1369. Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, 200 Lowell Thomas Drive, Jackson TN 38307, phone (731) 423-5725.

Public Access:

Limited public access; parking area is provided but hiking trails in the forested river bottom are not open at this time.

Directions:

From Jackson, take U.S. Hwy 45E north through Greenfield: then just north of Greenfield, turn left on Kimery Store Rd., and follow the road for approximately 8 miles to the state park entrance on the right.