You hear people refer to four wheeling Blackhouse Mountain or Pickett State Forest. They are not to be confused with either Black Mountain In Tennessee or Kentucky. It is an area in Pickett County TN and Wayne County Kentucky. Usually folks access it from Blackhouse Mountain Road in Tennessee and head north into Kentucky. Over the years the trails became extremely eroded. It was deeply rutted having become one mud hole after another. Finally TWRA had enough and gated off the damaged parts. The area was also opened to logging. Originally they said it would reopen once logging was over. The final outcome has been for them to repair the damage , and modify the access and usage permanently.
I am going to clear up the access confusion here and try to put all rumors to rest.
Below I have included the excerpt that speaks to the current situation at Pickett State Forest. It is because often the state run websites are down.
Changes to Designated Use Areas:
February 2025 - An updated Pickett State Forest Recreation Use map shows a total of 14.5 miles of hiking trails designated for foot traffic only, 18.2 miles of non-motorized use on unpaved roads (hiking, biking, horseback riding), and 34.7 miles of motorized use paved and unpaved roads.
In addition, two unpaved roads (Yellow Doors Road, Redmond Rim Road) have been newly designated as seasonal motorized use roads. This will minimize future damage to these roads by removing vehicles from them roads during the seasons that receive the most rain while continuing to allow access during drier months. They will be open to motorized traffic from March 15 through December 20.
Finally, gates have been installed at the northern forest boundary to block entry to Kentucky via Redmond Mountain Road and Carpenter Rockhouse Road.
Designated motorized use roads in the northwestern portion of the forest are accessible from by veering left at the Redmond Mountain Road/Store 14 Road split. Roads and trails in this area of the forest have the following designated usage.
Redmond Mountain Road (before Carpenter Rockhouse Split): Motorized Use Allowed
Yellow Doors Road: Seasonal Limited Access for Motorized Use (Closed Dec. 20 to Mar. 15)
Redmond Rim Road: Seasonal Limited Access for Motorized Use (Closed Dec. 20 to Mar. 15)
Oil Well Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
Jim Spike Bluff Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
Three Corners Ridge Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
Redmond Cable Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
Carpenter Rockhouse Road: Non-Motorized Use Only
Redmond Mountain Road (After Carpenter Rockhouse Split): Non-Motorized Use Only
Kenny pointed out something I had not considered before. People were using the roads on the Tennessee side to access the Kentucky side. Tearing up the roads on the Tennessee side to get there in the process. It is now no longer possible to ride from this area into Kentucky, and that is not going to change EVER.
You can still access Mineral Lake, Wow Overlook, Yellow Doors Overlook in Tennessee. The rest is gated off and is going to remain that way. To reach the stuff on the Kentucky side you have to either travel on foot or go round into Kentucky to reach the trails and land forms. The seasonal closures occur during the time of year we get the most rain. Keeping OHVs and motorized traffic off them during this time of year will cut down on the erosion problems.
Things you cannot access from TN anymore unless you're on foot:
Carpenters Rockhouse
Carpenters Arch
Car Hauler
Tea Cup
Storybook Cliff
Granny's Crack
Split Rock Pass
Buck Hill Overlook
Hall Hollow Arch
I am NOT including directions how to access the features from Kentucky. We did it, but I am fairly certain the way we went is private land. Based on what I saw the situation will certainly change soon. However, if I find another acceptable access point i will update directions and share the information. I have a feeling there is no good way to go about it, because Black House Mountain Campground is up for sale. They relied upon four wheeling for campers so they hitched their wagon to the wrong hoss.
Riding the Kentucky Side to Land Forms on Labor Day
Our friend Rick is a golf pro so in Summer his weekends are usually spoken for. We wanted to get together with Rick and Sharon for a day of four wheeling and fellowship. He was off Labor Day. He'd been wanting to ride Blackhouse Mountain and learn about it. I was curious as to whether it was still possible to access the features we had in the past via the Kentucky side? The access to Kentucky from Tennessee has been permanently eliminated. We talked to them and it was decided we'd try to find out. I sat down in the living room and began looking. I found the way in! I shared it with Kenny and he agreed that had to be it. Next we had to find a reasonable place to park two trucks and trailers. We found the spot and that settled it. We'd go get up with them and see for ourselves.
We met them Monday morning in the Jamestown Wal-Mart parking lot and headed north toward Kentucky. We parked and unloaded and set off. The access was fairly close to the parking spot. We could see we were far from the only ones doing this. The day was a nice temperature with blue skies. The sound of crickets singing and the sight of leaves turning yellow and brown indicated Summer's end.
I plugged in the waypoints for Granny's Crack into the GPS and we headed in that direction.
We had visited it once many years ago. I also wanted to find a second area landform called Giant Fireplace. Today was to prove I was no Mervin Wood! 😁 It had only been one visit nearly a decade ago so most of it was forgotten. The forest was pretty and the trail was not too bad.
We approached it and before long we were looking at a patch of sandstone rock which the trail crossed. I told Kenny to stop once he was across. I knew this was it! Kenny let me out and continued on the trail to a spot below the arch. He thought he could come in that way. I knew better so I walked back across it to a path that led down. Once I dropped down I was able to walk right to the entrance. He eventually gave up and came back. Sometimes he forgets how things go and sometimes I do.
above: Fall colors are just beginning in Wayne County Kentucky and Fentress County TN.
above: hill climb heading to Granny's Crack. I didn't remember this from before!
Below: Otey crosses the top of Granny's Crack. It is a low arch/cave.
Below: This is Granny's Crack... a low arch cave. There is a crack in the ceiling that led to the name.
above: a closer look at the crack
below: Rich, Sharon and Kenny are checking things out.
We enjoyed seeing Granny's Crack. It is a cool place. The dogs liked it a bunch! They were glad to be out of the machine and run around.
Below is a video of Granny's Crack The video shows the hill climb as well.
We finally loaded back up and continued our trip. We had to reverse course and on the way tried half heartedly to find Giant Fireplace. We did not see it. We decided we'd try again later on our return trip. The next portion was boring and aggravating. We had never come in this way before and had no idea what we were in for. It was as bad as the old days of mudholes coming in from the Pickett side of things. One mud hole after another. Work arounds of work arounds. It was dull and slow going trying to get anywhere with that type terrain. The scenery was not spectacular. I was discouraged. Finally we stopped to take a break and decide what was next. It was clear to us that trying to get all the way across to the old land features of previous trips was going to be more time consuming than we'd expected.
We ate lunch and stretched our legs and decided to head to Hall Hollow Arch next.
We stayed on the struggle bus awhile longer, but finally the terrain and trail improved. We managed to avoid some additional mistakes. I was still not thrilled with the day. It is partially the time of year. It isn't Fall yet and it is dry. You have to get creative this time of year to find interesting trips to take. We came to a choke point on the trail and met another large group of riders. They ended up having to back down the trail to allow us to pass. They were very nice people. We stopped and got out to see Hall Hollow Arch. No water was running today. It has a wet weather waterfall and an underground stream in a cave. Not today! It was impressive due to its size, but when you have seen how it is in Spring with water it is tough to take.
above: Hall Hollow Arch. It is in Wayne County Kentucky.
We had a chance to talk to some fellow riders and found that folks are still visiting this arch and have access to all the trails on the Kentucky side. That may change, but right now once you are into Kentucky it is open. All of it.
Below is a video of Hall Hollow Arch
Next we moved past Hall Hollow Arch and continued to a feature called Split Rock Pass on Lifetime Maps. Mervin says it is Twin Rocks or chimneys, but I am going with what I first saw. He's probably correct because Lifetime Maps often gets things wrong. They put names on there according to whatever person added them to the maps knows to call it. Hall Hollow Arch is listed as Arch Rock for example and I know that is wrong. The trail conditions improved a good bit.
We came to the top of a hill at a mountain gap. We encountered a large group of riders there taking a break with their dogs. We stopped to enjoy the scenery and visit with them. Kenny got some really good info from them.
They let us know about an overlook we'd missed
They didn't know anything about Giant Fireplace
They let us know that the Kentucky side for now is all accessible.
They also told us to be sure to check out Split Rock Pass as it is a neat place.
The photo below shows what the trail looked like up here along this ridge line. It was very pretty.
We ambled along the ridge trail and kept moving in the direction of the pass. The trail got prettier, cooler and more shady as we approached. It was a fascinating spot. The trail goes right between two massive rock formations! The stone is some sort of conglomerate which is full of tiny quartz pebbles worn down by time and liesegang rings. Liesegang rings form what a super saturated form of iron oxide is dissolved and the solution settles forming these concentric rings. Later the sandstone wears away and reveals them. We saw something high in the bluff that we thought might be fossilized logs.
Those are typically vertical but I guess they could be horizontal. They were high in the bluff meaning they were probably newer. I checked with friends and thankfully Boyd Hopkins recognized they were another presentation of liesegang rings. I had never seen the bluff eroded to reveal them in three dimensions before! Very cool.
Below is an internet photo of the formation of liesegang phenomena in a lab solution.
Below is a look at Split Rock Pass. It is interesting and you'd miss a lot by not stopping, getting out and inspecting the area rocks.
Below: a look at the top of one of the rocks. You can start to see Fall colors in the shrub layer!
above: a closer look at some large liesegang rings in the outer rock.
Below: Click on the image to enlarge it to get a closer, better look at the "logs" which turned out to be liesegang bands. They are exposed not just as rings, but tubes!
Below: a look at the top of the outer chimney rock. It is pretty against the blue sky. I like the texture of it.
Below: I loved how this photo shows the perfect diamond shaped hole in this stone wall. It is deeply pock marked and you can see quartz pearls all through out its surface.
Below is a video of Split Rock Pass that shows it far better than a photo can.
We finally had enough gawking at Split Rock so we loaded up and proceeded. We next came to an archette I'll call it. It is a cup handle type formation. It was really cool.
Below: a quick snap shot of the cup handle archette from the window
We continued and came to a huge rock shelter. It was on the left. We stopped to check it out. It was so cool and shady here. The day had grown hot. It was fortunate we stopped because we encountered another large group of riders. The wide trail here permitted them to pass us easily.
above: the rock overhang we saw
Below: the same rock shelter from deep inside it near the back!
We continued from the rock house to a point the larger group of riders described as an extremely rough trail to an overlook and a slightly easier by pass trail. Kenny took the by pass trail and we came out at a gravel road. It looked a bit like the one we saw at the start of the day. We'd closed a loop!
Below is a photo of the road that perfectly illustrates September and the shift from Summer to Fall.
It reminds me each year of one of my favorite Robert Frost poems.
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Robert Frost
We went back to the task of trying to pin point Giant Fireplace. We tried several trails and kept coming up against steep bluffs or drop offs. Finally in frustration we left off trying to find it.
We went instead to the overlook which was right by us. It turned out to be a highlight of the day.
The folks we encountered called it Buck Hill Overlook. That may be right, but no map I have run across shows it as a named feature. No matter. It was spectacular today! Blue skies. Puffy clouds. Sunshine and green hills rolling ever onward.
above: Go Pro photo of the Buck Hill Overlook was stunning. It gave it the fish eye lens look.
Below: a look to the right of the overlook with all that pale sandstone.
It was hot and we were running out of energy and water so we headed back to the trucks at last.
I did snap a photo of the late Summer wildflowers before leaving.
Below: I think this pretty cluster of yellow flowers is camphorweed
Below is a video of Buck Hill Overlook
We made it back to the trucks. Poppy hit the fool button as puppies will do and got out in the road scaring us all silly. I grabbed her collar and got her out of the road. Whew!
They were good dogs today and that was the only moment of yikes all day!
We headed back to Sharon's where we got showered up and had appetizers and drinks before enjoying a nice supper together! It was a marvelous day with friends. It ended on a far better note than it began. What started off as a blah ride turned special after all!
Back home in Murvul we did some checking on things and found out a couple important items.
It wasn't really that far over to the features we wanted to see. It just seemed like it because of the bad trail and continual work arounds. In reality it is only between three to five miles depending on what you're heading toward.
We passed right by Giant Fireplace which Kenny later realized and Mervin pointed out.
It shows me that Mervin is a hoss among men when it comes to finding land features! Especially arches which can be tricky! We will have to go back and try try again!
In preparing the directions page I learned that my Yellow Doors Overlook photos and video have gotten away from me. Just a reason to go back as soon as possible!
I hope this blog article and directions will prove useful to others.
We cancelled our camping trip to Adventure Village in Western North Carolina on account of the storm damage to roads. The campground was open so we have a rain check there now. Hopefully we can go in Spring of 2025. I want to work on my hybrid trillium research there in late April early May. We had a rain check at Maple Hill Campground in Jamestown, Tennessee since Spring 2024. (Click the link embedded in this paragraph for the photo album)We decided to take advantage of it and booked a stay for the last weekend of October. The hope was to visit with Sharon again and do some hiking and four wheeling.
We also thought we'd finally get to take Nelson Matthews to see Frank's Flume this trip. Two Autumns back I had such a magical experience on Skinner Mountain I was hoping to duplicate it.
I had a poster sized photo blown up of my favorite scene from that day. I would dream of it sometimes. Standing in the forest where the light is russet and gold with rain drizzling and leaves fluttering down like copper confetti. I realized we'd be a couple weeks earlier than we were that trip, but we'd chance it anyhow.
Below: monolith down in Lost Cane in a forest of copper beech trees. My favorite. November 2022
We arrived Friday afternoon and Maple Hill was looking beautiful! Ken Edenfield and his family have moved back and have built a lovely home at the edge of the property. The maple leaves and sumac and goldenrod in the fields were glowing with color. The skies were blue and sunny. A nice breeze fluttered the leaves. The campground has been expanded and improved.
I realized it had been far too long between stays. I felt like I had come home. I love this place.
Lots of great memories. A few families have permanent sites here and they decorate for the season. One family had Halloween decorations out. We set up the camper and got a bite of lunch and prepared to go riding on Blackhouse Mountain.
Below is a photo of Maple Hill Campground and the pretty Fall trees.
Below: another view out across the campground
Below: the trees in the middle of the traffic circle at the campground
It had been a decade since I went riding at Pickett State Forest/Black House Mountain.
I was looking forward to it. We wore it out for awhile riding in Spring, Summer, and Fall.
It is usually one of two ways very dusty or very muddy. It is a fun place to ride, but rather popular and crowded. We headed up the road toward the state forest and parking area.
Much has changed since our last visit. Pogue Creek Canyon has been established as a hiking destination by the state. A parking area for riders has been set aside which is good.
Below: a partial view to the north driving out Black House Mountain Road
Below: Black House Mountain Road... most of the Fall colors were right by the road edges
We parked the truck and while Kenny unloaded I got out in the woods and walked around. The sun shining through the forest canopy was golden and beautiful. Leaves were fluttering down around me. Reds, orange, browns, golds, yellows, mixed with a few greens under bluest skies. It was true Autumn Splendor.
above: the woods around the parking area
Below: looking straight up through the trees
Below: bright yellows and orange leaves
Below: golden sunbeams down through the trees
Below: zoomed in on the forest canopy and the rainbow of Fall colors
We loaded up the RZR and set off. We headed out the road and the plan was to start by going to the Mineral Lake. Just the ride out the rest of Black House Mountain Road was very pretty alone. We found the turn to Mineral Lake which takes off to the left of the main road and headed that way. We hadn't gone far until we encountered the first other four wheeling folks of the day. It was a group of four jeepsters. They were tackling a rough hill. We pulled over into a work around since we wanted to go around them. We did stop to talk to them a little. One man said he spoke with a local fellow that morning and the guy indicated that the trails on the north side were all closed off. The story sounded like someone was messing with the rider trying to possibly run off out of towners. We told him we thought so since far as we knew the trails were open. I hate to see anyone done dirty or lied to. Out of towners have as much right to be there as anyone in my book.
We made it to Mineral Lake without any trouble. The jeeps were having to take it easy, but we tore through there and got to the lake ahead of them. We had it to ourselves for a few minutes. It was way prettier than I'd remembered. Blue green waters under blue skies surrounded by red dirt and fiery red and yellow leaves. Quite a scene. The breeze rippled the leaves and water surface. It was lovely.
Below is a short video of the lake scene by itself. It better illustrates what it was like than any photo.
Below is a photo of the view out across Mineral Lake.
Below: another view that shows the other edge of the woods more.
We took in the scenery at the lake for a bit then heard the jeep folks right behind us. We decided to get going and leave it to them. We went on past the lake and made a fun loop by turning right on the other side of the lake. It brings you out through a pretty forest and eventually back to the main road.
I had forgotten how fun this could be! We used to ride here with Buck, Kenny's best buddy. We have missed him since he passed on, but at least we have lots of great memories of trips past. Meals shared in restaurants and in our home. I remember the first time I ever experienced Pickett State Forest riding was with Buck and friends. The ride back out that evening we were flying down the trail. Kenny was whipping the machine up on the side banks of sand. It was so fun I laughed until my sides were sore.
Once back out on the road we went back to where the trails go to the north. We hadn't gone far until we encountered a chain blocking access along with signage. Sure enough the trails heading to the north toward Kentucky were closed! We checked another one nearby and found the same thing. While we did not check every single one, the two main trails were indeed blocked off. We spoke with someone later who indicated this is a temporary thing. They are logging and this is just until they are done.
Guy said the trails would be reopening in early 2025. I guess we'll see. The roads have been graveled and graded for the purpose of hauling out logs. We did hear from the same guy that the state forest is accessible from the Kentucky side. I hope we get the chance to find out.
Consequently access to the following is not possible from the south.
Car Hauler
Storybook Cliff
Tea Cup
Carpenters Arch or Rock House
Wagon Gap Overlook
Yellow Doors Overlook
Sunnybrook Sandwich Shop
Hall Hollow
Jimtown
Granny's Crack
Giant Fireplace
If you have info I wish you'd contact me and let me know the time frame of the closures and if it is indeed possible to get there from the Kentucky side?
Thankfully we were running Lifetime Maps. We saw where there were two overlooks on the accessible side. We figured we'd at least hit those. One was the Wow Overlook. I recalled being there before. The Lifetime Maps said the other was the PS Overlook. That puzzled me.
I didn't recall that one at all, but I did remember some of the trail to it.
We enjoyed a pretty ride out to the Wow Overlook. We had it to ourselves!
It was glorious. It was way prettier than I remembered. The views went on forever into the distance. Rocky bluffs to the left. Autumn colors on into the distance.
Below is a video of the ride to Wow Overlook and the overlook itself.
Below are some photos of the Wow Overlook
This one is the view straight ahead. The terrain appears to flow toward the overlook. I'm not sure if it really does or if it is an optical illusion. Either way it is impressive!
Below: looking over the northwest or right side of Wow Overlook
below: the rocky edge of Wow Overlook
Below: looking left toward the bluffs from Wow Overlook. Bold Fall colors! We thought perhaps PS Overlook was there looking back toward Wow.
Below: the next three images were taken of the Wow Overlook by my Go Pro. The first one immediately below has that fish eye look.
We reveled in the view at Wow. It was truly grand stand! We then loaded back up and headed to find "PS Overlook". It was one of the more funny, exciting moments of the day. We wound through the forest using Lifetime Maps. I began to have this feeling that something was very wrong.
We went down a big gully. We met other riders that warned us it was a little rough.
We crossed what must have been Williams Creek. It was just a trickle today. We turned right and trended downward. It looked perilously close to the drop off of a bluff. I refused to go further. Kenny got out and walked a short distance to scout it. He came back quickly with wide eyes and head shaking like "Nope. Nope." I had been right. This was NOT the way. A quick glance at the Lifetime Maps and we were off the trail!
Below are a couple photos of the two times today we screwed up and got off trail.
The two blue lines heading out from the red loop are the mess ups!
We went back and course corrected getting back on track to head to PS Overlook which was included on Lifetime Maps. We went to where it was supposed to be and checked in two or three spots along the bluffs. We never did find it. It was beautiful in the forest here! But as far as getting to a rock outcrop or any spot with a vantage point ... no. It doesn't exist. After we got home I found a video by Michael Davis and he mentions them trying to find it. It is non existent. I'm going back and take way points of the terrain at Wow. I can then perhaps find a way to the opposing bluff. I will at least be able to determine if it is even possible.
PS Overlook needs to come off Lifetime Maps. I believe someone put that sucker on there as a snipe hunt prank! No matter. We had fun and no one got hurt. The woods there at that spot in Autumn are worth seeing unto themselves.
above: looking down this path was deceptive. Right around the corner it drops off sharply.
Below: the forest was open at the so called PS Overlook
Above: we are the purple line with the pin. PS Overlook is at the blue line Below: my favorite scene from that spot... you can see the edge of the bluff line tantalizingly close, but there is no view and really no good way to reach it.
We were satisfied at our half day adventure so we headed back to the truck. It was fun and reminded me not to be so quick to write off areas we have worn out in the past. Go back and see them again with fresh eyes later!
Below is a video of the search for PS Overlook. It better shows what that experience was like.
