What is
Running Rock Nature Reserve?
Running Rock Nature Reserve is a privately held 260-acre mountain landscape in the Smoky Mountains, located just outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The property consists of forested ridgelines, flowing streams, and diverse Appalachian terrain characteristic of the Southern Appalachian region.
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The land is primarily forested and remains largely undeveloped, with natural features such as hardwood canopies, year round springs and streams, and elevation changes shaping the character of the landscape. These conditions support a variety of native plant and wildlife habitats typical of the Smoky Mountain ecosystem.
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A network of informal and maintained trails allows for movement through the property, passing through wooded areas, stream corridors, meadows and open ridge viewpoints. Guests' experience of the land changes gradually with elevation and terrain, offering a range of forest conditions within a relatively compact area.
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Rather than functioning as a traditional park or recreation site, Running Rock is managed as a protected landscape where natural systems remain the dominant feature. Any future development is intended to remain secondary to the land itself, maintaining the forested character and ecological continuity of the site.
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The result is a quiet mountain environment defined by water, forest, and topography—representative of the broader Smoky Mountain region in its natural state.
Biodiversity and Conservation Projects
At Running Rock, the forest and the outdoors is our #1 resource. Conservation, education, and sustainability are at the very core of who we are and how we think. We want to share what we are learning with you. It's easy. Ask how you can be part of the team of volunteers who help us make it better.
