May 2025

Conservation Momentum Continues at the North Cumberland’s Clear Creek Gorge

Not long ago, the conservation community rallied together to protect a crucial stretch of wilderness along the Clear Creek section of Obed Wild & Scenic River National Park. Through this effort, we protected the viewshed and rich forests surrounding one of the last privately owned parcels along Clear Creek, securing 160 acres to expand the beloved national […]

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June 7 is National Trails Day

Taking place on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day® is a day of public events aimed at advocacy and trail service. Tens of thousands of hikers, bikers, paddlers, horseback riders, trail clubs, federal and local agencies, land trusts, and businesses come together in partnership to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public lands

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Plant This, Not That

In the world of landscaping, it’s often overwhelming to find the perfect specimen for your space. Unfortunately, many common plant choices do not benefit the local ecosystem and may even cause direct harm to their environment. It may come as a surprise that several of these marketed plants are actually invasive, such as the Bradford

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Celebrating the Cumberland Plateau as One of the World’s Most Biologically Rich Forests

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and International Paper (IP) are highlighting efforts to improve habitats and bolster wildlife within the Cumberland Plateau – a region that includes eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, and portions of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia. It’s globally recognized for its extraordinary biodiversity. Through the Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund, IP

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Inaugural Outdoor Recreation Summit Held at Lake Guntersville

The inaugural Outdoor Recreation Summit was recently held at Lake Guntersville State Park, where more than 200 attendees discussed how to share Alabama’s natural wonders with the rest of the nation and world. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey established the Alabama Innovation Commission in 2020, and its goals included highlighting the many assets Alabama has to

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Hiking Guide for Chattanooga

From quick and easy loops around town to drives that take you to fantastic lakes and mountains, Chattanooga has so many options to hit the trail. So lace up your hiking boots, because NOOGAtoday has compiled a hiking guide for the Chattanooga area with 25 routes and trails to help you plan your next adventure. Learn more.

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Update on Aetna Mountain’s River Gorge Ranch Development

It’s been just over a year since the Cumberland Naturalist published a report on the controversial River Gorge Ranch residential development on Marion County, Tennessee’s Aetna Mountain. See post from May, 2024. Now, the Nashville Scene’s Michael Ray Taylor has written another update. Read More Thunder: Mountaintop Development Rumbles Ahead Amid Setbacks. Photo: Cain Development

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