Sampson Mountain Wilderness
The five clear, swift, rocky streams that course through this Wilderness, which drain secluded hollows shadowed by steep and open ridges, plunge over several waterfalls, some of them dramatic cascades. A heavy forest cover of pine and hardwoods includes 536 acres of old growth that has been flourishing for more than a century. Wildflowers proliferate, and flowering shrubs include laurel, rhododendron, and flame azalea. Trout fishing may be excellent in the streams, but if your line keeps coming up empty, you can always snack on native blueberries. Problem is, you have to share the sweet fruit with black bears, who live here in greater numbers than anywhere else north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Tennessee |
| Size | 10,895 acres |
| Designated | 1986, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.11° N, 82.59° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 16) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 2 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
4 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 8 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Spring Ridge Trail | 2.7 | |
| Squibb Creek Trail | 2 | |
| Turkey Pen Cove Trail | 2 | |
| Hell Hollow Trail | 0.8 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 0.1 miClarksville Iron Furnace ↗Erwin, TN
- 3.5 miTilson Farm ↗Flag Pond, TN
- 4.8 miTelford, Thomas, House ↗Limestone, TN
- 4.8 miSalem Presbyterian Church ↗Washington College, TN
- 5.6 miBroyles, Adam Alexander, House ↗Limestone, TN
- 6.2 miClinchfield Depot ↗Erwin, TN
- 6.2 miBrown, A.r., House ↗Erwin, TN
- 6.6 miEmbree House ↗Telford, TN
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Tennessee
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Sampson Mountain Wilderness?
10,895 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Sampson Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Sampson Mountain Wilderness in?
Tennessee.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Sampson Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1986.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Sampson Mountain Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Sampson Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.111° N, 82.587° W. Andrew Johnson National Historic Site is 11 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Sampson Mountain Wilderness?
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site (11 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Sampson Mountain Wilderness?
The National Register has 26 listings within 15 miles, including Clarksville Iron Furnace and Tilson Farm.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.