title: Laurel-Snow State Natural Area
text: # Laurel-Snow State Natural Area
  
  Laurel-Snow State Natural Area is a Tennessee Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area located in Rhea County, Tennessee, near Dayton, on Walden Ridge of the Cumberland Plateau. The 2,259-acre (9.14 $km^2)$ area is owned by the State of Tennessee and managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. It is a component of the Cumberland Trail, a linear park.
  
  The Laurel-Snow trail within the natural area was the first National Recreation Trail designated in Tennessee.
  
  The Laurel-Snow State Natural Area got its name from two of the four waterfalls in the area, the 80-foot (24 m) Laurel Falls and the 12-foot (3.7 m) Snow Falls.
  
  A 710-acre (2.9 $km^2)$ portion of the area was formerly a Bowater pocket wilderness.
  
  