High on the Mountain: Triple POTA at Prentice Cooper State Forest
Hey folks,
After activating the historic riverbank site at Brown’s Ferry earlier in the day (see the previous post), I drove up into the mountains to Prentice Cooper State Forest for the second half of my outing. This is a big, beautiful area with over 100 miles of service roads and 35 miles of hiking trails, including the southern end of the Cumberland Trail.
At the parking and picnic area by the Cumberland Trail trailhead, you can actually activate three POTA entities from the same spot:
- US-2955 — Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park
- US-3971 — Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area
- US-5499 — Prentice Cooper State Forest
Important note: Before heading out, check the official state forest website for managed hunt schedules and any road closures: https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/forests/state-forests/prentice-cooper.html
If you have extra time, the drive through the main service road is worth it. Some sections are better for 4x4 vehicles, but others are fine in a regular car (you’ll just get a little limestone dust when it’s dry). Two highlights are the spectacular view at Snoopers Rock and a short hike to Indian Rock House. Free trail maps are available here:
- Avenza: https://store.avenza.com/products/prentice-cooper-state-forest-hiking-trails-campsites-tennessee-department-of-forestry-map
- AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/tennessee/prentice-cooper-state-forest
For the radio, I set up on a picnic table at the trailhead. This spot sits at roughly 1,864 feet elevation with a clear shot in most directions — great for a low takeoff angle. I worked another 24 stations, including some nice DX, before a little rain moved in and I had to pack it up. Even with the weather ending things early, it was still a fun and productive activation from a beautiful high spot.
States & DX worked: DE, FL (2), NJ, NM, NY (2), OK (2), PA (2), SC, TX (5), UT, VA, ON – Canada (4), Dominican Republic
The elevation really helped, and it was rewarding to work stations across the U.S. plus Canada and the Dominican Republic with just 10 watts and the loop antenna.
Prentice Cooper is a fantastic place for both hiking and POTA. Whether you’re chasing parks or just want some great views and trails, it’s well worth a visit.
73, Rick / W4IO
