The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is committed to principles or equal opportunity, equal access and affirmative action. Contact the Department of Environment and Conservation for further information. Hearing impaired callers may use the Tennessee Relay Service at 1-800-848-0298.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation authorization no. 327152, 10,000 copies. This public document was promulgated at a cost of $.07 per copy, April 2019.

Hours of OperationSunrise to Sunset

Seven Islands State Birding Park 2809 Kelly Lane

Kodak, TN 37764 865-407-8335

Annual Events September- Sturgeonfest

Nearby State Parks Panther Creek State Park – 35 miles Big Ridge State Park – 37 miles Norris Dam State Park – 45 miles

Tennessee State ParksWilliam R. Snodgrass TN Tower

312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 2nd FloorNashville, TN 37243

888-867-2757

www.tnstateparks.com

Directions (From Knoxville)Take I-40 East to Exit 402, Midway Road. Turn right onto Midway Road (toward Three Rivers Golf Course). Pass by Curtis Road and Smith School Road. Turn left onto Maples Road. Turn right at the intersection with Kodak Road. Turn left onto Kelly Lane at Bethel Church. Kelly Lane takes you to the gate. Parking is available in a lot to the right. A map of the park is posted at the entrance.

SEVEN ISLANDSSTATE

BIRDING PARKT E N N E S S E E

www.tnstateparks.com

Volunteer OpportunitiesVolunteers and the Friends of Seven Islands assist in protecting and preserving the cultural and natural resources of Seven Islands State Birding Park. By giving of their time and talents they help ensure the park’s integrity for future generations. It’s easy to show your support – join the Friends of Seven Islands or participate in one of the many volunteer opportunities offered.

To learn more about the Friends group visit www.friendsofsevenislands.com or visit https://tnstateparks.com/about/get-involved.

HikingMore than eight miles of mostly wide grassy trails wind around the park, up the ridges and down to the waterfront. Informative panels found along the trails inform visitors about the park’s bird population and the management practices employed to restore and maintain bird habitats.

BikingSeven Islands is a good starting point for road cyclists who want to tour the back roads in the area. Bicyclists are also welcome to ride on all paved surfaces. The road is mostly level and is a popular route for wildlife observation. Biking is not permitted on the grass trails.

PaddlingSeven Islands Landing and Mutton Hollow Landing are two launching points for paddlers to access the French Broad River. Paddlers can enjoy views of rising hills and the pastoral farmlands that border this wide river, which is broken by occasional islands and shoals. Boat rentals and shuttle services are available through a local concessionaire.

FishingThe French Broad River borders the park and holds over 50 species of fish including crappie, bluegill, sauger and several varieties of bass. Two boat launches are available onsite.

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Seven Islands State Birding Park The diverse natural landscape of aquatic and grassland habitats make Seven Islands State Birding Park a premier birding destination with over 200 species of birds sighted. The park encompasses 416 acres along the French Broad River in Knox County, approximately 19 miles east of Knoxville. This peninsula of land features more than eight miles of natural trails, rolling hills and views of the Smoky Mountains. In addition to being a wildlife refuge popular for hiking and wildlife observation, the park is a research and educational facility for schools and other groups and a demonstration area for land use and habitat management techniques. Songbirds, hawks and waterfowl can be seen along the meadow trails and several old barns. For paddlers and anglers there are two canoe/kayak launches that provide access to the French Broad River.

History The lands comprising the Seven Islands State Birding Park were acquired in 2002 as a wildlife refuge through a cooperative effort of the Seven Islands Foundation, a non-profit land conservancy, and the Knox County Parks and Recreation Department. The vision, goals and objectives of the Seven Islands Foundation included preservation of this property as a wildlife sanctuary and refuge. In September 2013, Seven Islands became Tennessee’s 56th State Park. The property is managed to support native plants and animals and for the enjoyment of the public through low impact, non-consumptive recreation.

Birding From the novice to the professional, birders and researchers find Seven Islands an ideal location for avian observation. The park is located along the migratory path of many bird species and during the breeding season birds can be found nesting at the park. Visitors can easily spend several hours strolling through the park’s varied habitats enjoying the scenery and birdsong. Mornings are typically the best time for birding but late afternoons, before dusk, can also be rewarding. Seven Islands State Birding Park is noted as a research and demonstration area for native warm season grass restoration and management, and many or our most enigmatic and threatened species, such as the northern bobwhite, make their home among the grasses and native wildflowers. To learn about what bird species other park visitors have seen check out ebird.org and search for the Seven Islands State Birding Park ‘hotspot’.

Programs From May to August, the Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society holds bird banding programs. Through these programs, dedicated volunteers collect valuable data about the bird populations at Seven Islands, including the mating and nesting habits and how the populations change throughout the years. Other programs take visitors for exploratory hikes to learn the basics of birding, inventory amphibians, or tag monarch butterflies!

Seven Islands Loop Tr1.35 miles

Upland Trail Inner Loop1.15 miles

Upland Trail Outer Loop0.80 mile

Kelly Lane Greenway1.25 miles

Seclusion Bend Tr2.70 miles

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This brochure is funded in part through the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program, administered bythe Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation,Recreation Educational Services Division, Greenways and Trails Program.

The information on this map has been compiled by TDEC/StateParks staff from a variety of sources and is subject to change without notice. TDEC/State Parks makes no representations or warranties, expressed or implied as to accuracy, completeness,timeliness, or rights to the use of such information.This document is not intended for use as a survey product.TDEC/State Parks shall not be liable for any general, special,indirect, incidental or consequential damages including but not limited to: lost revenues or lost profits resulting from the use ormisuse of the information contained on this map.Any sale of this map or information on this map is prohibitedexcept by written permission of TDEC/State Parks.

1.25 miles2.70 miles1.35 miles1.15 miles0.80 mile0.60 miles

Kelly Lane GreenwaySeclusion Bend TrSeven Islands Loop TrUpland Trail Inner LoopUpland Trail Outer LoopHickory Ridge Tr

State ParkRural RoadStreamPaved PathTrail

Legend Map Symbols

Trails

ParkingInformationRestroomsBoat RampCanoe LaunchFishingBarnPark BuildingTrailheadHiking Trail Bicycle TrailScenic ViewWaypoint

Please practiceminimum impact usage

Day Use Only

20 feet contour intervals

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Seven Islands State Birding Park

Park EntranceTrailhead

Bluebird Barn

Swallows at theWindow Barn

Kelly House(Private)

Maple Leaf Barn

Green House

Seven IslandsLanding

Mutton HollowLanding

Kelly Bend

Seven Islands

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SEVEN ISLANDS STATE BIRDING PARK