This 330-acre natural area lies in the floodplain of the Middle Fork of the Obion River in West Tennessee. Visitors to the 27-acre Big Cypress Tree State Park in the natural area will find a clean and peaceful park where they can relax and enjoy nature. Having a picnic in the picnic shelter is a popular activity. A variety of plant life ranging from native wind flowers to native trees may be seen here. Examples are showy evening primrose, Black-eyed Susans, yellow poplar, bald cypress, and dogwood. Wildlife seen at Big Cypress includes bluebirds, doves, hawks, owls, deer, squirrels, butterflies, bats and many others. During the Fall Festival, held each fall during the month of September, visitors may see up close several birds of prey including a bald eagle.
The park is named for the national champion bald cypress tree that once lived on the park. The tree was the largest bald cypress in the U.S.A. and the largest tree of any species east of the Mississippi River. The tree’s diameter was 13 feet and its circumference was 40 feet.
The tree lived to be 1,350 years old before lightning struck and killed the tree in 1976. The lightning knocked the top out of the tree, and the tree smoldered for two weeks. The tree is no longer standing at this time and cannot be seen from the two mile long bottomland trail that once led visitors to a place where the tree could be observed. The trail itself is now closed.
One tree identification trail 0.3 miles long is available. This educational and informative trail is marked with tree identification markers. It is dry all year, easy to walk and handicap assessable. The trail starts in the picnic area, goes around the ball field and ends back in the picnic area.
Directions: From Jackson, take U.S. Hwy 45E north through Greenfield; then just north of Greenfield, turn left on Hwy 445 (Kimery Store Road) and follow the road for approximately 5 miles to the natural area entrance on the right.
Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area is located in Northwest Tennessee in Weakley County seven miles from the town of Greenfield, and may be reached by following the signs beginning at the junction of Hwy 45E and Hwy 445, just north of Greenfield. For specific directions, see http://www.mapquest.com