The Obed Wild and Scenic River looks much the same today as it did when the first white settlers strolled its banks in the late 1700s. While meagerly populated due to poor farming soil, the river was a hospitable fishing and hunting area for trappers and pioneers. Today, the Obed stretches along the Cumberland Plateau and offers visitors a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.
Obed Wild and Scenic River will be conducting an adaptive climbing program on Saturday, March 28, from 10 am to 3 pm ET. The program is designed for people with a limb difference or mobility challenge, with the goal of improving the accessibility of rock climbing for a wider range of visitors.
The National Park Service invites the public to join the annual Cumberland Trail workday on Feb. 14. Obed Wild and Scenic River, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and Cumberland Trail State Park will host the event.
A new National Park Service report shows that 262,000 visitors came to Obed Wild & Scenic River in 2024 spent $5.5 million in communities near the park. That spending supported the local area.