Obed Wild and Scenic River in Tennessee seems to be losing its reputation as an "overlooked gem" of the National Park System. Last year the park's visitation climbed almost 25 percent above 2021 visitation, to more than 306,000.
There are relatively few rivers and streams across the country designated as either "national," "wild and scenic," or "recreational," and so it seems to reason they should be held to a higher environmental standard than their peers. But when you look at those rivers, you'll see a range of regulations when it comes to how big of an engine can be placed on a boat plying its waters.
Whenever I see photos like the one above, of morning fog rising off a river, it reminds me of my days as a guide on the New River many years ago. If you have a photo along the Obed Wild and Scenic River that can trigger such memories, you might want to enter it in the park's 11th annual photo contest.
The body of a hiker gone missing in Sequoia National Park three weeks ago has been recovered not far from where he was last seen, while Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and Obed Wild and Scenic River also recorded visitor fatalities.