Laurel-Snow State Natural Area

{{Short description|State Natural Area in Rhea County, Tennessee}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Laurel-Snow State Natural Area

| alt_name =

| iucn_category =

| photo = Laurel-Snow State Natural Area.jpg

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Laurel-Snow State Natural Area

| photo_width =

| map = USA Tennessee

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Map of Tennessee

| map_width =

| location = Rhea County, Tennessee

| nearest_city = Dayton

| coordinates = {{coord|35.5267|N|85.0223|W|region:US-TN|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| area = {{convert|2259|acre}}

| designated = 1973

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body =

| url = https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/environment/program-areas/na-natural-areas/natural-areas-east-region/east-region-/na-na-laurel-snow.html

}}

Laurel-Snow State Natural Area is a Tennessee Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area located in Rhea County, Tennessee, near Dayton, on Walden Ridge of the Cumberland Plateau. The {{convert|2259|acre|km2|adj=on}} area is owned by the State of Tennessee and managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. It is a component of the Cumberland Trail, a linear park.{{cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov/environment/article/na-na-Laurel-Snow|title=Laurel-Snow Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area|publisher=The Official State of Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation|accessdate=16 September 2016}}

The Laurel-Snow trail within the natural area was the first National Recreation Trail designated in Tennessee.

The Laurel-Snow State Natural Area got its name from two of the four waterfalls in the area, the {{Convert|80|ft|adj=on}} Laurel Falls{{cite web

| url = http://tnlandforms.us/landforms/m.php?wpt=RHF004

| title = Laurel Falls 80'

| last = Dunigan

| first = Tom

| date =

| website =

| publisher = Tennessee Landforms

| access-date = October 26, 2016

| ref = Laurel}}

and the {{Convert|12|ft|adj=on}} Snow Falls.{{cite web

| url = http://tnlandforms.us/landforms/m.php?wpt=RHF008

| title = Snow Falls 12'

| last = Dunigan

| first = Tom

| date =

| website =

| publisher = Tennessee Landforms

| access-date = October 26, 2016

| ref = Snow}}

A {{convert|710|acre|km2|adj=on}} portion of the area was formerly a Bowater pocket wilderness.{{Citation

| last = Van West

| first = Carroll

| publication-date = December 25, 2009

| date = January 1, 2010

| title = Pocket Wilderness Areas

| publisher = Tennessee Historical Society

| publication-place = Nashville, Tennessee

| url = http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1065

| accessdate = October 26, 2016

| ref = TNenc

}}