pocket wilderness
{{short description|Type of nature reserve in Tennessee}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
Pocket wilderness is a name used by Bowater corporation and the State of Tennessee for any of several tracts of Bowater-owned private land on and near the Cumberland Plateau that the company set aside beginning in 1970 "for preservation in its natural state, with no logging or development other than hiking trails permitted within its boundaries" and registered as Tennessee state natural areas.[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1065 Pocket Wilderness Areas] by Carroll Van West, in Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and CultureRoss Manning (1993), The Historic Cumberland Plateau: An Explorer's Guide, University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville Several areas formerly managed as Bowater pocket wilderness are now incorporated into state-owned natural areas or National Park Service sites.
The Virgin Falls State Natural Area in White County was the first pocket wilderness established, originally consisting of {{convert|317|acre|km2}} along the Caney Fork and including Virgin Falls. This area was acquired by the state in 1996 and is now part of a {{convert|1157|acre|km2|adj=on}} state natural area.[http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/virgin/ Virgin Falls Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area], Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of State Natural Areas
Other Tennessee natural areas established as Bowater pocket wildernesses include:[http://tnlandforms.us/pockets/index.html Bowater Pocket Wildernesses] on East Tennessee Outdoors website (accessed March 23, 2008)
- Bacon Ridge in Roane County[http://tnlandforms.us/pockets/br.html Bacon Ridge] on East Tennessee Outdoors website (accessed March 23, 2008)
- Honey Creek State Natural Area in Scott County, {{convert|109|acre|km2}} within the boundaries of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
- Laurel-Snow State Natural Area on Walden Ridge in Rhea County, consisting of {{convert|710|acre|km2}} and featuring two waterfalls, Laurel Falls and Snow Falls.
- North Chickamauga Creek, originally about {{convert|1100|acre|km2}}.[http://tnlandforms.us/pockets/nc.html North Chickamauga] on East Tennessee Outdoors website (accessed March 23, 2008) The Bowater Pocket Wilderness Area was transferred to the state in 2006 and became a part of the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area, which consists of {{convert|7073|acre|km2}} in Hamilton and Sequatchie counties.[http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/northchick/ North Chickamauga Creek Gorge Class II Natural-Scientific State Natural Area], Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of State Natural Areas
- Piney Falls State Natural Area in Rhea County[http://tnlandforms.us/pockets/pr.html Piney River] on East Tennessee Outdoors website (accessed March 23, 2008) on the east side of the Sequatchie Valley, a {{convert|187|acre|km2|adj=on}} area including two waterfalls
- Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area in Rhea County, consisting of {{convert|104|acre|km2}} and including the {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on}} Stinging Fork Falls.