Big South Fork

Big South Fork of the Cumberland River
Location of the river mouth in Kentucky
Country	United States
Physical characteristics
Main source	Confluence of the New River and the Clear Fork in Scott County, Tennessee. 1,004 ft (306 m)
River mouth	Confluence with the Cumberland River near Burnside, Kentucky 722 ft (220 m) 36°58′01″N 84°36′19″W / 36.967083°N 84.605291°W / 36.967083; -84.605291
Length	76 miles (122 km)

The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River is a 76-mile-long (122 km)river in the U.S. states of Tennessee and Kentucky. It is a major drainage feature of the Cumberland Plateau, a major tributary of the Cumberland River system, and the major feature of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

The Big South Fork begins at the confluence of the New River and the Clear Fork in Scott County, Tennessee, and flows northwest, northeast, and north until ending at Lake Cumberland in McCreary County, Kentucky, near the town of Burnside. It is the third largest tributary of the Cumberland River, and is free flowing for a distance of approximately 37 miles (60 km) before being affected by the headwaters of the lake.

The terrain furthest upstream near the confluence is the most rugged, with reliefs of as much as 1,900 feet (580 m). This area is characterized by dendritic draining patterns and narrow gorges, with valleys strewn with large boulders fallen from cliffs above. Major formations include natural arches, mesas, chimneys, cracks and rock shelters. The terrain becomes less rugged as the river travels northward, with reliefs of between 200 feet (61 m) and 300 feet (91 m).

Soil in the area is divided between two groups. The first is primarily made up of Ramsey, Hartsells, Grimsley, and Gilpin soils and is located adjacent to the river gorge. The second consists of Hartsells, Lonewood, Ramsey, and Gilpin soils and is found on the nearby plateau.