It is located in Pickett County, northeast of the city of Jamestown, and is adjacent to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

The park is located on 19,200 acres (78 km2) of wilderness including caves, natural bridges, and other rock formations.

[2][3] The park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) between 1934 and 1942 on about 12,000 acres (49 km2) of land donated to the State of Tennessee in 1933 by the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company.

These are areas generally free of artificial light pollution, making them optimal places for stargazing.

The glow worms are in fact insect larvae of the fungus gnat (Ofelia fultoni).