Locust Fork River at Taylor Ford

The Friends of Locust Fork River monitor this site at the end of Taylor Ford Road, designated as AWW Site 10001028. {Link to AWW} Lots of people come often to the ford to swim, wade or sit in lawn chairs in the shallow water, cooling off one way or another. It's a popular spot, and suitable for young swimmers. The river is wide here and the views both upriver and down are lovely. This beautiful place is rich with history you can feel when you're there. This ford is a rock shelf stretching clear across the bed of the Locust Fork River, allowing passage of vehicles in low to moderate water levels. FLFR believes the famous Civil War encounter between Generals Forrest and Streight may have included crossing the Locust Fork at this ford. Friends of the river have spoken to people who crossed the ford in wagons on a long trip "to town" for monthly/annual provisions before there were many bridges. Now there are 115 bridges in Blount County, spanning the Locust and her sister, Mulberry Fork. Both forks “wiggle” in what geologists call "entrenched meanders”. That’s an average of one bridge for every five square miles of county. (115 bridges in 651 mi².)