Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area encompasses 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau and protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area contains miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features, and has been developed to provide a wide range of outdoor recreational activities. Weather along the Cumberland Plateau is unpredictable, with each season bringing its own patterns. Summers are generally hot and humid, with high temperatures sometimes eclipsing 90 degrees. Winter low temperatures often dip below freezing, and spring sees the greatest amount of precipitation, though rainfall can occur in various amounts throughout the year.