AN INTRODUCTION

My husband Jim and I own and work the Big South Fork Lodge & Horse Campground.  We have lived at and operated the lodge since 2002 and in 2008 opened The Hitching Post General Store & Grill.

I love being self employed, hosting the riders and their horses and when I get the chance I especially love riding and hiking in the park, so I thought I would share information about these activities in this blog.

 ABOUT THE PARK

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is located on the border of Middle/Eastern Tennessee. The park encompasses over 125,000 acres of beautiful wilderness and hundreds of miles of  trails.  Trails are beautifully maintained, sandy, quick draining and leading to overlooks, waterfalls, caves, streams and rivers.

State Highway 297 winds through the middle of the park between Jamestown and Oneida, Tennessee.

At the west entrance to the park  sits Big South Fork Lodge & Horse Campground.  Established in 1985 and the oldest privately owned campground. 

Our lodge has 3 large motel rooms and 4 kitchenettes.  We also have campsites with water and electric hookups, 42 stalls in 10 separate barns and 2 cabins.

Across the street from our lodge is the Cumberland Valley Trail Head with direct access to 2 approximately 18 mile loops .  The Cumberland Valley and North White Oak trails are easy access and  considered "family style" riding, nothing too rough, lots of sand little rock. 

The Laurel Fork and Leatherwood Ford Overlooks are definitely on the "to see list". The outside loop which is the Cumberland Valley Loop used the old O&W Railroad bed along side the North White Oak River flowing to the Big South Fork River and O&W Bridge.

Accessing  private trails from the Cumberland Valley Trail Head you can ride to Proctor Ridge, Wildcat Den, Hippie Cave, etc.

The top of the Cumberland Loop will take you to Bandy Creek with the visitor's center and public pool.  All day loops can be made this direction up the north side of the park and back around with access to Charit Creek Lodge, Station Camp, Indian Dome, etc.  There are also many trail heads with parking sites if you desire a shorter rides.

In between rides, give your horses a break by hiking trails that vary from easy to moderate such as Twin Arches, Angel Falls, O&W Bridge, to  the quite challenging Honey Creek Loop