We really enjoy Long C Trails in Westmoreland, TN.  www.longctrails.com

The environment is very family friendly, almost all of the water/electric sites are very very shady.  Jack, the owner, is very helpful and accomodating.  The bath house is always clean and so are the campsites, and the barn is good condition.  The trails range from very easy to challenging with plenty of water for your horses.

Happy Trails,

JacciB

Since you're in Tenn.  I would recommend East Fork.  You'll have the choice of wide, easy, soft footing, relatively flat, well marked trails.  Or Down the bluffs, with rocky, steep, long climbs, etc.

Folks that run it are easy to work with and eager to make your stay enjoyable.

I would recommend Honey Creek, Station Camp, Bear Creek, and Bandy. All of these have trails that are easy and they have trails that are difficult. They are all in Big South Fork, but you ride different trails. My personal favorite is Honey Creek they have so many things to see on the trails and the owner is very nice and will give you a map and tell you which trails are difficult and which are easy. South Fork is probably some of the best trail riding in the country you just have to learn where to go and what trails to ride because they do have some rough trails.

Yes this is the owner of Timber Ridge Horse Campground and I would like to comment on the things that Peanut had to say about us and the trails.  First I want to say everyone has their own opinions and I think that is what makes this country so great.  Now to address Peanut, we make it a top priority to go over the maps and the terrain  with every camper trying our best to make sure that anyone who comes here has a great time.  After talking to you we advised you to take a different trail as this was one of the more challenging trails.  Our 15 year old daughter rode with you just to ride not to be your guide.  I won't go into all the things you left out but I think you owe her a BIG THANK YOU for taking you and your horses to safe shelter during the rain/lightningstorm and I think you owe my husband a BIG THANK YOU for getting the trailor and coming to get you.  I don't know of many campowners that would do that.  We in the Big South Fork area do not have limestone but sandstone which is very different, it is not slippery.  We have had beginer riders (under 10yrs old) ride the same trail that you did without any problems which makes me question your experience and ability to give trail advice to others.  If you are looking for flat arena type riding I think you could ask without trying to make someone look bad so you can look good.  Now for all who read posts on any forum always take into account that the person writing may not be of the same mind set as you are and please don't base your opinion of anything on one person's opinion. 

Yes I did leave out a lot of details for good reason.  I had not planned on doing a dissertation about this trip, but there are some fact that I will add.

There were 2 other couples that we rode with, they may have been given clear direction about the trails, but we were not.  We did ask for easy, marked trails on more than one occasion and did not get that info.

The first day we were out for 5 hours because we all got lost due to the fact that the trails were not marked appropriately. We luckly ran into some ladies that lived up there and they brought us back to camp. That evening we saw the owner going out to mark the trails with some small medallions that they had made up.

The second day the other couples ask for someone to ride with us because they did not want to get lost again.  I also find it hard to believe that they were told how rough this trail was going to be because they refused to go back the way they had come.

Which brings up the storm incident that we all got caught up in. The other couples wanted to be trailered back to camp because of how rough the trail had been on them and their horses, we did not.  One of the couples's husbands caught a ride back to camp and brought back 2 stock trailers with the owner pulling one of them. Again we told them that our horses would not fit or ride in these trailers and ask repeatedly if someone would just give us directions back to camp. They kept on insisting that we try and load the horses and ride back in the trailer.  I did try twice and my horse fell on a wet wooden floor (no rubber mats) not to mention that my saddle horn was about 3 inches from the roof.  My husband and I refused and ask again for directions back to camp, even if it meant riding along side the highway.  By that time we were very frustrated with the fact that we still could not get clear answers that we requested.

I will have to say that the only good thing about the whole experience was the owners daughter who was a delight and very helpful.  That being said she did take us back on a different trail.  This time we were told that it did have some very steep areas but that it was not as bad as the original way that we had come.

We were out about 8 hours that day and my husbands horse ended up losing 3 shoes when we went up this steep, nothing but big rocks and with a huge black gas pipe in the middle of it trail.  Honestly we both thought our horses were going to just drop, my husband had to walk his horse back to camp on both days, that's how tired and sore and swollen they were.

When we checked in we told the owners that we wanted easy, short trails.  We were honest in the fact that we told them that our horses were not ready for anything difficult.   Quite frankly I find it hard to believe that a parent with a small child would take the same ride that we did especially since I have since been told by several endurance riders that are familiar with that trail, that they would not ride it. Wet rocks are slippery no matter what they are made up of.

I am sure that the other members of this forum are quite capable of making up their own mind on weather or not they want to try this camp.

I know the hill you are talking about that has the pipe in it.  We got on the trail one day with some friends that own cabins up there and they took us up it just for fun.  The trails up there can be as nice as you want, and the next minute they can give you all the challenge you need.  You just go on the assumption that the rough ones are out there.  Every time we go up there we hit a rough stretch a couple of times.

 I have been riding in the East Tn area and Southern Tn area for three years. I have ridden at Timber Ridge Horse Campground several times. They offer easy to moderate trails in my opinion. I have been on much more rugged trails in the area than compared to Wild Cat Den (even the rocky hill with the black pipe). If I were a novice again in trail riding I would not consider the trail a hard ride, I believe it comes down to the conditiong of your horse and your self. When I first went to Timber Ridge I told the owners that I/we were beginners and need a easy trail, we were told about the surrounding trails in the park which we rode and were  very easy, and at times to easy and laid back . I like the different types of terrain that Wild Cat Den offers. If you have never ridden on rocks no matter what type ,then I recommend using a drill tech or borium raised shoe for traction and decrease a possible fall and injury to you or your horse. I have never had a bad experience with Timber Ridge, the owners or any of the numerous trails that you can choose to ride on. This is such a beautiful area to ride in and  you are able to see many different types of wild life and plants. I would recommend these trails to every one from novice to the extra rugged riders. The accomodationa are always warm clean and very friendly. If you want a down home atmosphere and a relaxing atmosphere then I say give them a call and take ride for your self.

Andy B.

Murfreesboro TN

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is a huge gorge with 133,000 acres and over 125+ miles of trails.  There is something for everyone.  I've stayed at Timber Ridge and the owners were friendly and accomodating.  My favorite trails out of there?  No... but everyone likes something different.  Ask 12 trailriders and you'll probably get 12 different opinions of what's a "good ride".  Remember, BSF is a GORGE and to truly see it for it's incredible beauty, there is going to be some UPs and DOWNs. 

Try riding out of the Cumberland Valley Trailhead, directly across from the Big South Fork Lodge on 297.  Ghent Trail, Groom, O&W, Laurel Fork Overlook, White Oak, Bandy Creek.  Both Bandy Creek and Station Camp are National Park Service trailheads with access trails (well-marked) to many other areas, including Hatfield Ridge and Charit Creek.

Bottom line... if you start to feel unsafe and that little voice in your head tells you it's unsafe for you and/or your horse... STOP!  Turn around, get off, go back.  Every horse and every rider is different but safety is #1 and a good time is #2.