Posted 2007-06-06 7:53 PM (#61907) Subject: Big South Fork in Ten
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
Hi All,
Has anyone ridden the Honey Creek area of the Big South Fork in Tenn? We are looking to go there in October so any and all info would be much appreciated.
Posted 2007-06-07 9:53 AM (#61935 - in reply to #61907) Subject: RE: Big South Fork in Ten
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky
We love riding at Southfork. We always stay at Bandy Creek but we alos ride the trails around Honey Creek. Honey creek has a good trail map on their Web site. The trails around O & W Railroad bed are beautiful. You also need to ride to Chariot Creek. It is a great loop out of Bandy Creek. We may see you there. We are going to Bandy Creek for a week in the second week of October.
Posted 2007-06-07 12:01 PM (#61944 - in reply to #61935) Subject: RE: Big South Fork in Ten
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
Thanks so much for the info! I don't think we will be able to stay at Bandy Creek because they have no stalls for the week we want to go. We have reservations at Honey Creek. Do you have any trail suggestions for the Honey Creek area? I have the map off of their website. Thanks so much, Ran
Posted 2007-06-08 11:19 AM (#62016 - in reply to #61907) Subject: RE: Big South Fork in Ten
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky
The map at the Honey Creek WEB site shows several things you need to see.Double Arch is close to your campsite, and is worth the ride.You need to also ride to Deveil's Den, Needle's Eye and the O & W Overlook. The overlook is beyond words.
You will find that most of the trails right out of Honey Creek are not that pretty, but as you go towards the O&W Railroad Bed trail you will drop in elevation over 500 feet. A nice loop from your campsite is to go out to the Double Arch, then head towardsthe trial intersection at Grooms Branch. Then follow the O&W railbed past Coyle Branch and then out of the gorge towards Panterh Creek back to Honey Creek.
The ride to Chariot Creek Lodge is also a beautiful ride, but is a long loop from Honey Creek, even on gaited horses. You can trailer to Bandy Creek and then make the loop. You can ride to Bandy Creek from Honey
Creek by way of Coyle Branch which is a great trail.
You alos need to ride to the O&W Bridge by way of the Railbed. You can actually cross the bridge on horseback.
By the way, don't cross the gorge with your horsetailer if you can help it. It is very steep and has several hairpen turns.
Posted 2007-06-08 3:48 PM (#62035 - in reply to #62016) Subject: RE: Big South Fork in Ten
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 434 Location: Brooksville, Fl
Wow, that is perfect info...We were considering riding to Charit Creek lodge and staying overnight if it isn't too far for one day...How long do you think it would take on a non-gaited horse? We are not pokes but wouldn't average the speed a gaited horse would.
Posted 2007-06-18 11:40 AM (#62414 - in reply to #61907) Subject: RE: Big South Fork in Ten
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky
Just guessing, but on an non gaited horse, it would probalbly take 5 to 6 hours to travel from Honey Creek to Chariot Creek. I have not stayed over night at Chariot Creek but I think it would be a great experience in October. Make sure to check out the map and take another trail out of Chariot Creek to Bandy Creek so you can see other trails and not backtrack over the same trails as far.
Big South Fork in Ten
