Posted 2007-01-22 5:04 PM (#54262) Subject: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
Planning a trip this July to visit Big South Fork for the first time. Looking at TrueWest Campground. Would appreciate any feedback or suggestions on the best campground or area to stay. We will be traveling with a group of 4-6 trailers. Thanks
Posted 2007-01-22 5:35 PM (#54265 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
Hey, thanks for the feedback. I had noticed that everything was sitting out in the open in the pictures. Do you recommend one of the campgrounds you mentioned over any of the others? Does one have better trail access or multiple trail access?
Posted 2007-01-22 6:33 PM (#54268 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 285
We stayed at Honey Creek a couple of years ago. Very nice camp with trails directly right out of camp. Then we went to Saddle Valley. Nice camp too, but had to ride a half mile or more to get to the trail head. Both camps had very nice camp hosts. We wanted to ride more of the o&w railroad bed so that is why we moved. Gorgeous riding there. Debbie
Posted 2007-01-23 1:40 PM (#54349 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 91 Location: South Carolina
If you are getting there from I-40, I would suggest getting off at the Crossville, TN exit & heading North on US 127 into Jamestown, TN. You 'DO NOT'want to come in toward True West Campground from the East on highway 297 into the Big South Fork. Going through the gorge will hurt your truck, trailer & also the brakes. It is about a 13 - 14% downhill grade with many sharp switch backs. On the map, that might seem closer, but the extra 30 minutes to 1 hour to go around is more than worth it to not mess up your rig. The gorge is where highway 297 crosses the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River just east of Scott State Forest. The road is steep on both sides. Here is a link to the National Park Service map of the area in PDF format.
Posted 2007-01-23 4:06 PM (#54369 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
Thanks for the travel info. The campground ad gave alternate directions to avoid the gorge. From your e-mail, now I know why. Sure do appreciate knowing ahead of time to save all that wear and tear on the vehicle and the discomfort to the horses.
Posted 2007-01-23 4:09 PM (#54370 - in reply to #54268) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
Thanks for the feedback. I hate going in somewhere not knowing what to expect; sure been disappointed a few times. The campground ads can be so deceiving on the facilities and trails. Happy Trails
Posted 2007-01-23 7:43 PM (#54383 - in reply to #54265) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: Tennessee
They all have their pros and cons. Honey Creek has great trail access but, their stalls are very small, not a problem if you picket. Zenith has great stalls and campsites. They have a kitchen you can use or just hang out in if the weather is bad. The owner, Gary Matthews, will trailer you to other trailheads and ride with you if you want or you can ride out of the campground. Bandy Creek has an excellent campground and access to the trails but, you camp away from the barns. You have to drive your truck over to the barns and saddle there. I can't give you current info about Saddle Valley It has been six years since we were there and I hear it is under new ownership.
Posted 2007-01-23 9:23 PM (#54387 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 54 Location: IL.
I have been going to the shawnee forest in so. IL for about the last 10 years and we are now looking for a different place to ride. Anybody familiar with shawnee know of a place to ride that won't be a let down.Any info would be great and like you said some web sites are misleading.Like most of you my vacation time is very rare and very important to me and i would hate to haul 8-10 hours to be disapointed.thank you so much for your time. remember (show your spots ride an APPY) ha.
Posted 2007-01-24 8:51 AM (#54406 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 474 Location: White Mills, Ky.
Spotted Horse - At the risk of sounding like a broken record (because I have posted about this a few times already) I can't say enough good things about One Horse Gap at Shawnee. They are fairly new and small, but the camp is CLEAN and the owners really take care of their guests. They have guided rides...fast or slow...all day or half day. During the organized rides, the meals are included in the package price and the food is GOOD! Electric sites. Water spigot close to horses. As of spring 2006, there were no stalls but they had panel pens set up in the shade. The bath house is small...only two stalls for men and two for women...but it is VERY clean and air conditioned. They even have a small hot tub out on the patio to soak your tired bones after a long ride.
We visited the Shawnee once before and stayed at Bear Branch. I will NOT go back there. But if OHG were closer to home, I would be there every week!
Posted 2007-01-25 4:26 PM (#54497 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 474 Location: White Mills, Ky.
That's why it's important to go with a guide. We had never been on a guided ride before going to OHG...our little group tends to be independent and we like to get a map and find our own way. But after Bear Branch and getting hopelessly lost several times, we decided to try going with the guide this time. It was really nice not to have to worry about if we were going the right way or if we would make it back to camp before dark. Plus, the guide knew a lot of history and other interesting little facts about the sights on the trails.
Many places you can go on your own because the trails are marked or at least well mapped. This is NOT the case at Shawnee.
Posted 2007-01-27 2:01 PM (#54576 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
I have received alot of very good info on several campgrounds in this area. What about Timber Ridge Campground? Info on their website looks pretty good. Is there 1 campround out of all of them that has the most trail access? Enough for a whole weeks riding? Thanks
Posted 2007-01-27 8:07 PM (#54584 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: Tennessee
Timber Ridge has a very nice campground, one of the best bathhouses of the campgrounds, a screened in kitchen,a very nice barn and the host and hostess are very friendly and helpful. The trails are lacking and rough. I would say that Bandy Creek has the best trail access. Again, you have to drive over to the barn to saddle. I prefer my horse close by. If you are going to be there a week, why not try more than one campground?
Posted 2007-01-27 8:16 PM (#54585 - in reply to #54584) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
That's what we are discussing now. Maybe staying at one place for 3-4 days and then trying a new area and campground for the remainder of the week. Like most places, you are limited to just how many different trails you have access to without alot of extra riding. We like our horses close by also; its that security factor and convenience. Thanks
Posted 2007-01-28 9:10 AM (#54599 - in reply to #54585) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: Tennessee
I don't think security would be an issue at Bandy Creek. The place is very nice. It just isn't as convenient. We have never had a security problem at any of the campgrounds in the Big South Fork. I think the trails out of Bandy Creek would keep you busy for a week.
Posted 2007-01-28 3:30 PM (#54608 - in reply to #54599) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
Ihave been going to Bandy creek for over 20 years. I'm like you wanting my horses close. But I have never had a problem and their stalls are great and the people that run the barns are very helpful. Great place most of the rides are fairly lengthy but very pretty.
Posted 2007-01-28 5:31 PM (#54613 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Edinburg, Va.
Thanks so much for the input. We are getting close to making a decison based on all the great feedback. Probably going to divide our stay up between 2 of the campgrounds. Now, to decide just which 2; going to be a hard choice.
Posted 2007-01-28 7:49 PM (#54620 - in reply to #54262) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Tennessee
If you don't mind being separated from your horses (I do mind), I would definately include Bandy Creek in your final choices. They are centrally located and you have a lot of choices of trails, wonderful stables and nice campgrounds. If you are going to only two campgrounds, I would make the other one either True West or Saddle Valley. Both run by very nice people and good locations. The owners of Timber Ridge are very nice also but trails out of camp are rough. Timber Ridge did loan us their stock trailer to go over to Bandy Creek and ride out from there one day.
Posted 2007-01-29 7:59 PM (#54696 - in reply to #54613) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 65 Location: TN
If I were staying there a week I would do Bandy Creek and either Zenith or Honey Creek, they are on the other side of the park. I have stayed at every campground at the Big South Fork. If you choose either of these, ride the Station Camp/Big Island side at Bandy Creek and the O & W railroad bed from Zenith or Honey Creek. The owner of Zenith will trailer you to other trailheads and ride with you if you wish.
Posted 2007-09-04 10:40 PM (#67191 - in reply to #54620) Subject: RE: Big South Fork
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Jamestown, Tn
Sheryl,
REading your comments about campgrounds in Big South Fork. Have you tried ours? Check us out at http://www.bigsouthforklodge.com/ where you camp with your horse and you are right across the road from the Cumberland Valley Trailhead.
Big South Fork
