11 Things To Do In Big South Fork- The Complete Guide

Experience All Big South Fork Has To Offer (Minus the crowds!)

Looking for a less crowded park that has a ton of hiking trails, cool waterfalls, some of the largest rock arches in the east, great campgrounds, a wonderful hike-in lodge, horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, rafting, kayaking, and even a preserved historic mining community? Did I miss anything on your list?

You can do all of these things and more in the phenomenal Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, a massive park situated on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky and part of the national park service.

There are so many things to do in Big South Fork, you could spend a week here no problem. But it is also wonderful for a quick 2-3 day visit as well.

Living in nearby Knoxville, TN, I have come to enjoy this park as a terrific place to take the kids camping for a weekend. And did I mention it is less crowded than some other nearby parks? (Cough, cough, looking at you Smokies.)

I’ll also include a sample 3 day itinerary that I often suggest to people when they want to make the most of their visit to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

This itinerary will take to multiple areas of the park and hits the most iconic trails and sights.

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General Introduction To Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Location And Size

Located on the Cumberland Plateau, half in Tennessee and half in Kentucky, Big South Fork consists of 125, 000 acres. It is about 1.5 hours northwest of Knoxville, 2.5 hours northeast of Nashville, and 2.5 hours south of Lexington.

The nearest towns are Oneida and Jamestown in TN and Stearns and Whitley City in KY. These are small towns but you’ll find gas stations, at least one grocery store, and a drugstore. Oneida and Jamestown have a Walmart as well.

All 4 towns are within 20-30 min from one of Big South Fork’s 5 campgrounds.

For your reference, here is Big South Fork’s website.

Is Big South Fork A National Park?

Big South Fork is actually a National River and Recreation Area, not a national park, but it is managed by the National Park Service. There are NPS rangers at the Visitor Centers and on the trails.

National Recreation Areas differ from National Parks in that they tend to be centered around bodies of water used for recreation, i.e. reservoirs, lakes, or rivers.

In this case, the recreation area is centered around the “big south fork” of the Cumberland River that runs through the center of the park and created the canyon.

Another difference between a national recreation area versus a national park is that activities tend to be slightly less restricted in national recreation areas versus national parks. More backcountry camping is allowed, you can bring dogs and horses on more trails, etc.

11 Things To Do In Big South Fork

Okay, let’s start tackling all of these activities I keep talking about. Here is a list of 12 things to do in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

1. Hiking
2. Bandy Creek Visitor Center
3. Scenic Overlooks
4. Canoeing/Kayaking/ Rafting
5. Horseback riding
6. Mountain Biking
7. Blue Heron Mining Community
8. Big South Fork Scenic Railway
9. Fishing
10. Night Sky Viewing
11. Bioluminescence

If you are interested in camping in Big South Fork, you are in luck because it has some really great campgrounds (5 in fact) as well as excellent backcountry camping opportunities.

Check out Camping In Big South Fork to find out more about my favorite campground (spoiler alert- it is Bandy Creek) and my favorite backcountry campsite.

1) Hiking Big South Fork

Hiking is probably my favorite thing about Big South Fork National River And Recreation Area. There are so many trails to choose from – easy strolls, moderately hard hikes to amazing rock arches, and long multi-day, through hikes.

Plus, you can do a hike that has been named one of the Top 20 Hikes in the US by USA Today.

The hardest part of hiking in Big South Fork is that some of the most iconic hikes can be on distant sides of the park so there is some driving involved if you want to hit them all.

I cover many of these trails in depth on this blog – 12 Of Our Favorite Hiking Trails In Big South Fork– so go there if you want all the minute details, like trail maps and lots of pictures.

Pro Tip – When I mention stairs on the trails, these usually mean super steep, almost ladder-like wooden stairs. They can be difficult to navigate for dogs, older hikers that must use poles, or parents carrying kids in backpacks.

Favorite Hiking Trails In Big South Fork

1) Twin Arches

Twin Arches trail is probably the most famous of the geologic formations in Big South Fork. The rock formation is two natural arches, named the South Arch and the North Arch that are impressively large.

The South Arch alone is one of the largest natural arches east of the Mississippi and together they are one of the largest natural arch formations in the world. (It’s in the brochure so I am taking their word for it.)

There are actually 2 trails to the Twin Arches:

• Upper Loop – a short and easy (except for the stairs) 1.2 mile loop trail
• Lower Loop – a longer 4 mile loop trail that starts at the bottom of the arches

If you have the time, you should hike the Lower Loop trail as it is a beautiful hike past some huge rock faces and cliffs before meandering along Station Camp Creek (where there are some pretty great backcountry camping spots– more about them below).

You have to hike the Upper Loop to get to the Lower Loop, so it is a 5.2 mile hike total.

Twin Arches trailhead is on the west side of the park, accessed from the gravel Divide Rd.

2) Slave Falls/ Needle Arch As An Out And Back Trail

Also on the west side of Big South Fork and off of Divide Rd is the trail to Needle Arch and Slave Falls. I would start at the Sawmill Trailhead and hike out to Slave Falls, one of the largest rock shelters in the park with a 60 ft tall waterfall cascading over the edge.

This would be about 2.6 miles RT as an out and back which is shorter than hiking the Slave Falls Loop trail which is 3.6 miles.

On the way back from Slave Falls, take the Slave-Falls-Charit-Creek connector trail a short ways to see Needle Arch, a long thin sandstone arch. Needle Arch is about 0.25 miles down this trail so it makes a 0.5 mile RT addition to your hike. (The waterfall may be non-existent in late summer/ early fall if it hasn’t rained in awhile.)

3) Yahoo Falls/ Yahoo Arch

This is my favorite waterfall in Big South Fork, as you can walk behind it. This hike is located in the tip of the northern section of the park, in Kentucky. Yahoo Falls is actually the tallest waterfall in Kentucky at 113 ft.

It is an easy 1.2 mile walk to the falls (though it does have a section of metal stairs which could be difficult for some people). And I would recommend taking the 0.8 mile long spur trail out to Yahoo Arch, a large natural bridge and rock shelter.

4) Honey Creek Loop Hike

If you want something very challenging, try the Honey Creek Loop hike in the southern end of the park. USA TODAY had as one of America’s Top 20 hikes and while it is just that cool, it isn’t a trail for beginner hikers.

It is 5.5 miles long but many people say it is more like 6 or 7 miles because you will get lost so much and have to backtrack. (Just remember to go THROUGH the rock formations and not around and you’ll do okay mostly.)

Also, you want to hike the trail counterclockwise as it is much easier to spot the trail markers in that direction.

A lot of the trail crisscrosses a stream so you will probably get a little wet (or a lot if you slip). Most people say plan an hour per mile and I think that is a safe bet.

I went with an experienced hiker who had hiked it before so we made good time but there is a lot of rock scrambling and stream crossing so this is not a speed hike (plus the getting lost bit).

I would definitely check in with the rangers before hiking this and ask about current conditions and advice. You should not attempt this hike if the water levels are up or it is icy.

5) Blue Heron Loop Trail

This is a great 6.5 mile loop hike that incorporates the history of the Blue Heron Mining Community as well as scenic overlooks and a nifty rock feature called appropriately “Cracks in the Rocks” where the trail leads through, you guessed it, cracks in the rock face.

A moderately hard hike because of its length, elevation changes, and there are sections with steep stairs.

You can start at various points along the trail but I would start at the Blue Heron Mining Community and go clockwise so you get the stair climbing out of the way first. So you start down by the river, climb up to the plateau, then descend back down to the river and walk along it back to Blue Heron.

Again, if you want more detailed info on each hike, including trail maps and lots of pictures, head to 12 Of Our Favorite Big South Fork Hiking Trails. There are also a couple more trails in that blog than I mentioned here.

3) Scenic Overlooks

If driving to pretty overlooks is more your thing than hoofing your way there, then Big South Fork has a couple of lovely places that you can get too with minimal effort.

There are other overlooks that can be reached by longer hikes, such as Angel’s Falls Overlook, but I tried to keep this list to just overlooks easily reachable from the car.

East Rim Overlook

This is one of the easiest to reach as it is near the park headquarters, just off of Leatherwood Rd/ Hwy 297 which is the main road that crosses the park east-west. Drive the short spur road to the parking area and then take the paved trail a couple of hundred feet to the overlook.

Devils Jump Overlook and Blue Heron/ Gorge Overlook

You can access both of these overlooks from a short, paved spur road off of the main Blue Heron Road, located after the campground turn-off. Each overlook has its own little parking area. Or you can reach both by hiking the supercool Blue Heron Loop trail (see above).

The hike out to the Blue Heron Overlook (also called Gorge Overlook) is about 0.5 miles and is paved. There is a wooden platform at the end with a covered area, great for getting out of the sun.

The Blue Heron Mining Community is below you but you can’t really see it because of the trees. Mostly you are getting a nice view of the gorge (hence the name) and river below.

The Devils Jump Overlook is the better of the two overlooks in my opinion but I would stop at both. Just two different looks at the river and the canyon. You can see the Class IV/V rapid called Devils Jump from this overlook.

Read the legend about how the falls got its name- it is pretty neat and does involve the Devil as well as oil drilling.

The walk out to Devils Jump Overlook is very short and is also paved.

Bear Creek Overlook

A little more driving adventure is required to get to this overlook but you will have the bonus of probably having it to yourself. Plus, there is a large arch you can hike to not far away from the parking area.

Located just over the KY border, you have to drive several miles on a well maintained gravel road to get to the parking area for Bear Creek Overlook. The raod is usually well maintained and it is marked on Google Maps.

The parking area and signs for the overlook are easily seen from the road, you won’t miss it. There is even a vault toilet there.

The hike to the overlook is about 1 mile RT as an out and back and it is another 0.8 mile RT loop hike if you add in the hike to Split Bow Arch. This is a good place for the sunset as the overlook faces west.

4) Big South Fork Kayaking, Canoeing, and Rafting In The Park

Since this park is based around the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, it makes sense that there are so many water activities available. There are different sections of the river you can run, ranging from easy Class I-II rapids up to difficult Class III-IV rapids requiring advanced skills. See the NPS website for River Run Descriptions.

Kayaking the section between Leatherwood Ford and Blue Heron Mining Community is the classic 2-day paddling trip of Big South Fork. This section isn’t particularly difficult (Class I-II) but you must portage around the Class IV rapids of Angels Falls and Devils Jump.

This is kind of a pain as I hate carrying boats over rocks but it is pretty doable and a popular summer activity if the water is at the right level. The 2 rapids aren’t signed so make sure you know when to take out or go with someone that does.

The stretch of river between the Blue Heron Mining Community and Yamacraw is an easy stretch and this is the most common section for day paddle trips and for beginner boaters.

Check in with the rangers at the Visitor Center or call to get the most up to date information about conditions, e.g. water levels or additional hazards.

There are sometimes ranger-led paddle trips on the NPS calendar or rent from Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort. They offer guided and unguided trips on the river as well as boat rentals and shuttle services.

5) Horseback Riding in Big South Fork

Horseback riding is one of the main things to do in Big South Fork for many people. There are mixed-use horse trails everywhere as well as several horse camps. It is not something I have done yet but it is certainly on the list.

There are 200 miles of horse trails as well as horse stables at the main campground, Bandy Creek and the hike- in (or ride- in as you have it) lodge – Charit Creek Lodge.

Two campgrounds are also set up for horses with tie- outs –Station Camp and Bear Creek (which also has some small corrals set up too). You will find private cabin rentals with horse accommodations scattered around just outside the park boundaries as well.

You will need a negative Coggins test to come into Big South Fork and a health certificate if you cross state lines on any of the trails. Some of the most popular trails are around the Bandy Creek Campground and out on the west side of the park by Divide Rd. But there are also trails you can ride on from each of the horse camps as well.

Check the NPS webpage on Horseback Riding for more info. Specifically, I would click on their Horseback Riding Trail Guide as well as the itinerary link as they suggest different trails on each.

If horseback riding sounds amazing but you don’t have your own equine to bring along, look into a guided trip with Southeastern Pack Trips. They have everything from 1 hr rides to multi-day pack trips. This is probably who I’ll do my horseback riding trip when I finally find someone to go with me!

6) Mountain Biking In Big South Fork

In another instance of Big South Fork serving up fun activities for all different kinds of people, you can also mountain bike on a variety of trails in the park.

Many of the singletrack trails are intermediate level or higher, but there are lots of gravel roads to ride that are perfect for beginners that just want a peaceful ride in the woods.

There are several easier loops and gravel road rides around the Bandy Creek Campground as well as the more difficult Grand Gap Loop that is one of the classic rides in Big South Fork. Other popular gravel road rides and more difficult trails are off of Divide Road on the west side of the park.

Check the NPS webpage for Mountain Biking in Big South Fork as well as MTB Project’s website for more detailed information and descriptions of trails. I would also check in at a ranger station to see if there are any current restrictions on trails.

7) Visit Blue Heron Mining Community

Touring the historic Blue Heron Mining Community is one of my favorite things to do in Big South Fork and a unique activity that I think makes Big South Fork such a cool park.

Blue Heron was a company town for the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company (it was also known as Mine 18). The people that lived in this relatively isolated camp worked in the mines, lived in houses owned by the company, bought goods at the general store owned by the company, and went to a school run by, you guessed it, the company.

The open-air museum consists of steel frames recreating the essence of the buildings that would have existed at the camp, complete with interpretive signs. Plus, audio recordings from the people who actually lived here which is pretty neat.

Other highlights are the old tipple and the bridge leading to a mine on the far side of the river. You can walk across the bridge and get a great view, plus reach the excellent trails on that side.

Read our blog Exploring Echoes of the Past In Blue Heron, Kentucky to get detailed information about what to see and do in this unique and interesting museum.

9) Fishing

Angling is popular in the river and streams of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area but it’s not my cup of tea so I can’t really give you any personal advice. I mostly catch trees when I try to fly fish and blue gill in the lakes of East Tennessee so great fisherman, I am not.

I do know you need a fishing license from Tennessee and/or Kentucky and that there is a decently long list of game fish found in Big South Fork. I would call or visit the rangers at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center to get more information about regulations and best places to go.

10) Astronomy/ Night Sky Viewing

Because this part of the country is relatively rural and far from any major cities, the night sky viewing from Big South Fork is pretty spectacular.

The adjacent state parks of Pickett State Park and Pogue Creek Canyon are certified Silver-Tier International Dark Sky Parks and the nearby Obed Wild & Scenic River is also a Dark Sky Park.

So you can see that this area of the Cumberland Plateau is one of the best places in Tennessee for star gazing.

There are often ranger-led astronomy programs so take a look at the calendar online or ask at a visitor center.

Or just walk to the big field by Bandy Creek Campground at night, bring your camp chair and hot chocolate, and sit back and enjoy. That’s what we like to do.

11) See Bioluminescence

There are two animals that utilize bioluminescence in Big South Fork – fireflies (you probably guessed that one) and glow worms (bet you didn’t guess that one).

The fireflies are so prominent here because the same lack of light pollution that allows such brilliant night skies, also allows the fireflies to shine. Watch them near the rock faces and arches but really anywhere is pretty great.

I haven’t seen the synchronous fireflies (that the Smokies are so famous for) in Big South Fork but the regular fireflies are still worth getting out of your tent at night to go see. Fireflies are most active in summer but can be seen from late spring to fall.

The glow worms are a very rare kind of worm only found on the Cumberland Plateau. They glow at night to attract prey to their webs, reaching their peak glowing around June.

The most famous location is in Hazard Cave in adjacent Pickett State Park, but many people claim to have seen them in caves/ rock overhangs in Big South Fork as well. It is not one I have seen personally but also haven’t gone looking for them either. Too busy in a field looking up at the stars but everybody has their thing.

Things To Do With Kids In Big South Fork

Easy Hikes

• The short Twin Arches Upper Loop – 1.2 miles RT
• Yahoo Falls – 1.2 miles RT

Note- like so many hikes in Big South Fork, even these easy hikes involve some steep stairs. But they are such a short length that they are still manageable even if you have to take awhile helping kids at the stairs.

An easy hike without any stairs at all is the hike out to Slave Falls and Needle Arch. Don’t do the whole Slave Falls Loop trail, just hike out to the falls and take the detour out to Needle Arch and then back. That makes it just over 3 miles RT.

Fun Cultural Activities

• Explore Blue Heron Mining Community
• Take a ride on Big South Fork Scenic Railway
• Visit the Bandy Creek Visitor Center and get a Junior Ranger Booklet to fill out (or print it out online). You get a Junior Ranger badge once you turn in the completed booklet. There is also a playground by the Bandy Creek Campground swimming pool near the Visitor Center.

Stop At Some Spectacular Overlooks

• East Rim Overlook
• Devils Jump and Blue Heron/Gorge Overlook

Where to Stay In Big South Fork

The big decision is whether to stay in the park or rent a cabin outside the park. Also think about what areas of the park you want to visit. If you only want to see the Twin Arches and things on the west side for instance, it will save you a lot of driving time.

Campgrounds In Big South Fork

There are 5 campgrounds in Big South Fork. The two horse camps allow non- horse people to camp there as well, it is just that every site has open, metal stalls for horses.

• Bandy Creek Campground – the biggest, one tent- only loop, group camping, and horse stables
• Blue Heron Campground – smaller, all sites have water and electrical hook-ups
• Alum Ford Campground – tiny primitive campground, no running water
• Bear Creek Horse Camp
• Station Camp Horse Camp

For detailed info, pictures, and campground maps, check out Camping In Big South Fork – 5 Campgrounds To Choose From.

Charit Creek Lodge

The only lodge inside the park boundaries, Charit Creek is a hike-in (or horseback ride in) lodge that consists of several historic cabins that have been converted to bunkhouses.

Charit Creek Lodge is an amazing place and one I take an annual trip to with about 10 college friends and our families.

Dinner and breakfast are provided (and are delicious) as well as bedding, showers, and even s’more fixings are available. You only have to carry clothes and toiletries which makes this a very appealing place for parents of young kids who don’t want to have to carry everything for camping. Or for people who like rustic but not roughing it.

Find out more on A Review of Charit Creek Lodge in Big South Fork, TN. It has all my tips gleaned over years of staying at Cahrit Creek, detailed descriptions of the different accommodations available, how reservations work, the different trails you can take to get there (including my favorite), and what to expect food- wise.

Cabins Rentals Near Big South Fork

The Cumberland Plateau in general is a wonderful place for cabin rentals, many in secluded spots with scenic views.

Again, you might want to figure out what area of the park you are probably going to spend the most time in and then choose lodging near that. It is a 90 minute drive between the Twin Arches Trailhead on the west side of the park to Yahoo Falls in the northern end of the park for instance.

So don’t stay near the southern half of the park if you are going to be spending all your time up in Blue Heron.

The Best Big South Fork Cabins has all my recommendations for cabin rentals – these are the ones I think have the best combination of price, amenities, and location.

Pickett State Park is another option for lodgings as they have cute historic CCC cabins for rent as well as larger and more modern cabins. Pickett is just 5 minutes from the western entrance to Big South Fork so it is a great location if you are planning on doing a lot of hiking over there, e.g Twin Arches, Slave Falls, Middle Creek Nature Loop. Plus, Pickett has a ton of fun activities itself, with swimming, canoe rentals, and more awesome hikes.

Sample 3 Day Weekend Itinerary For Big South Fork

Day 1 – The West Side Of Big South Fork

Activity – Hike the Twin Arches Upper Loop and Lower Loop

Optional Activity – Hike only the Twin Arches Upper Loop and add in the hike to Slave Falls/ Needle Arch

Lodging – Charit Creek Lodge or camp at Bandy Creek Campground

Day 2 – Blue Heron Mining Community

Activity – Tour the open-air museum at Blue Heron Mining Community, then hike the Blue Heron Loop Trail.

Optional Activity – Tour Blue Heron Mining Community and take a ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway or rent a raft/ kayak from Sheltowee Trace Adventures to paddle the river from Blue Heron to Yamacraw

Lodging – Camp at Bandy Creek or Blue Heron campground, or find a cabin rental in nearby Bear Creek Scenic Area

Day 3 (Half- day) – Yahoo Falls

Activity – Hike to Yahoo Falls +/- the spur out to Yahoo Arch

Then drive home after a glorious couple of days in Big South Fork.

Nearby Attractions

The Cumberland Plateau has an almost unfair abundance of fabulous parks and natural areas – all of these places are within 90 minutes of Big South Fork.

• Pickett State Park
• Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area
• Sgt Alvin C. York State Historic Park
• Obed Wild & Scenic River
• Frozen Head State Park
• Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary
• Windrock Bike Park
• Historic Rugby

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