TRAIL RIDING: BIG SOUTH FORK NATIONAL RIVER & RECREATION AREA, TENNESSEE/KENTUCKY |
Trail Riding at Big South Fork Historic Charit Creek Lodge, built in 1817, located deep in Big South Fork Country, is accessible only by horseback, foot, or mountain bike. The lodge was built where Charit Creek meets Station Camp Creek and rests in a beautiful valley pasture surrounded by magnificent bluffs. Hatfield Ridge Trail connects to Charit Creek Overlook, which is a great place to picnic and enjoy the scenery. There are hitching posts for horses and a huge rock to sit on and enjoy the scenery for lunch. To download Big South Fork trail maps click here. The rivers and streams have been a major force in creating the dramatic canyon-like landscape of the area today. As the streams have cut downward into the sandstone, which caps the plateau, they have carved out gorges and canyons, leaving behind cliffs, natural arches, rock shelters, and waterfalls. Elevations are not extreme, but do change suddenly. They range from 1800 feet along the highest ridge tops to 800 feet along the river. The park service has several horse camps to camp which are spread out across the park. Trails Around the The Big South Fork is well known as the “Trail Riding Capital of the Southeast” for good reason. There are miles and miles of well groomed equestrian trails, as well as, hiking, biking, and OHV trails through the rugged Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (BSFNRRA), area state parks, and at private destinations. These trails offer an outstanding adventure to anyone who loves the great outdoors. Enjoy a night out under the stars (where you can still actually see the stars). Listen to the melodies of the creatures of the night. See the vibrant colors of the vast and varied flora and fauna for a few hours or a few days. If that isn’t long enough, abundant retirement/relocation opportunities await. There are superb equestrian property developments, gated and non-gated, for those looking for a place to call home with miles of trails within the developments and neighbors that love horses and the trails, too. Here we will share a little about a few opportunities to enjoy the equestrian side of life through campgrounds and trail riding opportunities. Cedar Creek Cattle Company, located in Clarkrange, TN invites you to step back in time and take a look at the “Old West”. They offer horse rentals (hourly, daily, and family rates) with an experienced guide. A three bedroom guest house with a private barn and pasture is available. You have the chance to stay in an authentic Indian Tipi that sleeps 6. Stall and paddock rentals are available. They have a monthly cattle gathering, and offer riding lessons for you or your family with a horse day camp available for the children. They have two round pens and an indoor arena. To spice things up a bit, they also offer BBQ’s and live entertainment. Visit www.CedarCreekCattleCompany.com or call 931-260-1650 for more information or to book your visit. New Beginnings Youth Ranch is also located at Cedar Creek Cattle Company. Through this program, founder Mike Archambault and his staff are endeavoring to reach out to troubled youth through a Christ centered horsemanship program. You can learn more and find out how you can help at East Fork Stables sits upon 12,000 acres of privately owned land with over 150 miles of well marked trails. They are well known for their organized trail rides, themed trail rides, entertainment, and hearty meals. The rides are guided by experienced and knowledgeable trail masters that take you through the forests to places that are only accessible by horseback. The trails are lined with fabulous scenery, wildlife, grand overlooks, and along river banks. The team at East Fork Stables works hard to give their visitors a memorable experience. Plenty of campground area is available and they also offer cabin and cabarn (half cabin/half barn) rentals. Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race will be at East Fork three times in 2010. Justin Case’s Horsemanship 101 is scheduled for July 10 & 11, 2010 and Brenda Imus is scheduled to visit in 2011. Visit online at HoneyCreek Horse Camp borders the BSFNRRA just south of the White Oak River in the Double Arch Retreat Estates, joining the Mt. Helen Horse Trail. The camp is designed with the RV/Horse trailer camper in mind. It is ideal for horse owners that want a place to camp with their horse and get out on the trails of the BSFNRRA without having to trailer their horses. Campsites and stalls are on a daily rental basis and the campsites offer full electric and water hookups. Plans are in the works to have a pig roast on Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends this year. Give them a call at 423-569-2289 to reserve your space and to learn more about their facilities. Their website is www.honeycreekhorsecamp.com. Saddle Valley Campground is surrounded by miles of riding trails in the BSFNRRA. They offer camp sites and cabins, stables and corrals, guided horse rentals, a heated bathhouse, covered pavilion, water and electricity. Saddle Valley offers many events and themed rides throughout the riding season. Bring your own horse or rent one of theirs and come prepared to have a good time. Occasionally, overnight rides are scheduled including their “No Pack, Pack Trips” to places such as Station Camp Creek, Terry Cemetery, Angel Falls, and Charit Creek Lodge. Most require a 4 person minimum. For more information, visit www.SaddleValleyCampground.com or call Southeast Pack Trips offers custom horseback rides for pleasure trail riding, hunting trips, birthday and anniversary rides, overnight pack trips, and small or large group rides. Owner, Larry McMillan has over 20 years of experience in the Big South Fork. His slogan is “The Only Real Pack Trip in the Big South Fork”. Southeast Pack Trips has a small campground, a 10 stall barn, and paddocks available for horse trailers and campers with horses. There are also accommodations available for couples, families, and small groups. Larry offers trips year round and can pack you in on their horses. Let Larry know what kind of trip you would like and he will do his best to make it a reality. One of their most popular rides is the All Ladies Ride. He also offers rides that allow Boy/Girl Scouts to earn Merit badges/Insignias. Visit their website at www.SoutheastPackTrips.com, then give Larry a call at 931-879-2260 to schedule your adventure. Saddle Brook Stables A goldmine of regal equestrian beauty can be found nestled among the beautiful rolling hills atop the Cumberland Plateau at Saddle Brook Stables is owned by the Allred family - Fred, Brenda, Freddy, Jon, Bethany, and Andrew. The family treasures Saddle Brook Stables as one of God’s great blessings in their lives. They deeply appreciate the opportunity to share and enjoy the life they live surrounded by the beauty of the region, their animals, and the people they encounter. The family started on this equestrian journey on June 1, 1992 when they purchased their first pony – “Dusty”. It wasn’t long until they bought their first Tennessee Walking Horse at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in August. “Midnight Crescent Moon” was a gorgeous black two-year old filly directly by the well known “Prides Generator”. These purchases were the beginning of something special for the Allred family. Since this time, the family has worked at building their herd, fine tuning their breeding program as they go. Their goal is to produce some of the finest Tennessee Walking Horses possible with improved conformation, disposition and gait with an emphasis on color as well. They don’t seek to change the breed, but to enhance the wonderful qualities while maintaining the attributes that have made the breed so well known.
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Big South Fork Country is known across the nation as the
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