Completed Healthy Hikes

November 12
Equestrian Ride with a Ranger
Distance: 12 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Meet a park ranger at Burkes Field for an easy half day equestrian ride to O&W Bridge. Log those Centennial Challenge Miles while using some of our many equestrian trails. Enjoy the peaceful sounds of Coyle Branch and White Oak Creek, as well as beautiful rock formations all from a different perspective. Be prepared for lunch at the O&W Bridge before returning to the trailhead. Horses are not provided, however, reservations can be made through South East Pack Trips at 931-879-2260 on a first come, first serve basis. Bring water, snacks, lunch, and wear weather appropriate clothing.

October 29
Ride with a Ranger Chestnut Ridge Mountain Bike Trail
Distance: 5 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Meet a park ranger at the Chestnut Ridge Trailhead in Kentucky. Bring the family and bring your mountain bikes! Chestnut Ridge Trail is an easy bike ride to the John Muir Overlook. Hopefully, we will catch some of the beautiful fall foliage of the once thriving No Business Community. Bikes are not provided, however, reservations can be made through Borderland Expeditions atborderlandexpeditions.com or 844-344-2109 on a first come, first serve basis. Bring water, snacks, and wear weather appropriate clothing and shoes.

October 15
Honey Creek Loop
Distance: 5.7 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Meet a park ranger at the Honey Creek Loop Trailhead at 9:00 a.m. (ET). Honey Creek Loop holds some of our most rugged terrain and it will take your breath away with its beauty. You will be using your hands and knees to maneuver through parts of this trail. We will also be following the creek bed so you may get wet. This is an all day hike;please plan accordingly. Bring water, snacks, lunch, and wear appropriate shoes and clothing for a safe and comfortable trip.
October 8
Rails to Trails (McCreary County Heritage Trail Days)
Distance: 3.8 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Meet a park ranger at10:45 a.m. (ET)at the Stearns Depot in Kentucky for a "Rails to Trails" adventure! We will board the Big South Fork Scenic Railway and ride into Blue Heron. Our adventure will continue on foot as we hike to Dick Gap Overlook and eat our lunch there. Then we will continue back down to Blue Heron and board the train for our return trip to Sterns. This is a great way to share the park with family and friends. Reserve your 11:00 a.m. (ET) train into Blue Heron and the 2:00 p.m. (ET) train back to Sterns at (800) 462-5664 orwww.bsfsry.com. Bring water, snacks, lunch, and wear comfortable shoes. Don't forget your camera!


September 3
Paddle with a Ranger

Distance: 4.8 Miles
Difficulty: Class I & II
See the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area from a completely different prospective! Join Rangers Mary and Karen at the Blue Heron boat ramp for a day on the river. Get ready to log some of those Centennial Challenge miles while paddling the river! Do you need a boat? Or maybe just a shuttle? Contact the Sheltowee Trace Outfitters at 800-541-RAFT or make a reservation online at: http://www.ky-rafting.com/centennial-challenge.html. Karen and Mary will do a brief safety talk on paddling the Class I-II rapids on this 5-mile section of the Big South Fork River before we begin. Please bring water, snacks, lunch, sunscreen, bug spray, wear water shoes or tennis shoes (no flip flops permitted), and keep in mind….you might get wet! Life jackets are required. Please leave all valuables behind for this trip.

- If you are renting a boat you will need to first meet Sheltowee Trace Outfitters at 9 AM at the Yamacraw boat launch area. Visitors oten confuse the Yamacraw day use area for the boat launch area. The boat launch is on the west side of the river and the day use area is on the east side of the river. If you are traveling from Stearns, Kentucky, you will need to cross the river and then turn left and then a second left after crossing the bridge for the river access road.

August 20, 2016
Parch Corn Creek
Distance: 7.1 Miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Join a park ranger at the end of Duncan Hollow Road at 9:00 a.m. (ET) for an all day hike to Parch Corn Creek. We'll talk about wild boar destruction to our natural resources, visit the grave site of an early settler, have lunch at an old home site on Parch Corn Creek, and end our hike on the John Muir Trail back to where we started. Bring water, snacks, lunch, bug spray, and wear comfortable shoes for hiking.

August 6
Oscar Blevins Farm Loop Hike
Distance 4.3 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Join a park ranger at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. (ET) for a half day hike. Go back in time as you explore an early Appalachian settlement and enjoy the many natural resources this loop has to offer. Bring water, snacks, and wear comfortable shoes. This is a great loop for kids! Don't forget to bring your pet, however, leashes are required.

July 23
Bandy Creek Night Hike
Distance: 5.14 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Join a park rangers Daniel and Miriam at the Bandy Creek Swimming Pool Parking Lot at8:30 p.m. (ET)for an enjoyable night hike along Duncan Hollow Road. Listen and look for the creatures of the night as we make our way to Mitchell Field. We will rest under the stars and see if we can call out to our owl friends for a visit before we make our way back to the parking lot. This is a great way to log those Centennial Challenge miles without being out in the heat of the day. Bring water, snacks,flashlight(preferably one with a red lens), and comfortable shoes.
July 9
Laurel Fork Creek
Distance: 4.4 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
Join a park ranger at Sawmill Trailhead at 9:00 a.m. (ET) for a half-day loop hike to the beautiful Laurel Fork Creek. You will enjoy getting see the large boulders found at this back country area and be refreshed by the cool water as we ford the creek. Bring water, snacks, water shoes, and wear comfortable hiking shoes.

June 25
Distance: 6 Miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Join park ranger at Charit Creek Trailhead Parking Lot of Fork Ridge Road for an all-day hike. This hike will take us to Charit Creek Lodge, then along the Station Camp Creek Trail to a cemetery where Jonathan Blevins, a long hunter from Virginia, is buried. Please bring water, snacks, and lunch if you didn't reserve lunch, and comfortable shoes for this hike.
June 11
Leatherwood Loop
Distance: 3.6 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Join a park ranger at Sunset Overlook Trailhead for a hike that allows you see the Big South Fork River from the bottom and from the Leatherwood Overlook. We will make a short stop at Echo Rock as we enjoy the many natural resources scattered throughout this hike. Hopefully, the rhododendron will be in bloom. For additional miles, extend your hike on the Sunset Overlook Trail for 2.6 more miles. Bring water, snacks, and comfortable shoes for this hike.
May 28
Distance: 6.7 miles
Difficulty: Difficult
Join a park ranger at the Rock Creek Loop Trailhead. This all-day hike is rated difficult with steep stairs and rocky terrain. Hikers will get to see the remnants of the Massey Branch Spur of the Stearns Logging Railroad and enjoy the beauty of Rock Creek, cliffs, and overhanging rock shelters. Please bring water, snacks, lunch, and wear comfortable shoes. To get to the trailhead, take Hwy 154 to Divide Road. Follow Divide Road past the Twin Arches Road and turn left on Hattie Blevins Cemetery Road.

May 14
Burnt Mill Loop
Distance: 4.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Join a park ranger at the Burnt Mill Bridge Loop Trailhead for a moderate half-day hike. Be prepared to experience one of the more scenic short hikes within the Big South Fork area. Hikers will enjoy the tranquil sounds of the swiftly moving Clear Fork River, large boulders, rock walls and overhangs, and much, much more! Bring water, snacks, and wear comfortable shoes.

April 23
John Muir Overlook & Boyatt Home Place
Distance: 6.5 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Join a park ranger at the Terry Cemetery Trail Head parking lot. Enjoy the breath taking view from John Muir Overlook while you hear all about the once thriving No Business Community. From the Boyatt Home Place and Cemetery, you will hear the most tragic story ever told in the Big South Fork Area. Be prepared to ford No Business Creek so water shoes are needed! Bring water, snacks, and don't forget your camera.

April 9
Ledbetter Trail-Kentucky Trail
Distance: 3.3 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Join a park ranger at Ledbetter Trailhead. During this hike, we will cross over to the Kentucky trail and make a loop. This is the site of an old oil well called the Beatty Well. Learn how this well is connected with Devil’s Jump Rapid and how oil wells play an important part of the historical, cultural, and natural resources of the Big South Fork.

March 26
Blue Heron Loop
Distance: 6.4 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Join a park ranger at Blue Heron Overlook parking lot at the end of Overlook Road just off Hwy 742. Be ready for an all day hike packed with outstanding views, a climb through Cracks-in-the-Rock, history of Blue Heron Mine, and an overall gorgeous hike along the Big South Fork River and much more!

March 12
Split Bow Arch and Bear Creek Overlook
Distance: 1.2 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Join a park ranger at Split Bow Arch parking lot on Bear Creek Road off Hwy 742 for a hike that will include Bear Creek Overlook. Big South Fork is known for its rock arches. Split Bow arch is very different from the others but still spectacular! Come find out why.

February 27
John Litton Farm Trail to Fall Branch Waterfall
Distance: 4 Miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Join a park ranger at Bandy Creek Trailhead (swimming pool parking lot) for a hike along the John Litton trail. Be prepared to hike to the Fall Branch Waterfall and back or continue on and finish the 6-mile-loop.

February 13
Middle Creek Nature Loop
Distance: 3.5 Miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Join a park ranger at Middle Creek Trailhead. Winter is great time to enjoy the many rock houses on this loop and the icicles that sometimes form on these beautiful structures!

January 30
Gobblers Knob to Station Camp Overlook
Distance: 5.2 Miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Join a park ranger at Gobblers Knob Trailhead for a hike to Station Camp Overlook. From this overlook you will enjoy a great view of Charit Creek Lodge.

January 16
Cumberland Valley Trail to East Laurel Overlook
Distance: 5.6 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Join a park ranger at Cumberland Valley Trailhead for a hike to East Laurel Overlook. Be prepared for a breath-taking view at this overlook!

Last updated: December 5, 2016

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Oneida, TN 37841

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423 569-9778

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