Horseback Riding

Horseback riders enjoy the variety of equestrian trails in the Big South Fork.

NPS

 

(Left) Horse trail blaze symbol, (Right) Wagon trail blaze symbol

NPS Photo

Horseback riding offers a rewarding way to experience Big South Fork’s rugged beauty and wide-open scenery. With more than 212 miles of horse trails, riders can travel through quiet forests, cross streams, pass sandstone bluffs, and reach scenic overlooks throughout the park.

Horse trails are signed and marked with a red blaze to help riders stay on route. Options range from shorter rides to longer backcountry routes, giving visitors the flexibility to plan a trip that fits their time, experience, and sense of adventure. Whether you are heading out for a few hours or planning a multi-day ride, Big South Fork’s trail system offers many ways to explore the park from the saddle.

 

Horse Trailheads and Trails

Explore some of the most popular horse trailheads and riding trails in the area. This guide includes a partial list of favorite routes enjoyed by riders, with helpful details to make planning your next ride easier. Please note that this is not a complete list of all available horse trails, but a selection of well-known and commonly used options.

You can also download the Horseback Riding Trail Guide to take with you on your ride. 

Bandy Creek Equestrian Trailhead

Cumberland Valley Equestrian Trailhead

Middle Creek Equestrian Trailhead

Charit Creek Equestrian Trailhead

Gobblers Knob Trailhead

Terry Cemetery Trailhead

Station Camp Equestrian Trailhead

Peters Mountain Trailhead

 

Learn the Trails

• 

  BISO Trail Map

  Let the park map help shape your next outdoor escape.

• 

  Trailhead & Trail Marking System

  Make sure you are on the right trail for your adventure.

• 

  Visitor Center

  Plan your visit with key information on permits, operating hours, visitor requirements, maps and more.

 

Horseback Riding Facilities in BISO

• Bandy Creek Camp Store & Stables, a concessions managed stables available for those who wish to board their horse while camping at the adjacent Bandy Creek Campground. Providing an easy connection to the area's extensive trail system.

• Bandy Creek Campground has a total of 149 campsites: 98 trailer sites which offer water and electric hook-ups, 49 sites for tent camping, and two group camping loops with 19 sites in one loop and 16 sites in the other. All campsites include picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms and hot-water showers. Bandy Creek Stables is located adjacent to the Bandy Creek Campground.
• Station Camp Campground has 24 campsites that provide water and electrical hookups, tie outs for four horses, restrooms with showers and a dump station. The campground is open from April through October each year.
• Bear Creek Horse Camp has 23 campsites that provide water and electrical hookups, tie outs for up to four horses per site, restrooms with hot water showers and a dump station. The campground is open from April through October each year.
• Charit Creek Lodge, located in the Station Camp Creek drainage offers a full range of amenities including cabin and dormitory rentals, meals, restrooms and showers. Access to the remote lodge is by foot, bike or horse only. Stalls are available and riders are encouraged to book reservations well in advance.

 

Horseback Riding Rules & Regulations

• Horseback riding is only permitted on designated horse trails and multi-use trails, and on the following roads; if any sections of those roads lie outside National Park Service jurisdiction, the rules of that jurisdiction apply.
  • Guy Kidd Road
  • Dicks Gap Road
  • Little Bill Slaven Road
  • Station Camp Road, but only on the section of road immediately adjacent to the river and necessary to connect the horse trails that begin at Station Camp Crossing Trailhead
  • O & W Road
  • Park Road to Mt. Helen Trailhead
  • Duncan Hollow Road
  • Divide Road from Three Forks to the state line:
  • Zenith Road
• Remove manure from trailheads, parking areas, and developed campsites; in backcountry campsites, scatter manure at least 100 feet from water sources.
• Tie horses and pack animals only where they will not damage trees, shrubs, or other vegetation; do not tie to historic structures or enter cemeteries.
• Horse camps and areas where horses are tied temporarily must be located at least 100 feet from a water source.

 

Horse Health

Proof of a negative Coggins Test for Swamp Fever is required to bring horses into Big South Fork, applies to both the Tennessee and Kentucky areas of the park, and must be in the horse handler’s possession at all times.