Posted 2013-07-30 10:05 PM (#153688) Subject: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Member
Posts: 13
Location: Bethel, Oh
First year with living quarter trailer, we usually camp at Brown County State Park in Indiana. Tried mammoth cave, loved the campground but the trails were not impressive. (very muddy, not very scenic).
We really want to try BSF, but I am not sure what campgrounds to try. We don't ride gaited horses, and tend to do 3-4 hour rides. are there any campgrounds that have several trailheads?
we also prefer to have our horses at our site, so far I haven't liked having my horse stabled far from my campsite. any advice would be greatly appreciated. If we go, I would imagine we would stay at 2 different campgrounds during the trip. Heard good things about bandy creek and station camp, but having not been there it is so hard to know what to expect.
Posted 2013-07-31 11:52 AM (#153698 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Regular
Posts: 99 Location: Pleasant Plain, Ohio 45162
We like Spruce Creek Acres - small campground and nice barn and has free use of their stock trailers to haul out to other trailheads. Numerous trail heads off of Divide Road. True West has really good access to numerous trails especially if you haven't ever ridden their before. Bandy Creek sells an excellent trail map of BSF. At any rate, you won't be disappointed as many of the trails you can ride right after a big rain as their is a lot of sand and limestone. Bandy Creek's stalls are a short drive to your campsite as no horses are allowed in the campground but they do have about the best access to the trails.
Posted 2013-07-31 5:30 PM (#153708 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 178 Location: Richmond, Ky
if you have to have your horses close by then Timber Ridge would be my suggestion, you do have to put them in the barn but you're within eyesight of them. True West has great trails very little shade and barns are a short walk up the hill. Either site would make you a very happy camper.
Posted 2013-07-31 9:24 PM (#153713 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Member
Posts: 30 Location: Eminence KY
STATION CAMP HAS @ 24 CAMPING SPOTS IN THE SHADE HORSE ARE ARE AT YOUR CAMP
BIG SOUTH FORK LODGE SOME SPOT'S YOU PULL AND CAMP NEXT TO THE BARN
I,AM; GOING TO TRY ZENITH HORES CAMP OUT THIS FALL .I HAVE HEARD IT IS GOOD
Posted 2013-08-01 6:48 PM (#153744 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 178 Location: Richmond, Ky
about Station Camp, unless they have changed the metal stalls that your horses are required to stand in 24/7, you couldn't beg me to go back. I saw a horse that laid down and got hung up under the stalls and panicked, it was cut up really bad. They do have some great trails and the campsite is great, but the horse stalls and the rangers writing tickets did it for me...sorry I had to respond.
Posted 2013-08-02 9:57 AM (#153752 - in reply to #153713) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: Gallatin, TN
Originally written by bigredky on 2013-07-31 9:24 PM
STATION CAMP HAS @ 24 CAMPING SPOTS IN THE SHADE HORSE ARE ARE AT YOUR CAMP BIG SOUTH FORK LODGE SOME SPOT'S YOU PULL AND CAMP NEXT TO THE BARN I,AM; GOING TO TRY ZENITH HORES CAMP OUT THIS FALL .I HAVE HEARD IT IS GOOD
Unless it has changed recently, you have to ride a long way from Zenith to get to a trail head. The campground and stalls are wonderful, but getting to a trail head takes some time. Timber Ridge has several trail heads right out of camp and you can ride in the BSF or on some private trails. Haven't been to True West but have heard they have great trails right of or very near camp.
Posted 2013-08-03 4:48 PM (#153796 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 178 Location: Richmond, Ky
i have never seen anyone doing that at Station Camp, the sites are kinda small, but they do have some bigger ones but they are taken rather quickly. If your horses can get close to a tree, the rangers could slap a ticket on you for damages to the tree also. The sites are first come first served, the ones at the very back of the circle and to the right might work for you if you can get there early enough.
Posted 2013-08-05 10:27 PM (#153851 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Member
Posts: 6
Location: glasgow, Ky
Hey, I was at Big South in April and I stayed at Timber Ridge and had a great time. As soon as I arrived the young men that work there came to help unload my horses and clean out my trailer and even parked my truck and trailer for me. Can't say enough good about them.
Just a quick question has anyone been riding and camping at Dale Hollow State Resort Park? It isn't very far from me so I drove up to take a look at the campground and it looked nice. A lot of sites to pick from but I couldn't find anyone to talk to about the trails. I was wondering what kind of terrain (rocky, steep, sandy ect.) Any info appreciated.
Posted 2013-08-06 11:07 AM (#153866 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Location: KY
Dale Hollow trails are relatively easy trails.....nice campsites too. Unless it has changed, there are no loops. One rides out and then backtracks over the same trail to return to camp. But its a nice easy restful place.
Posted 2013-08-11 9:09 PM (#153947 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Watertown, TN
I've been riding at BSF for 20 years. There are no bad places to ride there. My favorite campgrounds are Station Camp and Bear Creek. You can not tie to your trailer but in twenty years I've never seen anyone have a problem with the tie stalls. I've never talked to anyone who had a problem with them. Only people that heard about somebody having a problem. If someone has their horse in there 24/7 the horse should have stayed home. :)
Posted 2013-08-12 7:41 PM (#153969 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Member
Posts: 30 Location: Eminence KY
AMEN TO THATARIELDOUGHLAS. THIS IS A RIDING CAMP. WHER ELSE CAN GO FOR
22.00 BUCK'S CAMP ,WITH YOUR HORSE 20ft. away from your camp. with water,
and elect at each site. 24.00 buck's with a/c
Posted 2013-08-13 3:19 AM (#153980 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
We stayed at Zenith Horse Camp and I'd love to go back soon. Reasonable rates, campsites are nice, the barn has large safe stalls w/ free sawdust or you can keep your horse at the trailer if you want. Yes you have to ride a mile or so on other trails to get to the BSF trails but it wasn't a problem.
Posted 2013-08-21 1:46 PM (#154169 - in reply to #153947) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 178 Location: Richmond, Ky
Originally written by Arieldouglas on 2013-08-11 10:09 PM
I've been riding at BSF for 20 years. There are no bad places to ride there. My favorite campgrounds are Station Camp and Bear Creek. You can not tie to your trailer but in twenty years I've never seen anyone have a problem with the tie stalls. I've never talked to anyone who had a problem with them. Only people that heard about somebody having a problem. If someone has their horse in there 24/7 the horse should have stayed home. :)
Well my friend you are blessed to go for 20 years and NEVER had a rain-out day, I'm not much on saddling and riding in a monsoon!!!!!
Posted 2013-08-25 11:15 AM (#154247 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Watertown, TN
You're right! Never had a rain out day. My wife and I spent some wet days in the saddle. After going there though, I'm doing what I came to do, horses and people dry and saddles can be oiled. The only thing keeping us off the trail is lightning. That is scarey in the BSF at times.
Posted 2013-08-28 2:50 PM (#154395 - in reply to #153688) Subject: RE: want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Veteran
Posts: 178 Location: Richmond, Ky
Timber Ridge has some nice trails, you will have to ride some to get to other trailheads, they do however have a horse taxi (trailer) that they use too let you use. You will have a good time and still see some really nice trails though, have fun!!!!!!!!!!!
want to plan first trip to Big South Fork
Hey, I was at Big South in April and I stayed at Timber Ridge and had a great time. As soon as I arrived the young men that work there came to help unload my horses and clean out my trailer and even parked my truck and trailer for me. Can't say enough good about them.
