Welcome to Big Fork Campground, an idyllic horse campsite nestled in the heart of Tennessee. This 18-site campground is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with a unique focus on providing top-notch facilities for horse riding lovers. Our goal is to offer an unforgettable outdoor experience through personalized attention and state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring both you and your equine companions have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.
Your Home Away from Home
Our campground facilities offer a choice of comfortable 14’x14’, 12’x12’, and 10’x16’ bedded stalls. For those seeking additional convenience, we provide the option to rent one of our two fully-equipped RVs. This allows you to enjoy the rugged charm of the outdoors without the hassle of pulling your own rig.
Prime Location for Outdoor Activities
Adjacent to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area - the horse riding capital of the Southeast - Big Fork Campground boasts an unbeatable location. From horseback riding to hiking, and hunting, there's no shortage of activities to enjoy. If you're a hiking enthusiast, you'll be thrilled to know we're a mere ten minutes away from the Honey Creek Loop, ranked among the top 25 hiking trails in the USA. The campground is the perfect gateway to over 120,000 acres of pristine natural beauty, awaiting your exploration.
A Paradise for Horseback Riders
Big Fork Campground sits at the entrance of the Mount Helen Trailhead on Park Road, opening up a wealth of trail options in the Big South Fork Park. You can saddle up and ride through our hayfield to the trailhead, journeying onwards to destinations such as the Long Ridge trail, Needles Eye, Jake's Hole, Gun Rock, Double Arches, and more.
For a scenic treat, ride for 30 minutes from the trailhead down to the O & W Railroad bed. This trail runs alongside the North White Oak Creek - the jewel of the park - offering breathtaking views of the roaring creek and towering cliffs above. The O & W trail connects to over 200 miles of park trails, varying from short, easy day rides to challenging, long loops. Rest assured, we provide color maps to aid your adventure. However, we recommend horses have shoes as some trails can be rocky.
Exceptional Facilities for Horses
Our commitment to equine welfare is evident in our barns. Barn B, the main barn, features a sun-lit 16' center-aisle with 14’x14’ bedded stalls, two wash racks, and a round pen.
Barn A boasts four 12x12 stalls, each leading out to two different fenced paddocks. It also features an adjoining tack/hay room and two wash racks. To maintain the lush grass, we kindly ask you to only turn your horse out after arrival for one hour in the morning and evening. Should the grass grow well, please ask us about extending this period.
Our latest addition, Barn C, nestles under the trees and houses four 10’x16’ bedded stalls.
At Big Fork Campground, we strive to create an unforgettable outdoor experience for you and your horses. So saddle up, and join us for an adventure in Tennessee's untouched wilderness.
Big Fork Campground offers the following facilities and amenities:
- 18 Developed sites
- 9 sites with sewer, water, and electricity
- 8 sites with water and electricity
- All have 20, and 30-amp hookups
- Rv sites
- Tent campsites
- 4 sites with 50 amp hookups
- Primitive sites have water nearby
- Fire rings and picnic tables at most sites.
- Dump stations
- Sun-lit 16' center aisle with 14’x14’ bedded stalls
- Wash racks
- A round pen
Barns: Enclosed T.V. lounge/kitchenette/eating area, with pot-bellied wood stove, a gas heater, gas grill, toaster oven, sink, and microwave. The lounge area has a flat-screen TV, with a VHS/DVD player. New men's & women's baths/showers.
Horse Facilities:
For your horses: Our main barn B: has a sun-lit 16' center aisle with 14’x14’ bedded stalls, (2) wash racks, and a round pen.
Barn A: has (4) 12x12 stalls, each letting out into two different fenced paddocks, with an adjoining tack/hay room & (2) wash racks. To keep the grass in good condition, we request that you only turn your horse out after you arrive, and just one hour in the AM and PM. If the grass is growing well, please ask us if you can keep them in longer.
Our newest barn, Barn C, sits under the trees and has (4) 10’x16’ bedded stalls.
If your horse always prefers to be out, we have an available 200’x300’ paddock (#5). You can also turn your horse out for a few hours in Paddock (#2).
We have two larger paddocks to share with rotating times for horses.
Notes: Please clean stalls and paddocks daily. We can happily clean them for you for $7 per day. Please bring your own water/feed buckets and hay bags. We provide wheelbarrows and composting manure area. There are two wash racks next to the B and A barns, there is also hot water available inside the barn.
Policies:
- There is a $40 pet deposit required on camper rental, refunded at checkout. Please keep all pets on a leash.
- Under Tennessee law, an equine professional is not liable for an injury to or for the death of a participant in an equine activity resulting from the inherent risk of equine activities, pursuant to the Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 44, Chapter 21.1.
- Please keep all pets on a leash.
Cost Details:
- Campsite - Electric & Water -add $4.00 for septic sites - $22.00 nightly
- Primitive (water nearby) - $16.00 nightly
- Tent (water nearby), and bring a long extension cord for electricity - $15.00 nightly
- Stalls - 14 x 14 bedded - $12.50 nightly
- Stall/Paddock - 12 x 12 bedded - $12.50 nightly
- Stall - 10 x 16 bedded - $12.00 nightly
- 10’X16’ Panels, 1 horse per panel - $10.00 nightly
- Final stall stripping $7. The camper must have daily picking otherwise additional fees apply.
- Slide-out camper sleeps 4. (If more than 2 adults, $10 each per person per night for additional adults) The final cleanup is $25 - $50.00 nightly
- 23' camper, sleeps 3. (If more than 2 adults, same as above) The final cleanup is $25 - $35.00 nightly
If you want to discover and explore other campsites and horse trails, here are some of them that you may visit:
BIG SOUTH FORK RECREATION AREA - Potter Branch to N White Oak Creek
Double Arches Overlooks Gun Trail
Big South Fork Zenith To Bridge
Big Fork Campground does require reservations for overnight accommodations. Please visit their page here on Top Horse Trails - Big Fork Campground for more information