Big South Fork Drive time from Lexington: Approximately 2.5 hours www.nps.gov/biso • (423) 569-9778 Big South Fork is a hidden treasure located in southeastern Kentucky and north central Tennessee. This historic mining community features a scenic railway that traverses some of the most rugged terrain of the Cumberland Plateau. Visitors can enjoy approximately 125,000 acres of rocky gorges and forested areas adjacent to the Cumberland River. This unique area offers five developed campgrounds to experience a custom getaway adventure. While the visitor’s center is currently closed to in-person traffic due to the pandemic, exploring the natural features and campsites in this beautiful area is not off limits. Blue Heron is a spacious campsite in the Kentucky portion of Big South Fork that offers a total of 45 sites, all featuring water and electric hook-ups, picnic tables, fire rings, restroom facilities and a dump station. Sites are available via reservations between April and October, and are also available on a “first come, first serve” basis. Fifteen miles down the road in Oneida, Tennessee, Bandy Creek offers similar amenities among its 181 campsites. Alum Ford offers a more primitive experience, featuring six sites with picnic table and fire rings. Only pit toilets are available, and the site does not feature accessible drinking water. The popular Sheltowee National Recreation Trail also passes through this site. Big South Fork also offers two well-maintained and highly developed equestrian campgrounds, Bear Creek (KY) and Station Camp (TN). Both sites offer modern needs for water, electricity, tables, grills, tie-outs for horses, restrooms, dump stations, horse trails and wi-fi. A friendly caution that no outside wood should brought into the sites due to non-native insects that can be transported on firewood. Proper food storage is recommended for all sites, as Big South Fork is a residence for black bears. Reservations for sites can be made through National Recreation Reservation Service by calling 1-877-444-6777, or online at www.recreation.gov.
PHOTO FURNISHED
Camping options at Red River Gorge range from undeveloped backcountry sites along trails (Auxier Ridge pictured above) to more developed sites such as Koomer Ridge, which are more easily accessible and allow campers to sleep near their cars.
Red River Gorge Drive time from Lexington: Approximately 75 minutes www.redrivergorge.com • (606) 663-8100 The Red River Gorge is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in the region, and for good reason: Located about 60 miles east of Lexington, this unique scenic area within the Daniel Boone National Forest is bursting with unique geological features. It is relatively easy to access, and offers a variety of hiking trails, camping spots and adventure options for nature-seekers of all types, from casual hikers to adrenaline-seeking rock climbers. The 29,000 acres of the Red River Gorge — commonly referred to as “The Gorge” — offers over 30 different official trailheads, with hiking and climbing options in a wide range of lengths and difficulties. If you’re looking to turn your visit into a weekend-long nature excursion, The Gorge offers a variety of camping options, a handful of which we’ve outlined below. The area also features several privately owned campsites, which you can easily find by searching online. Koomer Ridge is a popular, semi-primitive campsite overseen by the U.S. Forest Service that offers the best of both worlds: a shaded, forested setting with basic creature comforts such as restrooms, showers and potable water. The only developed campground near the Gorge within a natural forested setting, Koomer Ridge features 54 tent sites and 14 primitive RV sites, all of which are “first come first served” (be aware there are no water or electric hook-ups and no dump station).
PHOTO FURNISHED
Alum Ford campground at Big South Fork offers a more primitive experience than many of the area’s other sites.
If you’re looking for a more “backcountry” experience, which requires more planning and careful packing, dispersed camping within the Gorge is typically permitted so long as campers follow specific guidelines, such as no camping within 300 feet of streams, trails, roads and parking lots; practicing proper food-storage techniques; and other Leave No Trace principles. Auxier Ridge, Silvermine Trail and Swift Camp Creek are a few popular trails/areas that feature good backcountry camping options for backpackers, but the route options for backcountry camping are numerous. Permits must be obtained in advance for all dispersed camping, and it’s important to plan your route very carefully and to be sure you are knowledgeable about the location of water sources, etc. n
CHEVYCHASER.COM & SOUTHSIDERMAGAZINE.COM || SEPTEMBER 2020
24-38 camping hickman - seb.indd 35
35
8/28/20 10:33 PM