Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Big South Fork - Angel Falls Overlook The "falls" is actually a dangerous set of rapids in the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River. The falls are not visible in this picture. Hikers can hear the rushing water from this vantage point. This is not a good hike for small children, the high cliffs have no protective railings. Angel Falls Overlook is my husband's favorite destination in the area.
This is one of the bunkrooms at Charit Creek Lodge. There's not a lot of privacy, so it's probably not the best choice for a honeymoon! ;)There is no electricity in the lodge, so kerosene lamps provide light at night. The heat source is the woodburning stove. There are also cabins available at the lodge.
The steep 1.2 mile side trail hike was worth the spectacular view from the top of the John Muir Overlook. I would love to see this in the fall! The flat, light green area in the lower part of the valley is an old farm site. There is a cemetary in the woods behind it. We didn't have time to check it out though, it was getting late and we didn't want to hike out by flashlight. The problem with hiking in December is the short daylight time.
These steep, narrow steps at Twin Arches are not for the faint of heart or legs! This was taken from the top of the North Arch and we are descending to go under the arches. There are lots of steps and ladders in this area of the park! Some of the ladders are so steep they even have wire cages over them.
are one of the major landmarks of the park. These huge sandstone and conglomerate arches are next to each other in a large rock wall. This is not a good hike for families with small children. There are no barriers at the top of the arches which could result in a 100 foot fall! There are lots of very steep steps to climb too. So, unless you can carry a child on your back, it would be wise to skip this trail.
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
is located partially in Scott and Fentress counties in TN and partially in Kentucky. The southern part of the park is accessible through Oneida, TN by I-75. It is a great park for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. There are many wildflowers in the park. map... This bridge is on the 3-mile Angel Falls Overlook trail.
My friend, Charlie, called on an unseasonably warm day in mid-December 2006 asking if I wanted to hike to Maude's Crack and then to The John Muir Overlook. The crazy name Maude's Crack has interested me for a long time, so I had to check it out! That point at the left edge of the cliff on the opposite side of the ridge is the John Muir Overlook. That is our destination! map...
Unlike most national parks, Big South Fork is open to many different types of recreation. This trail sign indicates the area is open to off-road vehicles, horseback riding, horse or mule drawn wagons, and hiking. Many trails in the park are open to mountain biking too. One of the major types of recreation in the park is canoeing, kayaking and rafting on the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.