Insider Tips
This area is especially popular with riders during the spring, summer, and fall. This is a remote area, so prepare accordingly. Bring extra drinking water, clothing, and snacks. Carry appropriate gear, such as a rain slicker, as thunderstorms are common in the summer. Note that cell-phone service is poor to nonexistent.
The weather is hot and humid in the summer, and ticks, chiggers, flies, and bees are part of life in the region. Depending on the time of year you visit, insect repellent is a must for both you and your horse. If you're allergic to bee stings, pack the necessary medication.
To refurbish your camper cupboard and refrigerator along the way, stop in Oneida or Jamestown (Tennessee) or Monticello (Kentucky). For horse feed, stop at Scott Morgan Coop, a few blocks south of Highway 297 on Highway 27 in Oneida. There are also several feed stores coming in from Jamestown. One is Horse Stuff Etc. Inc., located on Highway 154.
There are several tack stores in Jamestown and Oneida, but South Fork Tack on Highway 297, 12 miles east of Bandy Creek on the edge of Oneida, has everything imaginable. Set back from the road and looking more like someone's old shed from the outside, you'll be in for a great surprise to see the store's offerings. (There's room for parking your rig.)
If you plan on trailering out to trailheads, top off your fuel tank at Jamestown or Oneida in Tennessee or Monticello, Kentucky. You won't find much fuel after those towns.
If you make plans by the clock, keep in mind that BSF is split between Central and Eastern Time Zones.
Things to Do
There are many local sights to see, but they do take away from your time riding, so chose carefully. There are the historic towns of Rugby and Blue Heron (a 1950s mining community), and, at Stearns Depot, you can take a 16-mile train ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Or drive to a historic, preserved homestead within BSF, just a short drive down the road from Bandy Creek Campground.
If you're a multi-recreationalist, you can hike and mountain bike. Water enthusiasts can kayak, raft, and canoe on the Cumberland River, North White Creek, Clear Fork, or the New River. You can also fish and swim.
Since horses aren't permitted in the fragile areas around the sandstone arches and formations, you may want to take a hike to see these remarkable sites. For an unusual, fun experience, take a short guided hike to view rare glow worms one evening in Pickett State Park. They're visible only from late spring to mid-summer.
There are a few neighborly restaurants. Willie Lee's General Store, at the west entrance on Highway 297, and Uncle Dale's Trading Post toward Oneida on 297, offer meals, as well as groceries and supplies to take back to your camper. You can get in and out easily with your rig, so that's a plus.
For finer dining, try Bacaras Restaurant, which offers German-American food. It's located at the west end, near Willie Lee's, but on Wheeler Lane, a side road off of Highway 297. Don't be in a hurry when you go to Bacaras though, especially if it's busy.
