Hiking at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area!

Hike Along the John Muir Trail and to the twin Arches!

     Sunday my wife and I took our 4 year old grandson to the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Oneida, Tennessee! It was a fantastic day weather wise, which is always nice!  As we entered the park on Hwy. 297 our first stop was at the East Rim Overlook. It is on the edge of the Big South Fork Gorge. The overlook offers great views of the Big South Fork River and the surrounding Cumberland Plateau. There is plenty of parking, and rest rooms at the overlook Well worth the stop!

     Our next stop was Leatherford Ford. Which offers visitors the opportunity to experience the Big South Fork River. There is plenty of parking, restrooms, picnic area's and access to the river for paddlers, and numerous trails for hikers along the river for a nice serene hike. Me and the grandson took the John Muir Trail along the river to hike to Angel Falls. We only went about 2 miles one way and returned back to Leatherford Ford because I didn't want to leave the wife alone to long, we were gone about two hours. So we didn't quite make it to the falls, which are about 2.8 miles down that trail. After doing that hike, we discovered a paved trail on the parking lot side that went to the falls and was an easier hike, but who knew, next time! If you go on the John Muir trail from Leatherford Ford, you must cross the automobile bridge and descend down stairs to the trail. The walking bridge is closed to hikers because of repairs needed! We had a great hike on the JMT. It was very quiet and serene as I had stated earlier! Just bring some bug spray to keep the nats and skeeters off you!

     

Beavers at work?

     That pretty much concluded our hike along the JMT. Hope to get back and do more hiking, maybe all the way to Angel Falls next time, lol! They are not actual waterfalls as you would think, but more of a series of rapids rushing between rocks and boulders.

     Our next and final stop for the day, because of time constraints, we drove west on 297 to 154 and headed north to The Twin Arches Trail. You have to turn off onto Divide Road from 154, which is a gravel road, but not bad at all. Then you have to turn onto Twin Arches Road, another gravel Road to the trail-head!

     We got to the parking area for the trail-head, which also has rest rooms available, just so you know, lol!

Now let me just say, it is a great hike to the top and bottom of the twin arches, but let me forewarn you, YOU BETTER LIKE DOING STAIRS! They have some steep steps either way you go on the loop trail. It is only .7 miles each way from the trail-head to the arches and .7 back. If you take your time and don't mind the stairs you can do the hike though. My 4 year old grandson had no problem. The Twin Arches are considered the largest in the Park, and quite possibly in the Eastern U.S.  These pictures are from the hike to to the Arches and back, They did not load in order though, sorry!

View from on top of one of the Arches!

View on the way up to the top!

Yes, this is part of the trail to the top of the Arches!

Not quite the top, but it looks like it!

Straight down, keep an Eye on Kids the whole time!

Yep...we gots to climb that too!

Just some moss growing on the ground!

Some of the stairs!

Top set of stairs! Steep steps, take your time, you can do it!

Looks like a long way down, just remember, you gotta come back up either this set or another set on the other trail.

A part of a set of stairs on the way back!

Off to the the right of the trail.

At the beginning of the trail.

Off to the the right of the trail.

Off to the the right of the trail.

At the beginning of the trail.

     The rest of the pics are from the Arches and back up to the parking area! Beautiful sight, well worth the hike.

    

     We had a great time, and would love to come back sometime soon to see more sights. We missed a lot, but did not have the time to take it all in. Lots to do here. Check out the website at: http://www.nps.gov/biso/index.htm
      Bandy Creek Campground is located off Highway 297, just down from the Leatherford Ford area.. The campground offers a total of 180 campsites, 100 trailer sites which offer water and electric hook-ups, 49 sites for tent camping, and two group campsites. All campsites include picnic tables, fire-rings, access to restrooms and showers and a dump station. The group campsites also have their own cook shelters and campfire circles.

     Bandy Creek Campground is open year-round and operates on a reservation system from April 1 through October 31. Reservations may be made up to five months in advance by calling (800) 365-2267 - Code: 244 (BIG), or on-line by visiting http://reservations.nps.gov/index.cfm.  Campsites are also available on a first-come/first-served basis throughout the year.
     Thanks for checking in on my blog. I hope you enjoy seeing our travels and hope you come back often and check out our future travels and things! Thanks again, now go take a hike!