Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area Custom Search The free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries pass through 90 miles of scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide range of natural and historic features. The area offers a broad range of recreational opportunities including camping, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, hunting and fishing. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with its experience in managing river basins, was charged with land acquisition, planning and development of facilities. Now completed, these lands and facilities are operated and maintained by the National Park Service for the benefit and use of the public.    CONTACTS Email - BISO_Information@nps.gov Fax- (423) 569-5505 Write to 4564 Leatherwood Road Oneida, TN 37841 Phone Headquarters - (423) 569-9778 Visitor Information - (423) 286-7275 Visitor Information - (606) 376-5073 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park is open year around. The Bandy Creek Visitor Center is open daily, except Christmas. Visitor Center hours are 8:00 to 4:30 from November through May and 8:00 to 6:00 from June through October (eastern time). The Kentucky Visitor Center is open daily from May through October from 9:00 to 5:30. From November through April hours may vary. Calling ahead is suggested. Getting There PLANE - The closest commercial airports are in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee and Lexington, Kentucky. CAR - The area is most easily reached by car. Southbound on I-75 take KY 461 south to KY 80, take 80 west to U.S. 27, take 27 south to Oneida and follow TN 297 west into the park. From I-75 northbound, take TN 63 west to U.S. 27, take 27 north to Oneida and follow TN 297 west into the park. From I-40 westbound, exit at U.S. 27, travel north to Oneida and follow TN 297 west into the park. From I-40 eastbound, exit at U.S 127 and travel north to TN 154, take 154 north to TN 297 and follow take 297 east into the park. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - No Public Transportation is available. Weather & Climate The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is located in a humid climatic region, typified by mild winters and moist warm to hot summers. Storm systems typically bring heavy rains from December through March which may cause flooding. Summer thunderstorms are common. Winter snowfall occurs intermittently in the area and averages 17 inches per year. Wear comfortable clothing for the season and bring clothing for the possible extremes. Accessibility Bandy Creek and Blue Heron Campgrounds offer accessible camp sites and restroom/shower buildings. The Bandy Creek and Kentucky Visitor Centers area both accessible. Leatherwood Ford Trailhead offers a short trail up to the Bandy Creek Rapids which is designed to be accessible to all users. Getting Around Personal vehicle, 4-wheel drive vehicle, bicycle and horse. CAMPING Alum Ford Open All Year Alum Ford provides 8 primitive sites, portable toilets but no drinking water. For More Information on this campground please call (606) 376-5073 Bandy Creek Campground Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Open All Year Bandy Creek Campground offers 100 sites with water and electric, 50 tent sites and two group camping area, restrooms, showers, dump station and swimming pool. Bandy Creek Campground offers handicapped accessible sites. Reservations for the Bandy Creek Campground and group sites are available between April 1 and October 31, walk-ins are also permitted. For More Information on this campground please call (423) 286-8368 Blue Heron Campground Make Reservations by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP Blue Heron Campground offers 45 sites with water and electric, restrooms, showers and dump station. The campground offers handicapped accessible sites. Blue Heron Campground will become a part of the National Park Service Reservations system in 2001. For More Information on this campground please call (606) 376-2611 LODGING Charit Creek Lodge Open All Year Charit Creek Lodge is a concessions operation within Big South Fork NRRA. The lodge is a backcountry facility accessible only by foot or horseback. Charit Creek offers full service accommodations, but no phones or electricity. For More Information on this lodging please call (865) 429-5704 FACILITIES Museums BLUE HERON MINING COMMUNITY Open All Year Phone - 606-376-3787 Location - Blue Heron Mining Community is located 9 miles west of Stearns, Kentucky, on Hwy 742. Exhibits - Blue Heron, or Mine 18, is an abandoned coal mining town. It was a part of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company's past operation in what today is the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service. Most of what we know about life at Blue Heron, and the other Stearns coal towns, has been handed down by oral history. Blue Heron mine operated from 1937 until December, 1962, when it closed. During that time, hundreds of people lived and worked in the isolated community on the banks of the Big South Fork River. Their story is the focus of this interpretive tour of the Blue Heron Community. Available Facilities - Restrooms and vending machines are on site. Food service is available during hours of operation of the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. Blue Heron Campground is located 3 miles east of Blue Heron Mining Community. Visitor Centers BANDY CREEK Phone - (423) 286-7275 Location - Bandy Creek Visitor Center is located 2 miles off Hwy 297. The center is approximately 15 miles west of Oneida, Tennessee and 25 miles east of Jamestown, Tennessee. Closures - Bandy Creek Visitor Center is closed Christmas Day. Special Programs - Summer evening programs on Saturday night from Memorial Day through September. Special events throughout the year including Pioneer Encampments, Astronomy Programs and the 'Haunting in the Hills' Storytelling Festival. Exhibits - Exhibits located in the center serve to orient visitors to the park's recreational opportunities as well as opportunities existing in neighboring counties. Available Facilities - Eastern National maintains a bookstore in the Bandy Creek Visitor Center. STEARNS VISTOR CENTER Phone - (606) 376-5073 Location - Located on KY 92, 1/2 mile west off Hwy 27. Closures - Open only on weekends from November through March. Calling ahead is suggested. Available Facilities - Eastern National maintains a bookstore at the Stearns Visitor Center.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.   Campgrounds Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Bandy Creek Campground, Scott County, 13 miles away Charit Creek Campground, Scott County, 15 miles away Big South Fork Lodge Campground and Motel, Jamestown, 17 miles away Great Meadow Campground, McCreary County, 17 miles away Saddle Valley Campground, Jamestown, 18 miles away Big South Fork - True West, Jamestown, 18 miles away   Hotels Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Comfort Inn Pioneer, Pioneer , 19 miles away Super 8 Caryville TN, Caryville , 23 miles away Hampton Inn Caryville, Caryville , 24 miles away Days Inn Jellico - Tennessee State Line, Jellico , 26 miles away Hampton Inn Williamsburg, Williamsburg , 26 miles away Cumberland Inn, Williamsburg , 27 miles away Super 8 Williamsburg, Williamsburg , 27 miles away   Trails Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Laurel Creek Trail, McCreary County , 14 miles away Racoon Loop, McCreary County , 17 miles away Deer Loop, McCreary County , 17 miles away Hidden Passage Trail, Pickett County , 20 miles away   Ski Areas Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Ober Gatlinburg, Tennessee , 79 miles away, 600 foot drop, 3 lifts, 8 runs   Whitewater Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Pine Creek, Scott County , 7 miles away, Class IV-V - 1.62 miles long (Close to Toonley to Leatherwood Ford) New River, Scott County , 7 miles away, Class II-III - 8.9 miles long (US 27 Bridge to Clear Fork River) Roaring Paunch River, McCreary County , 9 miles away, Class IV-V+ - 3 miles long (Barthell to Big South Fork) Cumberland River - Big South Fork, Scott County , 11 miles away, Class II-IV - 10.2 miles long (Burnt Mill Bridge over Clear Fork to Bridge at Leatherwood Ford) Cumberland River - Big South Fork, McCreary / Whitley County , 11 miles away, Class II - 12 miles long (Station Camp to Lake Cumberland)   Public Lands Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Obed Wild & Scenic River, Wartburg - TN , 26 miles away Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee , 18 miles away Pickett State Park, Tennessee , 20 miles away Cumberland Falls State Park, Kentucky , 22 miles away Cove Lake State Park, Tennessee , 23 miles away   Golf Courses Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area: Town Of Oneida Municipal Golf, Oneida , 2 miles away   Lakes Near Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area Laurel Creek Reservoir, McCreary County , 12 miles away