Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area

Visitor Centers:
Visitor center hours vary by season. Note that the park spans two time zones. To see current operating hours, visit the park's website.

• Headquarters Building: Open 8 am to 4:30 pm ET, Monday through Friday.
• Bandy Creek Visitor Center: Open 8 am to 6 pm ET, Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. Open 9 am to 5 pm ET during the winter. Closed on Christmas.
• Crossville Visitor Center: Open 9 am to 5 pm CT, weekends.
• Rugby Visitor Contact Station: Open 9 am to 5 pm ET, weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
• Helenwood Visitor Center: Open 9 am to 5 pm ET, weekends.
• Blue Heron Interpretive Center: Open daily from 9:30 to 3:30 ET, April 1 through October 1.
• Stearns Visitor Contact Station: Open 9 am to 5 pm ET, weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.

Fees & Passes
There is no entrance fee to Big South Fork NRRA. However, there are several types of user fees. To learn more about these additional fees, visit the park's website.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some facilities are closed or have reduced hours during the winter.

Camping:
Big South Fork contains five developed campgrounds, including two equestrian camps. The various campgrounds offer a range of amenities and more information can be found here.

• Bandy Creek Campground (TN): 96 hook up sites. 49 non-hook upsites. 2 group sites. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
• Blue Heron Campground (KY): 45 sites. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
• Bear Creek Horse Camp (KY): 23 sites. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
• Alum Ford Campground (KY): 6 sites. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis.
• Station Camp Horse Camp (TN): 24 sites. Reservations can be made online or by calling (931) 319-6893.

Lodging:
Charit Creek Lodge is located in the Station Camp Creek drainage and offers a full range of amenities including cabin and dormitory rentals, meals, restrooms and showers. Access to the lodge is by foot, bike, or horse only. For more information or to make reservations, visit Charit Creek Lodge's website or call (865) 696-5611.

There are no restaurants located within the park, but there are a variety of dining options located in the nearby towns. For more information on dining options in the Big South Fork region, click here.

Guided Tours:
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area offers a wide variety of ranger-led programs designed to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the park. Programs are offered at various locations fro Memorial Day through Labor Day, and all ranger-led programs are free and open to the public. Visit the park's website to see the current events calendar and to learn more about special events.

Additionally, if you are interested in other guided opportunities, be sure to check out the park's recommended list of outfitters and guide services for a host of activities ranging from guided river tours to backwoods adventures to wilderness shuttle tours. More information can be found here. Another unique way to see the park is to take a ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. More information on the railway, rates, and purchasing tickets, can be found at the here.

The recreational opportunities in Big South Fork are seemingly endless, and visitors can choose from a long list of ways to explore the park and the surrounding areas. From hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and kyaking, there are many ways to explore all that the park has to offer. Be sure to check out the amazing mountain biking and rock climbing in the area. If you are looking for further recreational opportunities nearby, the Obed Wild and Scenic River, Dale Hollow Lake, Historic Rugby, and a variety of local state parks offer visitors additional opportunities to explore this great area. Visit Big South Fork's website for more information.

To download a variety of free brochures to help plan your visit, click here.