Nichol Creek Farms is surrounded by some of the most awe-inspiring lands in the world, with pristine forests that still remain just as they were when pioneers like Daniel Boone first explored them. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area – land that will never change – encompasses 125,000 acres of heavily forested, often rough terrain that offers multiple opportunities for adventure.

Unlike more well-known parks in the Carolinas, the Big South Fork is seldom crowded and it’s easy to imagine sharing the forest with the Cherokee or Shawnee hunters who once prowled them. The river itself cuts a 600-foot gorge through the plateau with more than 80 miles of navigable river offering everything from whitewater rapids suitable only for expert paddlers to slow glides through gorgeous terrain perfect for a lazy summer afternoon.

Back ashore, more than 180 miles of marked trails beckon hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers with either family-oriented fun or challenging escapades. Marked equestrian paths offer both easy trails over flat terrain steep challenging climbs for highly skilled riders. Several trails built and maintained by the Big South Fork Mountain Bike Club are open to bikers only, but bikes also are allowed on highway edges, and backcountry roads . All trails are designed in segments so they can be a short easy trip or a longer, more arduous multi-day adventure.

And if, with remarkable dedication and commitment, you manage to explore all of the Big South Fork, another dozen state parks are located nearby with more rivers to raft, gorges to climb and trails to discover. Anyone who loves the outdoors will never be bored on the Cumberland Plateau!