- Address: 1015 Big Ridge Road Maynardville, TN 37807
- Backcountry campsites: 3 (permit required)
- Easy day hikes
- Dog-friendly
- Water sources (Norris Dam)
- Hammock-friendly
Off I-75 and through country roads and farmland, you’ll find Big Ridge on the Union County side of Norris Lake. If you’ve never heard of Big Ridge, there’s probably a reason why. It’s a bit off the cuff, which can be a positive quality. It means it has fewer tourists compared to some of the other local state parks.
When planning our first hike to Big Ridge, we weren’t sure just what to expect. I usually research extensively before every trip. But I had a really tough time mentally preparing for this one, because there wasn’t much information available about Big Ridge online (or I couldn’t make sense of it).
And that’s basically the point of this blog. Hopefully my experiences (good, bad and ugly) will be a resource for other amateur backpackers.
THE PARK
All parks are slightly different. For example, Big Ridge doesn’t label the backcountry camping sites on its maps online. You also can’t make reservations online. On one trip, we decided to go camping on a Friday night. However, because the park ranger’s office closes at 4:30 p.m., I called ahead asking how I could get a backcountry camping permit. The receptionist said I could call the ranger when we got here or just leave a handwritten note at the office…
The park itself reminds me of a city park. When you pull in, you’ll likely see families picnicking or children on bicycles. It’s almost odd to see backpackers coming out of the woods where people are also playing soccer.
THE MAP
Remember when I said backcountry campsites aren’t designated on any maps online? That’s because they’re carefully marked on a hand drawn map. Seriously.
This map may look simple, but you’ll want to carry it along with the with you.
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES
You’ll notice the circle surrounded by dots marked on the map. Those are the 3 campsites. We’ve only ever camped overnight at the Dark Hollow West location, but there’s also a campsite along Dark Hollow East and along Indian Rock (toward Sharp’s Station). Backcountry Campsite #1 is nestled off the Dark Hollow trail. There’s a creek nearby (can be low due to drought conditions). There’s also several trees that are perfect for hammock camping. Stars peek through the trees. Occasionally, you’ll hear the sound of planes flying by, but we’ve also heard owls.
Pro tip: Don’t be fooled by makeshift camp areas along the trails. We’ve seen campfires where people have set up a spot, but the backcountry sites are clearly marked (with a wooden sign).
TRAILS
There are about a dozen trails at Big Ridge that are relatively short. Generally, hikers link several of them together to go on a loop.
You’ll find the trailhead across from the softball/soccer field. To get to the Backcountry Campsite #1, you’ll take Lake Trail (0.5 miles) > cross Big Ridge Dam (0.25) > follow West Dark Hollow (0.7 miles).
I would imagine without 40 pounds on your back, this would be a fairly easy climb. But it probably took us a good hour to get to the campsite (stopping every now and then to take pictures or rest/drink water). The view of Norris Dam is breathtaking, and you can even walk down the bank. Our dogs loved wading in the water.
One trip, M and I decided to take a different route to Campsite #1: Lake Trail (0.5) > Big Ridge Dam (0.25) > Lake Trail (1.0) > Ghost House Trail (0.6) > Big Valley Trail (0.7) > Dark Hollow West (0.9).
That was probably the worst hike we have ever experience. We started with a pretty view of the lake perimeter (Lake Trail) and even stopped to check out the Snodderly cemetery. Ghost House Trail was a disappointment (to be fair, the description does mention there are no structures anymore). But our biggest gripe was the Big Valley Trail, which felt like climbing a never-ending staircase. The highest elevation along this trail is 1200, but it might as well have been Mt. Everest to us.
OVERALL
This is probably one of our favorite parks to visit. It’s just 45 or so minutes from Knoxville, few people around and a wealth of sights. I’d even call it a hidden gem.
Tennessee Backpacker 