Big South Fork Bike Trip

Middle Fork Equestrian Trailhead

Big South Fork

11/15 - 11/17/21 (2 nights)

2021 Bag Nights: 39

CalTopo says about 65 miles and ~5000' of elevation

Will and I had been talking about doing a bikepacking trip and ended up deciding that Big South Fork looked like a good idea.

All cellphone photos since I wasn't sure how to carry my real camera and I didn't think Will would want to wait.

Black House Mountain Road

Over-engineered toilet on the side of the road

Store 14 Cutoff Road

Entering the Daniel Boone on Parkers Mountain Road (I don't know why I took a pic of his butt with the sign)

Parkers Mountain Road

Looking East, I wish the light was better

Another overlook, looking West

Another overlook, looking South

Camp along Rock Creek (just down the road from Great Meadows Campground). 

Almost full moon rising and a nice campfire

Next morning, a beautiful day, but still no sun.

One-lane bridge over Rock Creek

Footbridge over Rock Creek

Tree growing in/through a concrete pipe

We stashed the bikes and hiked the short distance to Koger Arch for lunch

Looking down at Blue Heron

Interesting pair of bugs, I assume they are mating

I liked the informal carving on this tombstone

Roadside arch, not sure of the name

We took a side trail and found a hunter's camp with a huge stack of firewood under a tarp and some benches, great place to spend the night.

Almost full moon

A planet, probably Jupiter

Sunrise through the trees

We took a side trail that was labeled as a wagon road on the map, we figured if a wagon could do it, so could we. Parts were very nice and parts were rocky and steep, no idea how a wagon would manage.

We got to the trailhead and an older couple was unloading their wagon but they said they weren't going down that trail and were going to stick to the gravel roads. 

We loaded up, had a celebratory beer in the parking lot and then headed back home. A great trip.