200+ miles; trail difficulty – intermediate to advanced
Address: Fork Ridge Rd. Jameston, TN 38556 (See website for directions)
Phone: (865) 696 5611
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ccl-bsf.com/
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/charitcreeklodge
Here’s what you need to know:
Getting here – small gravel roads lead into parking area then ride or hike 1 mile to camp.
Parking & Trailers – small gravel roads lead to small gravel parking area, can be muddy.
Family Friendly – yes
Trail Difficulty – intermediate to advanced.
Trail Info – hike or ride in from parking lot to lodge, distant views, arches, rocky, shoes, recommended, includes big south fork trails.
Amenities – shower houses, restrooms, hay, shavings, meals provided.
Events & entertainment – family style meals, primitive, no electricity, relaxation, simple living, trail riding.
Lodging – multiple furnished cabins.
Hookups – None
Stalls – covered stalls with shavings, hay, and water.
Other/notable:
From their site
What is provided with horse stall rental?
Accommodations include: stall, hay, shavings & bucket. Stables must be cleaned before checkout. Dirty stalls will result in an additional $15 fee per stall. (A current negative coggins test is required)
*** Full pellet grain/molasses free feed only, due to the bear population.***
Do you offer horse rides or lessons?
No, we do not have horses at the lodge. We have horse stables for guests visiting on horseback.
Charit Creek Lodge is a rustic wilderness lodge located in a valley in the heart of Big South Fork. The lodge offers a unique way to experience the beauty and serenity of the park. It is accessible by hiking, biking or horseback only. Choose the shortest path of 1.1 miles or spend the day exploring the trails of Big South Fork (Trail Maps). National Geographic Illustrated Trails Map also available for purchase during booking in Merchandise.
The lodge’s buildings are National Historic Register-eligible and are among some of the oldest buildings being utilized in the National Park System. The lodge is a wonderful place to escape the modern world. While reasonably accessible, it is both peacefully isolated and remote. There are three types of accommodations available, full service, limited service and horse stabling.
The lodge is completely off the grid! Each cabin is equipped with lanterns and a wood burning stove. Comfortable beds and linens are provided. Modern restroom and shower facilities are available for all overnight guests. All cabins are private (not shared with other groups)!
Check In 3 p.m. – Checkout 11 a.m.
Dinner is served family style at 6 p.m. (ET) – Breakfast is served family style at 8 a.m. (ET)
Please be punctual for serving time! You may NOT schedule a personal meal time. Kitchen closes 1 hour after serving time. Schedule your needed travel & hike time accordingly (minimum of 30 minutes hiking from CCL parking).
Quiet Time is 10 p.m. – 7 a.m. (ET)
Charit Creek Lodge operates on EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
WHAT TO EXPECT
NO Electricity – Which means no electrical outlets, no A/C! Light will be provided at meal times by oil burning lanterns and in the cabins by propane lanterns. All other light will be provided by the flashlight YOU bring.
Cell Service – Is extremely weak in the valley at the lodge and cannot be relied upon. You will potentially have service at higher elevations such as the Charit Creek Lodge Parking Lot and the Twin Arches.
Bathrooms & Showers – Are separate free standing structures. They are not connected to your cabin. These are modernized facilities with hot showers and flush toilets.
On-Site Purchases – CCL Merchandise, beer/wine, snacks/drinks, towels and firewood are available to overnight guests. Please bring cash or check.
MEALS
Family style dinner consists of a meat entree, side, vegetables, home made bread, dessert and coffee, tea or lemonade and water. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice. Our guests rave about the menu, the main ingredient is LOVE!
Sample menu:
Cast Iron Skillet Grilled Chicken
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese
Green Bean Casserole
Spicy Turnip Greens
Candied Yams
Fresh Baked Cornbread
Peach Cobbler
For breakfast you can expect eggs, sausage or bacon, pancakes or biscuits, juice and coffee.
Dinner is served family style at 6 p.m. Eastern Time – Breakfast is served family style 8 a.m. Eastern Time.
Coffee is available in the dining hall before Breakfast.
Please be punctual for serving time! You may NOT schedule a personal meal time. Kitchen closes 1 hour after serving time. Schedule your needed travel & hike time accordingly (minimum of 30 minutes hiking from CCL parking).
Please Note:
Vegetarian meals are available. They are determined by what is on hand or in season. To order a vegetarian meal (includes eggs), specify in the notes during the booking process. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate gluten free, lactose free or allergy specific meals. All meals are prepared and served family style. Please be punctual for meal time, the kitchen closes 1 hour after serving time.
HOW TO PREPARE
Please bring your own towel and soap ($5 towel rental now available), due to our remoteness there are no laundry facilities on-site. You will also need a canteen or water bottle, bug spray, flashlight, rain gear, sturdy shoes and light backpack filled with your overnight necessities. First aid kit and camera are also good ideas. Dress according to the season. Cabins are heated by wood burning stove during the winter months & WARM blankets are provided for guests! All cabins contain one cooler.
DOG POLICY
Dogs are welcome at Charit Creek Lodge at a rate of $5 per night! The National Park Service enforces a leash law. Please clean up after your dog around the lodge. Dogs are not allowed on beds or in the dining hall.
BEAR AWARENESS
Bears are prevalent in Big South Fork and active in the area of Charit Creek Lodge. Bears have become the subject of intense management efforts, so they do not have to pay for human mistakes with their lives. If you see a bear please inform us so we can file an observation report with the Park. Learn more here Black Bears in the Big South Fork.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE LODGE
Q. What time zone is the lodge located?
A. The lodge is located in the Eastern Time Zone and operates as such. If you are traveling from a different time zone, please adjust your timepiece and schedule accordingly. Meals are served on Eastern Time!
Q. Can I drive my vehicle to the lodge for any reason?
A. Under NO circumstances can you drive a vehicle of any type & for any reason to the lodge.
Q. Is there cell reception at the lodge or an emergency contact?
A. There is very limited cellular reception at the lodge. You may have 1 bar with Verizon, although there is a strong signal with most carriers in higher elevations such as the parking lot, the Twin Arches & Charit Creek Overlook. There is no emergency contact phone.
Q. What is the hike like to get to the lodge?
A. The hike is 1.1 miles to the lodge. It is moderate to difficult depending on your fitness, due to the elevation climb on your way out. The lodge is located on the valley floor, while the trailhead/parking lot is on the ridge top. You will encounter one set of steep ladder type steps and a swinging bridge over Station Camp Creek.
Q. How do I add additional items when creating a booking
A. Click on the “Add to Booking” button, you will be taken back to the reservation page. Select the appropriate tab and select next item. Repeat as necessary.
Q. How do I apply my gift certificate or cancellation credit?
A. Gift certificate codes or cancellation credits are located on the bottom of the pdf emailed to you. This code is then applied at check out:
Q. If we are a small group, would we be sharing a cabin with strangers?
A. No, all reservations are for private accommodations for your specific group (NOT SHARED), full service or limited service.
Q. How do I check availability?
A. Using our online reservation system.
Q. Is it possible to book a cabin and add guests later?
A. Our policy is group booking. Please make every effort to book your initial reservation as a complete group. There is a $5 fee per guest to add guests to an existing booking.
Q. Can we have individual billing?
A. Individual billing is not available at this time. Please arrange payments within your group and have your group leader make your reservation using our online reservation system. Accepted methods of payment are credit card or paypal.
Q. Can I reserve a date without booking?
A. No, to reserve a cabin you must make your reservation with full payment using our online reservation system.
Q. What if I want to purchase add-on items while I’m at the lodge?
A. Additional purchases for merchandise or alcohol can be purchased on-site with CHECK (no cash is kept on-site for change). *If possible, do your best to add these items while making your reservation online (prior to your visit).
Q. Do I need to bring soap or a towel?
A. Yes! You will need to pack both a towel & soap for showers. Premium extra large bath towels are now available at $5 per person per stay!
Q. Is there really no electrical outlets?
A. Really, there is no electricity. We are completely off the grid. Enjoy being unplugged. Bring a flashlight!
Q. Can I fill my water bottle?
A. Yes, there is safe drinking water at the Lodge. The water spigot is located at the sink near the managers quarters.
Q. How do I stay warm in the winter?
A. Cabins are heated with a wood burning stove & warm blankets are provided for full service guests.
FOOD/MEALS
Q. Can you accommodate gluten free, lactose free or allergy specific meals?
A. Unfortunately no, we cannot accommodate gluten free, lactose free or allergy specific meals. All meals are prepared & served family style.
Q. Are vegetarian options available?
A. Yes, vegetarian meals can be prepared, but will include eggs. This will be determined by what is on hand or in season. To order a vegetarian meal, specify in the notes during the booking process.
HORSES
Q. What is provided with horse stall rental?
A. Accommodations include: stall, hay, shavings & bucket. Stables must be cleaned before checkout. Dirty stalls will result in an additional $15 fee per stall. (A current negative coggins test is required)
*** Full pellet grain/molasses free feed only, due to the bear population.***
Q. Do you offer horse rides or lessons?
A. No, we do not have horses at the lodge. We have horse stables for guests visiting on horseback.
TRANSPORTATION
Q. Where do I park?
A. In the parking lot. There are two lots at the end of Fork Ridge Rd. One for hikers/bikers and one for horses.
Q. Can I arrange for transportation to the lodge?
A. No, we are a back country lodge only accessible by hiking, biking or horseback.
POLICIES
Q. What is the smoking policy?
A. No smoking is allowed in any of the buildings or on any of the porches. Remember you are in a remote wilderness area and all buildings are made of wood. The Lodge has limited firefighting capabilities, so please use caution when extinguishing cigarettes, cigars and pipes.
Q. Are pets allowed?
A. Yes, well trained dogs are allowed at $5 per dog, per night. The National Park Service enforces a leash law. Pets are not allowed in the dining hall or in the beds. Please clean up after your pet around the lodge.
Q. How do I cancel my booking?
A. E-mail [email protected] to cancel your booking & include your full name and booking ID if possible. Please see POLICIES page for full cancellation policy and related fees.
ACTIVITIES
Q. What is there to do?
A. Take a hike, bike or horseback. Play horse shoes, corn hole or bocce ball. Bird watch. Hunt mushrooms. Roast s’mores over an open fire. Tell a story or two. View sunset/sunrise from the overlook or Twin Arches. Soak your seat in the creek. Take an interpretive history tour. Stargaze. Relax & unwind. The Lodge provides games and reading materials.
