Big Ridge State Park

Camped at Big Ridge over the weekend. We arrived around 5 and was able to snag the very last spot that did not have a ticket attached to it. I did however notice that there were spots that had tickets on them where no one was setup at. I checked the dates and they were dated with that current day on them, so they must have been put up that same day. I also saw campers set up in the handicap sites that in no way looked handicap to me. They were much nicer and larger sites, but I always try to play fair and leave those to those who might actually be limited in their mobility. I guess the rangers don't enforce the handicap rules. My impression is that since its pretty much a self service campground that these tickets were falsely put up by the neighbors saving spots for their buddies. It would be simple enough to do... grab a blank envelope, just rip the site tag off, place it on a site for your friend and when he gets there let him or her fill out the legit envelope and replace the bogus site tag with the legit one with a matching money envelope in the depository. We drove through Norris Dam campground and they at least make it harder for "the buddy system" as there, you find a site, setup, and a ranger comes around to fill out your site ticket and collect the money. The sites seemed very tight and close to the road. Ok... enough ranting on the parks unfair system.... The park itself seemed very well kept. The hiking trails were nice with lots to see. On our hike, my daughter caught a small bass with her net in a stream that looked like in her words "the other fish were picking on it" so she put it in her bucket and we hiked looking for a nicer place to set it free... "I ended up carrying that fish another 3 or so miles through the woods till we finally made it back to the lake." It looked as though it was almost dead by the time we made it there, but it started to swim again .... there was our good deed 4 the day. "I hope the fish enjoyed the hike!"... Ok... I've got to get this off my chest as well.... the main reason we went to Big Ridge this weekend was the "Ghost Walk" I learned of it on their TN State Park website. Its a guided hike with the ranger where in Oct. they tell ghost stories about the park on a night hike. I bragged to the kids that it was going to be fun and they were hyped about it. Turns out and they don't mention this on the site.... that you have to reserve ahead of time a place on the hike. The ranger will only allow so many people to come. I was told when I called about the next day... They had been taking reservations since Sept. and they did have opening for "The 26th" in 2 weeks. I explained that we lived 2 hours away and we had camped there for that specific event, and if they had included "reservations required" on the website we would have known to call ahead... but the park office lady didn't want to maken an exeption. FYI... call ahead at least 2 weeks. Big Ridge just fell to the bottom of the list. Oh, well... the kids got over it because we were able to get on a Pontoon boat ride that the Norris Dam was offering to see the fall colors.

I have camped at BIG RIDGE a few times.. usually for the bluegrass festival in August. I don't think you can hold a spot with just the ticket on the post. If they were dated for that day.. maybe they pulled out that day. You can only hold sites with a camper, a car or truck or tent. Not just a cooler or chair. If I saw an empty site.. with only a ticket on the post.. I would pull in and put up my own ticket.

I also saw campers set up in the handicap sites that in no way looked handicap to me. They were much nicer and larger sites, but I always try to play fair and leave those to those who might actually be limited in their mobility. I guess the rangers don't enforce the handicap rules

Since my mobility is getting worse with my hip and knee and I do have a permanate disibility placard, but i'm not in a wheelchair. I'm assuming I can camp in one of these handicap spaces, but I am not familiar with the state park's handicapped regulations/rules.............could you tell me where I might locate them or what they are?

SouthWestyKim wrote:

I also saw campers set up in the handicap sites that in no way looked handicap to me. They were much nicer and larger sites, but I always try to play fair and leave those to those who might actually be limited in their mobility. I guess the rangers don't enforce the handicap rules

Since my mobility is getting worse with my hip and knee and I do have a permanate disibility placard, but i'm not in a wheelchair. I'm assuming I can camp in one of these handicap spaces, but I am not familiar with the state park's handicapped regulations/rules.............could you tell me where I might locate them or what they are?

I don't know what they are in Tennessee, but in Virginia, all that is required is that you must have a handicapped placard.

merrykalia wrote:

SouthWestyKim wrote:

I also saw campers set up in the handicap sites that in no way looked handicap to me. They were much nicer and larger sites, but I always try to play fair and leave those to those who might actually be limited in their mobility. I guess the rangers don't enforce the handicap rules

Since my mobility is getting worse with my hip and knee and I do have a permanate disibility placard, but i'm not in a wheelchair. I'm assuming I can camp in one of these handicap spaces, but I am not familiar with the state park's handicapped regulations/rules.............could you tell me where I might locate them or what they are?

I don't know what they are in Tennessee, but in Virginia, all that is required is that you must have a handicapped placard.

same in Tennessee.. just a placard.

Familyman you still had a great time and I hope we can camp together sometime. I have done the boat ride and it was great to get so close to the Dam. We enjoy Norris Lake State Park and do a lot of fishing there also.

Darcamper wrote:Familyman you still had a great time and I hope we can camp together sometime. I have done the boat ride and it was great to get so close to the Dam. We enjoy Norris Lake State Park and do a lot of fishing there also.

Sounds good.... I was wondering does Norris Dam CG fill up on normal summer weekends? Same quesiton on Cove Lake... The earliest I could get to either CG is 5-6pm on Fridays.

I have never been to Cove Lake, from Chuck's pictures, it looks like a nice place. Do they have a nice playground? Camping with kids.... Playgrounds are always a priority... at least for them. Norris Dam East side seemed to have a nice one in the park area.

Familyman68 wrote:

Darcamper wrote:Familyman you still had a great time and I hope we can camp together sometime. I have done the boat ride and it was great to get so close to the Dam. We enjoy Norris Lake State Park and do a lot of fishing there also.

Sounds good.... I was wondering does Norris Dam CG fill up on normal summer weekends? Same quesiton on Cove Lake... The earliest I could get to either CG is 5-6pm on Fridays.

I have never been to Cove Lake, from Chuck's pictures, it looks like a nice place. Do they have a nice playground? Camping with kids.... Playgrounds are always a priority... at least for them. Norris Dam East side seemed to have a nice one in the park area.

The playgrounds are great, Fridays they get full fast after noon on a good weekend. We try to get their on Thursday, If we go one day we could try and save a space for you.

Cove lake is a good distance from us, but it is one of my kids' favorites that we have ever been to. Dar took one of my all time favorite photos of my son there, while fishing on the dock.