Big South Fork NRRA: Laurel Fork, John Muir, John Litton Farm Loop

[@copycatcarlton]

Bryan, enjoyed the video, great job as usual. That is a beautiful area. Looked like an abundance of Pink Lady Slippers, one of my favorite wild flowers. Thanks for taking us along!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Copycat Carlton! Yes, an abundance of Pink Lady Slippers.

[@nagaviper1169]

Very nice, thank you for bring us along.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks The Flying Backpack!

[@brookeshaffer4377]

Hi Bryan.Hope you are doing great🌟Thanks again for another great adventure👍

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Brooke! I'm doing great and hope you are too.

[@kapapatence6423]

Thanks for the awesome video of my backyard area. Our local mtn bike club helps maintain Grand Gap as well as the John Muir section you mentioned...we love sharing it with hikers/backpackers/bikepackers. Your video highlighted several interesting areas along the Litton Farm and Laurel Fork hiking trail that are so often seen here in BSF. Cheers!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks KApapa Tence! BSF is a beautiful area. Also thanks for maintaining Grand Gap and the John Muir sections

[@u4ea1982]

Beautiful hike and another awesome video. Thanks for sharing!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Ryan! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@JenniferLupine]

Beautiful nature Bryan! It looks petty similar to our forests here, with lots of creeks, moss, rhododendrons and tall trees! Lovely! Too bad you had a bit of rain- you didn’t get too muddy though- nice wok around! 👌👍🥾🥾Like!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Jennifer! There are some similarities with your area. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@whshome]

Great video Bryan. There are some great campsites along the lower Laurel Fork which you all covered.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Will! Nathan and I both thought our campsite the first night was the best one on lower Laurel Fork. Of course our campsite the second night on the bluff was outstanding and well worth having to carry water. This is one of the best loops in BSFNRRA.

[@papawinthewoods]

It's always great when the Big South Fork is shown in such an awesome video. You nailed it Bryan. I live here and have hiked those trails myself. You captured a little bit of everything the BSF is about. From the gorgeous streams to the plentiful rockshelters and the awesome views along the top of the gorge. I really enjoyed it!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you so much Papaw in the Woods! Big South Fork is a beautiful place.

[@TheSunriseAngler]

Another great video sir! Thanks for sharing!

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks!

[@johnnyrussell8729]

Always looking forward to the next one. Just got back from there (car camping Alfred Smith Rd). Got an old mans ailment and hope to hike maybe next week. Thanks for the video.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Johnny! Hope you are back on the trail soon.

[@nato2959]

Bryan, this was perfection level... As a retired forester, I simply envy you. Be always safe.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Nato! Glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

Thanks, Bryan. Great video.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Dovie! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@waterfallmadman]

Beautiful place. The flowers were pretty, and a lovely little waterfall to camp beside. I did not realize you had a John Muir trail out there.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Leon! Yes, John Muir hiked this area also.

[@rmsmith12]

Feels like you shot this a little bit different, enjoyed the different style. Always appreciate your videos, thanks again

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Ryan! The rock outcroppings and rock houses provided opportunities to use some different techniques.

[@brianm9364]

I enjoy your channel, always instreaded in seeing others set ups and hiking style, very pretty country JMT I found your channel from Catherine Gregory,

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Brian m! Big South Fork is a very beautiful area.

[@blackoakpropertymaintenanc6981]

Thanks for sharing and posting, Bryan. I enjoyed this one.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks BlackOak Property Maintenance! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@chrislonsberry1974]

Another great video Bryan ! I always enjoy hiking along with you.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thank you Chris! Glad you enjoyed the hike.

[@Russell.Jolly.2023]

Gotta love some TN hiking.

[@BryanDeLay]

Absolutely, especially east Tennessee.

[@AbelTravel]

Thank you for introducing me to a new trail I was unfamiliar with. Great video.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Karen! Hope you have a chance to hike this loop sometime.

[@FOLLOWINGWALKERSWORLD]

Tremendous loop Bryan. Those camp spots were awesome. I’ll have to save this video. I’ll be up there this summer. 👍

[@BryanDeLay]

It is a great loop Tom; one of the best in Big South Fork. Summer is not the best time to visit BSF. One it's hot because the elevations are not high and ticks can be pretty bad.

[@FOLLOWINGWALKERSWORLD]

@@BryanDeLay Yeah I know. But it’s a two day stop over from a month long trip in the Van.

[@oldunion]

7:00 looks like a typical box spring used for homesteaders.

[@BryanDeLay]

Could be, but there was no rock structure around the spring. It's possible the soil just collapsed around and underground spring.

[@oldunion]

@@BryanDeLay yeah certainly possible. But once you dig out a spring they tend to stay kind of like that, constant water flow keeps it open, animals, (deer) find it and keep it cleared. So could have been 100+ years ago there was a larger frame holding the hole open and cabin nearby. Up here in the NE you see these things quite a bit. Cabin would have only had 4 or 6 stones placed for the foundation up a ways away. box spring nearby and a root cellar depression elsewhere. Anyhow a good cold spring hole like that always brings a smile!

[@OutdoorOperator]

This video brings me back to my first solo trip where I did the same loop out of the Bandy Creek campground. I even stayed at the same campsite next to Laurel Fork Creek night 1 👌 Another great video Bryan...It was cool to see it in the spring with all the wildflowers.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Outdoor Operator! The campsite on Laurel Fork Creek was great.

[@tangenttrails]

Bryan, looks wonderful. I was looking at the map of Big South Fork NRRA. Appears to be some really good trails. It’s been years since I’ve been in your neck of the woods and from watching your trips I’m realizing I’ve missed a lot.

[@BryanDeLay]

Hope you have a chance to get back to Big South Fork Jerry.

[@dougtaylor7724]

Gorgeous place Brian. Videography spectacular. I only wish I could still walk that far. Really miss seeing places like that. Wish I could break camp in 15 second like you do! lol 😂

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Doug! Wish I could break in 15 seconds too.

[@DrJohn493]

Enjoyed the video Bryan. A pleasant way to spend a few minutes on a rainy morning here. My wife and my sister would shoot me for saying this but horses are the bane of hiking trails IMHO.

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks John! Yes, horses can do some damage to trails, particularly in the south.

[@NicoleHikesalot]

Hi Bryan, how do you get to the Fall Branch Falls easiest from the parking area without doing the entire loop? Where do you park and do you go counterclockwise on the John Litton Farm Loop? Happy Thanksgiving to you!

[@BryanDeLay]

Hey Nicole, from the Bandy Creek Campground take the John Litton Farm Loop counterclockwise for about 1.5 miles to the falls. You can park at Bandy Creek and there is a ranger station there also.

[@NicoleHikesalot]

@@BryanDeLay thank you!

[@RicG.]

👍 😎

[@BryanDeLay]

Thanks Ric!

[@Starfish2145]

What state is that in?

[@BryanDeLay]

Tennessee