Zenith Stables & Campground

The scent of fresh pine mingles with horsehide as dawn breaks over Zenith Stables & Campground, where 40 thoughtfully arranged sites blend equestrian functionality with backcountry access. This family-operated basecamp delivers direct trailhead connections to the Big South Fork River's sandstone gorges while maintaining full RV hookups at 17 premium sites—a rare parity between wilderness immersion and modern convenience.

Two timber-framed bunkhouses and a communal kitchen lodge anchor the property, their weathered wood exteriors mirroring the surrounding oak-hickory forest. The barn complex accommodates 53 horses in well-ventilated stalls, with wash racks positioned for post-ride care. Clever landscaping creates natural buffers between sites, though the most secluded pitches cluster near the western tree line where fireflies illuminate summer evenings.

Allardt's nearest gas station lies 12 minutes northeast, but the real draw unfolds 22 minutes west where the Big South Fork National River corridor unveils 125,000 acres of riding trails. Day-trippers can access the Grand Gap Loop's panoramic cliffs without breaking camp, while serious riders trek deeper into the Twin Arches backcountry. The campground's bathhouses feature porcelain fixtures uncommon for remote operations, their hot-water reliability a noted advantage after dusty trail days.

Weekenders dominate spring bookings for the adjacent wildflower blooms, while autumn draws extended stays from leaf-peeping riders. The kitchen hall's potbelly stove becomes a social hub during cooler months, its cast-iron surface perpetually occupied by percolators and Dutch ovens. What the property lacks in swimming holes it compensates with direct access to the No Business Creek tributary, where shallow crossings double as natural water obstacles for trail-savvy mounts.