Big Creek flows through McCreary County as a tributary to the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, a waterway system known for its scenic beauty and backcountry character. The creek winds through the Daniel Boone National Forest near the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, offering anglers an opportunity to fish in a relatively remote setting characterized by steep gorges and rocky cliffs typical of the upper Cumberland River watershed. While the Big South Fork system includes numerous tributary streams ranging from small headwater brooks to larger wadeable creeks, Big Creek provides access to waters that hold both warmwater and coolwater species in a landscape shaped by Appalachian geography.