The sheltowee trace graces 282 miles of kentucky hills and hollows. Ive even heard the guides are currently being re done so rejoice. The husband and i are planning a 34 day backpacking trip on the sheltowee trace sometime in september but cant decide which section to tackle. And for many of those stretches the treadway slopes toward the cliff, sometimes at greater than a 45 degree angle. The book has a good written description section by section of the trail. There are a lot of very narrow minimally maintained sections that if its even a little slick, you may fall. Our initial thought was to put in around cave run lake and head south to the gorge, but i also hear good things about the cumberland falls area. Today, the trace has an active nonprofit, the sheltowe trace association, that actively helps build new trail and maintain existing trail for the public good. So i now have my sheltowee trace section hike behind me, and in fact, the class of.
Mtb project is part of the rei coop family, where a life outdoors is a life well lived. Section 4 700 trailhead lot to highway 192 april 15, 2016. A 319mile backcountry trail that spans the daniel boone national forest and the big south fork national recreation river and recreation area. The sheltowee trace association is working to make sure the trace is open and accessible to mountain biking. One of my favorite things about the sheltowee trace is the consistent dramatic rock formations. After walking the entire length of the trail from south to north during the fall of 2010, ward published a 51page guidebook titled the thruhikers manual for the sheltowee trace. I am trying to find time to do a loop from yamacraw south on the trace toward peter mt. About sheltowee trace adventure resort day tours sheltowee trace adventure resort offers a wide variety of activities geared for all ages. Whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking trips, zip line, climbing wall, trips up to cumberland falls. The route uses some of the choice sections of the sheltowee trace that are highlighted on mtb project and the rest uses jeep trails, forest service roads, a few other pieces of singletrack, and a very little bit of pavement. River adventures include guided whitewater rafting trips, as well as canoeing, kayaking, standup paddleboarding, and tubing. Beautiful over looks, rock formations and lake views are on the menu. From whitewater rafting to leisurely canoeing or kayaking, from primitive campsites to our resort cabin, wooded trails to waterfalls, sheltowee trace adventure resort in scenic kentucky is the perfect place to base your outdoor adventure vacation or getaway.
Located about 45 minutes southeast of lexington, kentucky, and an easy two to twoandahalf hour drive from cincinnati, ohio, red river gorge is a popular hiking and rock climbing destination in the western foothills of the appalachian mountains. Sheltowee trace nrt section 24 central to suspension. Clear, sunny and warm on saturday, clear and onoff cloudysunny with a couple hours of rain on sunday. Topographic trail map for miles 7319 of the sheltowee trace. Spring of 2011, the trail is very flooded and entirely over run by flood rivers coming into the. Through the associations efforts you get an up to date account of the trail. The cave run lake section from the ky 1274 to white sulfur trail head 15. Does anyone here have a favorite chunk of trail or hanging spot they could recommend. This book details the 282 miles of kentuckys master path, the sheltowee trace, from.
The sheltowee trace is a 319mile long backcountry trail 2015 alignment that spans the length of the daniel boone national forest and connects the big south fork, cumberland falls, and natural bridge. The sheltowee trace association does offer a guidebook for both south and north bounders on their website, as well as maps. Best hotels near sheltowee trace adventure resort day. Big south fork is one of the most popular areas around the trace. This is an easy run with great views of the rock shelters out to a wonderful suspension bridge over hawk creek. Some miles now are on asphalt roads but 75% is in the woods on single track or old logging roads. On january 24th we started at the northern terminus of the sheltowee trace trail. Two days earlier 122819 i met 5 strangers who were up for the adventure of a 17 mile shakedown hike on the sheltowee trace in preparation for the 2020 sheltowee trace hiker challenge with the sheltowee trace association. This is an amazing 280 mile adventure in kentucky through the very beautiful daniel boone national forest. The start point for this section is the northern terminus of the sheltowee trace stnrt at the rowan ounty and lewis ounty line about 25 miles north of morehead. Bookie on the trail the ramblings of a hiking librarian. Professional hiker and guide book author scot taba ward approached the organization with his plans to thruhike the trail and create a guide book. It is also a great guide for anyone who wants to spend any amount of time on this trail. Hotels near sheltowee trace adventure resort day tours, corbin on tripadvisor.
I thruhiked the trace this past summer 2010 and immediately started working on the book. We all left the parking lot tired but excited for section three and bigger challenges. Some question and answers from the alpha team of the 2020 sheltowee trace challenge. Section 3 ends after crossing i64 before going back into the woods on the final approach to moreheada kentucky trail town and the home of the sheltowee trace association. The manuals that are available now are the palmetto trail, sheltowee trace and the mountainstosea trail. View topic looking for thruhike info sheltowee trace. As an out and back run, it can be made longer by continuing on sheltowee trace section 24 to the north or south. The thruhikers manual for the sheltowee trace whiteblaze. Section 1 leaves off, the next two short section are combined here. Whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking trips, zip line, climbing wall, trips up to cumberland. Section 3 6 miles past peters mountain road to 700 trailhead lot march 19, 2016.
The stnrt has experienced a surge in the number of visitors with plans to thru hike and section hike the trail. Sheltowee meaning big turtle was the name given boone when he was adopted into the shawnee tribe as the son of the great war chief blackfish. I will be calling these legs because each leg will be divided into sections that will be within reasonable distances for good resupply points. The trail begins at pickett state park, tennessee and ends near morehead, kentucky. Good report, you are right that is is hard to find up to date info on the sheltowee trace, especially the newer sections as the south end has moved further south. The thruhikers manual for the sheltowee trace is a detailed guide book for the entire length of the trail. Hiking the sheltowee trace national recreation trail in red river gorge, ky. The trail is multiuse with certain sections, allowing horses, mountain bikes and allterrain vehicless in some.
Section 28 of the sheltowee trace, located on stearns ranger district, follows along the base of a bluff. Sheltowee trace adventure resort, corbin, kentucky. We do have some mud holes in the stree to turkeyfoot section of the trace over in jackson county. Ive routed a route from big south fork, tn to i64 in ky, about 40 miles north of the red river gorge. Sheltowee, meaning big turtle, was the name given to daniel boone when he was adopted into the shawnee tribe.
Multiple day canoe and kayak trips sheltowee trace. We hiked 30 miles in two days to amburgy rock near morehead ky. Travel the sheltowee trace, a 282mile multipleuse national recreation trail that traverses the length of the daniel boone national forest. Sheltowee trace association works to improve trail. It is a unique lodge, located near south central michigans picturesque concord village and close to the jackson, marshall and the jonesville, michigan areas. Natural arch and clear creek furnace are points of interest. The first mile follows a creek bed to a climb up to the ridge line where you follow the ridge line. In all, a very nice two days of hiking despite the struggles of the multipurpose trail sections. Please note the nps regulations require a whistle in each boat.
Sheltowee trace history climbing between deep hemlock gorges and piney, craggy summits, the sheltowee trace is a 319mile national recreation trail 2015 alignment that spans the daniel boone national forest and big south fork national river and recreation area in kentucky and tennessee. Beginning on ky 1193 where the sheltowee comes out of cane creek wma, this section of the trace drops from the trailhead into some nice rollers before losing considerable elevation from the ridge down into the valley where the trail soon falls along the lake shore in its upper reaches. Ok, finally the thruhikers manual for the sheltowee trace is finished. Sections of the trail are located in big south fork national park, daniel boone national forest, cumberland falls state park, natural bridge.
Following the stone steps to the creek, you will pass a. All of the difficulties of temperature and distance were surmounted by movement, friendship, and true comradery that can be found in the sheltowee trace. Various sections of big south fork can be combined for a custom trip. Sheltowee trace south trail map includes big south fork. Sheltowee trace hiker challenge less beaten paths of. From the trailhead, the sheltowee trace dives into the woods and follows a small stream as it meanders and gently climbs toward the ridge.
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