Sheltowee Trace National Receation Trail

The Sheltowee Trace is 282-mile back country trail through Daniel Boone National Forest, Big South Fork NRRA, and Natural Bridge, Cumberland Falls, & Pickett State Parks in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Post photos & GPS data depicting each mile of the Sheltowee Trace and connecting trails. An interactive map gives mile markers and topo downloads.

The goal of this site is to map the Sheltowee Trace and the Daniel Boone NF with your help. A guide will be published.

Sheltowee Trace Map

Google map with trail and recreation areas

 
Old Map Forum: HI QUALITY | LO QUALITY
 

Sheltowee Trace South MapSheltowee Trace South Trail Map

1:31,680 scale map that shows the ST from the southern terminus at Pickett State Park to the halfway point at McKee, Kentucky. Miles 0-150.

Map contains mile makers for the ST, connecting trails for section hiking, 50-ft elevaiton contours, and GPS lat/lon grid. Full-color maps.

$14 - from outrageGIS mapping

ThruHiking Journals
Jonaharalia
I. B. Me
Sheltowee Wanderer
Want to blog your ST journey? View this post

 
 
Sheltowee Trace Association

Consider becoming a supporting member of the Sheltowee Trace Association by visiting www.sheltoweetrace.org. The Sheltowee Trace Association is commited to Protecting, Preserving and Promoting the Sheltowee Trace as a significant national resource for the enjoyment of all users and for the value that wild and scenic lands provide to all people. Visit www.sheltoweetrace.org to learn more and to join the STA.
 


a photo from the gallery

Recent Photographs

from the
Big Turtle Photo Club
4173 photos in 151 albums

2012 STA Hiker ChallengeHighway 80 and South --



Out & About on The Trace My Ultra-Lite pack

Pinch-em-tight TH to Chimney Top Creek- June 9th, 2011Red River Gorge Trails and Highlights Including Courthouse Rock, Raven's Rock, Gray's Arch, Creation Falls, Rock Bridge, Indian Staircase, Angels Windows, Indian Arch and Adena Arch with several overlooks.

Sheltowee Rt. 192 & 1193 South to Bark Camp -Mile 182-194Around Cumberland Falls Area Sorry I don't have the mile numbers. I hike around Cumberland Falls a lot because I'm from that area. That's how I became aware of the Sheltowee Trace. I intersected it a few times and became curious.


a photo from the gallery

 
Recent Discussion

from the Mapping the Sheltowee
A Guide for the Trails in the BSF and DBNF

February Hike - Section 2 Author: Traildust
Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:49 pm (GMT -5)

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 6:00pm until Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 5:00pm.

Beech Grove Rd. to Hwy 27 Trailhead Parking ( + or - 20 miles)

No hike on Friday night this time. We will assemble at a location to be determined on Friday night for some social time. Saturday we will all drive in caravan to Hwy 27 Trailhead and meet the shuttle from the Outfitters. Saturdays walk will be from our stopping point, Beech Grove Rd to Alum Ford Campground about 10 miles. Sunday we will walk from there to the Hwy 27 trailhead another 10 miles or so. Shuttle will cost $15.00 per person. Overnight lodging cost are being determined with
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Anyone have access toa fax this morning? Author: PR
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:43 am (GMT -5)

I can't find my trailguide this morning and I had planned to use the Mckee inset drawing as a handout at our county tourism meeting this morning. Anybody out there with access to a fax (and a trailguide) today? I realize this is a very long shot, but thought I would give it a shot.


JC PVA six o six 287 7634 ph
six o six 287 7079 fax



Thanks! Give me a call if you see this before 10:00am



Cold Weather Hiking Resources Author: Traildust
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:42 am (GMT -5)

Here are some links to information on backpacking in cold weather. Read up and be prepared. All participants will have to physically show they have the proper gear in order to take the STA Challenge. Gear list coming out soon.

Backpacking Magazine http://www.backpacker.com/fall-gear-guide-09-cold-comfort-winter-camping-guide/skills/13513

Backpacking Light http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00277.html

Winter Backpacking http://www.helipress.com/media/pdf/Winter%20Backpacking%20-%20websample.pdf

REI Winter Backpacking http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/winter+camping.html
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Registration Author: Traildust
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:40 am (GMT -5)

Challenge Participants.....

December 1st we will start sending out info on the Challenge. If you think you are interested please send

Real Name :

Phone Number:

Email Address:

here or to director@sheltoweetrace.org so we can add you to the email mailing list. If you are in doubt please go ahead and send in the info so we can keep you informed.
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Check us out at sheltoweetrace.twitter.com and on facebook in the hiking groups under The Sheltowee Trace. Sign up and join the discussion. Become a member of The Sheltowee Trace Association and help us maintain and grow the Trace.



Schedule - Gear - Info Author: Traildust
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:38 am (GMT -5)

Here is your chance to become one of the few who have hiked the entire Sheltowee Trace. STA Adventures in 2012 will organize a one weekend a month hike of the Sheltowee, breaking the Trace down into sections. The planned sections are:

January - Southern Terminus to Yamacraw - 29.6 miles
February - Yamacraw to Cumberland Falls - 30.5 miles
March - Cumberland Falls to Billows - 39.5 miles
April - Billows to S-Tree Campground - 32.8 miles
May - S-Tree to Turkeyfoot - 19.3 miles
June - Turkeyfoot to Heidelberg - 21.0 miles
July - Ky River to Red River Gorge - 32.1 miles
August - Red River Gorge to Cave Run Lake - 38
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Horseback Riding the ST Author: Hillbilly Wanderer2
Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:34 am (GMT -5)

I have been wanting to do some type of long distance ride on horses for some time and looking to get started this year. Have read several posts on this forum and looking foward to the trail guide due out 2012. Plan on just hitting different sections throughout the year with a long term goal of riding start to finish. I realize sections will have to reroute but thats why im here. If anybody else is interested just let me know. Look foward to meeting people and being a member of the ST community. Considering the ST Challange, however feel I am way to inexperienced for that at this time.


MTBing Guide Author: Ascentionist
Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:03 pm (GMT -5)

I saw in an older forum post that someone had proposed a MTB guide for the ST. Anyone worked on this? I know there are sections you can't ride (Natural Bridge comes to mind...fascists!) and wonder how thru-bikers handle these sections.

I'm sure I could work out a viable detour route in the northern section, but I'm not terribly familiar with the route south of the KY River. And I've been out of the state for a few years and am not up to date on access status for different sections.

Any ideas?



Short backpack trip in Red River Gorge Author: Kykind
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:46 pm (GMT -5)

We did a nice 2 day trip this past weekend with me, Boots and our friend Cissell. We hiked in off of Tunnel Ridge Road at Pinch-Em-Tight Trail. We started after dark and the trail was nice and well marked. I was glad to see the familiar turtle blaze and we found a decent spot about a mile and 1/2 in.
There was plenty of wood and we built a small fire and made some pasta, and finished the last beer we hiked in with. Boots had a soda of course. We turned in early in hopes of hitting the trail at daybreak. That was wishful thinking as we were all a little worn down from the grind of the city. We broke camp ate a breakfast scramble Moun
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Flooding Author: Traildust
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:54 am (GMT -5)

Recent rains in Laurel and McCreary Counties along the Cumberland and Big South Fork Rivers have produced significant flooding that has impacted the Sheltowee. The STA encourages users to stay away from this area for the next few weeks until the water goes down and we have a chance to get on the trail and check conditions.

Princess Falls. The water has gone down but left the trail slick and still a hazard to travel on. There is a large slide just before Princess Falls about 1/2 mile from Yamacraw Bridge. Many trees to crawl over. The bridge at Lick Creek was under water and is filled with silt.
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The Narrows/Whites Branch Arch trail? Author: flatfeet
Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 10:21 am (GMT -5)

Where is the trail to get below The Narrows and Whites Branch Arch? I was on the Sheltowee, hiking north, and I thought I saw a trail just after I passed the Narrows. I started to go down it, but was by myself and didn't want to risk falling. Is that the trail?

Also, I saw this on another post, but just wanted to confirm. If you're hiking in Lee County between Hwy 52 and Hwy 1036 a landslide and blowdown seemed to make the trail disappear into Little Sinking Creek. I was hiking northbound on New Virginia Ridge Rd and crossed the Big Sinking Creek. I follwed it downstream until the Little Sinking Creek comes in from the
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© 2009 outrageGIS mapping

A forum and interactive map for The Sheltowee Trace is 260-mile backcountry trail connecting recreation in Daniel Boone National Forest, Cumberland Falls & Natural Bridge State Resort Parks, and the Big South Fork National Recreation Area. Sheltowee Trace Nationa

l Receation Trail, Sheltowee Trace, Sheltowee Trace hiking maps, Daniel Boone National Forest, Laurel River Lake, Big South Fork, Clifty Wilderness, Beaver Creek Wilderness, Red River Gorge, Cave Run Lake, outrageGIS mapping, Boyd Shearer, trail maps, trail guides, backcountry camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, thru packing