Mapping the Sheltowee

Pat Curran · cub Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Louisville, KY

Can anyone comment about the road that leads down to the boat ramp at Big Creek? Are there any campsites along the ST near that road? I'm planning a canoe camping trip and was hoping to have my party meet there on Friday night, then shuttle upstream to launch and float back down to Big Creek to take out on Sunday. Yes, I could do this at Alum Ford, but I was hoping to extend our float by a couple miles. Thanks. Happy hiking.

Boyd · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 11:30 pm Post subject:

Welcome Pat,

I don't recall a paved road to Big Creek from US27, although I remember some jeep trails around there. I did notice a nice campsite along Big Creek, but no boat launch.

Since Lake Cumberland has been lowered, the lake no longer extends up to Alum Ford.

Here's a photo of the river below Alum Ford

Pat Curran · cub Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Louisville, KY

Boyd, thanks for the feedback. I've since learned that the forest service does not maintain the road to Big Creek. According to a source at the county road department, the road to Big Creek is gravel, and except for one hairpin cutback should be accessible to most passenger vehicles. There is supposed to be a boat launch there: http://fw.ky.gov/AccessSiteDetail.aspx?ASID=369
although like Alum Ford I'm sure the ramp ends short of the water due to the low lake level.

Thanks for the Alum Ford pic. I'm pretty excited to be able to float this section of the river as God made it instead of as a lake.

Boyd · Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 1:01 am Post subject:

Hey Pat,

The boat ramp at Alum Ford does hit the water, but at a much lower level than previous, unflooded years.

This photo shows a nice campsite above Big Creek, photo
and is in a series hiking from Alum to US27.

Boyd

Pat Curran · cub Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Louisville, KY

Boyd,
Dude, thanks again for the great info! Our group is getting psyched for our canoe-camping run next month. Thanks to you and Dania at Sheltowee Trace Outfitters, and to the local Hwy Dept, we've been able to assemble something of a plan. Still, the excitement of seeing places for the first time and of paddling on a section of BSF that is normally flooded assure us that surprises will be in store. That campsite looks great, I'll take a second look through that series. Thanks again.