TRAIL CONDITIONS

Be Alert for Aggressive Dogs

Recently end to end hikers and participants in the Hiker Challenge have encounter aggressive dogs along the trail in the vicinity of mile 80 to Arvil at mile 120.  The local authorities have been notified of the situation.  If you are attacked, bitten or feel threatened by a dog or dogs, please report the incident to local authorities by calling 911.  If you are bleeding or unable to continue for sure call 911.  When assistance arrives please complete the report and get the name of the officer who took your statement.  When you have a moment please let the STA know via email at director@sheltoweetrace.org or text at 6063863636.  With your help we will be able, we hope, to reduce the number of incidents along the Trace.  We encourage you to take any necessary steps to defend yourself such as pepper spray or warding off the attack with hiking poles.  If possible hike in pairs.  ​

Alerts for Big South Fork

​Big South Fork is one of the most popular areas around the Trace. Please plan your visit accordingly and learn about how you can protect this beautiful part of the forest and keep it open to public use.

Learn about bear precautions, firewood bans, and drone usage.

Landslide at Clear Creek

There has been a landslide at about mile 47.7 (on the Outragis Sheltowee Trace maps) in the Clear Creek area. Area is marked off with signs and caution tape.  Hikers are able to get past the slide.  Area is closed to horses until the slide can be fixed.  Anticipate the slide being repaired in March 2019. 

Reroute at Stoney Cove

At the suggestion of the Forest Service, the STA has agreed to move the Trace from its current location running south of Stoney Cove mile 37.5  to the place where it intersects trail #1226 (Caney Loop) near mile 40.  This change will add 3.4 miles onto the Trace increasing the length to an unofficial 322.5.  The change will enable users to hike along the lake shore and will provide more acceptable camp sites along the lake,   Yes there will still be horse traffic on this section as well but there is work planned to make significant improvements to the trail tread to mitigate the conditions produced by trail riding.  ​

Reroute in Clearfield

From 519 you take a left after the bridge, pass Caudill’s Auto Body Shop, turn right onto Clearfield Hill Rd which has a gentle climb. Follow Clearfield Hill Rd to the right as it curves near the top of the hill. Soon take a right on Partin Rd which within yards curves to the left; curving to the left, Partin goes down the hill to the rear of Clearfield Elementary School and eventually to the STOP at McBrayer Road. To stay on the Sheltowee, turn left onto Mill Branch Road. The blazes are white painted turtles on the road.

Wartburg, Tennessee Planned Southern Terminus for Trace

Working with the Cumberland Trail Conference, the STA has sketched a possible route to the connection with the CTC at Wartburg, Tennessee.  This connection will take some time to work out given that portions of the planned route will take the Trace on private land.  The good news is, we have a team working on the connection and hope to see the southern terminus finally find a home there by 2019. ​
Have you seen a section of the trail that needs attention? Please let us know! Submit a trail report and include as much detail as possible. Thanks!