TRAIL CONDITIONS
Stinging Insect Nest South of Flat Rock
September 2020
Testimony from a Trace hiker: "We were hiking just north of mile marker 240 on the Sheltowee and there was an area with a couple of downed trees. The branches had sort of been cleared to create easy passage so we decided to walk over the fallen trees rather than hike around. We ended up stepping on a bee nest and walked away with nearly 12 or so stings between the two of us. The downed trees were right between an area where a set of stone steps take you up and soon after a set of stone steps take you back down." Hikers be careful on the trail south of Flat Rock and the US-27 intersection.
Recent Weather Impacts the Trail
May/June 2020
WHITTLETON BRANCH TRAIL IN RED RIVER GORGE IMPASSIBLE.
Recent heavy rains have caused a landslide on the Whittleton Branch Trail, Number 216. This is also the Sheltowee Trace Trail, Number 100. Travel is not recommended. Please consider the Covid-19 situation and the limited search and rescue resources currently available. Be aware that there may be other trails with damage and trees down from recent storms. The U.S. Forest Service is working with partners to make repairs and restore access as quickly as possible.
TRACE FROM ARVIL TO WAR FORK CREEK IMPACTED BY TREES DOWN.
Recent storms and heavy rains have impacted the Trace in many locations. On the Trace between Arvil and Turkeyfoot Campground you will have to hike / ride around several areas where a number of trees are blocking the Trace. It is passable but will take some time. STA Volunteer Crews are working with the Land Manager in the process of clearing the trail in this area.
HEAVY RAIN - FLOODING MAKES FOR MUDDY AND IMPASSABLE CONDITIONS ALONG THE TRACE
3 to 5 inches of rain fell on parts of the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork NRRA causing streams and the rivers to overflow onto the Trace. While most streams will return to normal flow within a day or so, the Trace along the Cumberland and Big South Fork Rivers will take some time to return to its normal levels.
The Trace in Laurel County especially along the Cumberland from Mouth of the Laurel to Cumberland Falls will need a few days. There is an alternate high water route from Mouth of the Laurel that will get you to Bark Camp but we strongly encourage users to plan to exit at Dog Slaughter.
Rock Creek just south of Yamacraw may be impassable until 1 June forcing you to take the high water route on the road up to Beech Grove.
If additional significant rain does not develop after Memorial Day, you should be able to return to the Trace by May 30th. Please bear in mind that the Trace will be muddy well into the middle of June, be filled with debris and you should plan your hike accordingly. STA volunteer crews will return to check the trail and start clearing this area the first week of June.
Recent heavy rains have caused a landslide on the Whittleton Branch Trail, Number 216. This is also the Sheltowee Trace Trail, Number 100. Travel is not recommended. Please consider the Covid-19 situation and the limited search and rescue resources currently available. Be aware that there may be other trails with damage and trees down from recent storms. The U.S. Forest Service is working with partners to make repairs and restore access as quickly as possible.
TRACE FROM ARVIL TO WAR FORK CREEK IMPACTED BY TREES DOWN.
Recent storms and heavy rains have impacted the Trace in many locations. On the Trace between Arvil and Turkeyfoot Campground you will have to hike / ride around several areas where a number of trees are blocking the Trace. It is passable but will take some time. STA Volunteer Crews are working with the Land Manager in the process of clearing the trail in this area.
HEAVY RAIN - FLOODING MAKES FOR MUDDY AND IMPASSABLE CONDITIONS ALONG THE TRACE
3 to 5 inches of rain fell on parts of the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork NRRA causing streams and the rivers to overflow onto the Trace. While most streams will return to normal flow within a day or so, the Trace along the Cumberland and Big South Fork Rivers will take some time to return to its normal levels.
The Trace in Laurel County especially along the Cumberland from Mouth of the Laurel to Cumberland Falls will need a few days. There is an alternate high water route from Mouth of the Laurel that will get you to Bark Camp but we strongly encourage users to plan to exit at Dog Slaughter.
Rock Creek just south of Yamacraw may be impassable until 1 June forcing you to take the high water route on the road up to Beech Grove.
If additional significant rain does not develop after Memorial Day, you should be able to return to the Trace by May 30th. Please bear in mind that the Trace will be muddy well into the middle of June, be filled with debris and you should plan your hike accordingly. STA volunteer crews will return to check the trail and start clearing this area the first week of June.
Reroute in Clearfield
August 2019
(Hiking southbound) After passing the Clearfield Post Office on 519, turn right onto Tile Storage Lane. After you cross the small bridge, turn left onto MacBrayer Road. Turn right after Caudill's Auto Body Shop onto Clearfield Hill Road. This has a gentle climb. Follow Clearfield Hill Road to the right as it curves near the top of the hill. Continue on this short section and curve left where Partin Rd comes in from the right. Continue straight past Howard Court in a gentle climb. This road curves to the right and becomes Hogg Rd as it starts a decline to a T intersection with Mill Branch Rd. Turn left on Mill Branch.
Kentucky Trail Reroute Approved
September, 2019
interactive map link: https://caltopo.com/m/4D70
The Kentucky Trail reroute is open and active. The Trace continues to change, evolve as we work to move the route off of roads where possible. Working with the leadership of the Big South Fork NRRA and the Stearns District of the DBNF, we have secure a new route for the Trace south of Rock Creek.
The new route uses Wilson Ridge Road to take hikers/backpackers over to the Kentucky Trail. The route then follows the Kentucky Trail for 20 miles until it exits on the Laurel Hill Trail to Divide Road where you rejoin the existing trail to Peter's Mountain and down to Great Meadows.
This reroute reduces the road walk by 4 miles and lengthen the Trace by 10 miles. The current Trace in this area will be renumbered and reblazed. The STA will have the Kentucky Trail blazed with the STNRT blaze and remove the blazes from the Trace from Beech Grove to Divide Rd.
Your support to the Rue Access Fund through our GoFundMe page will help us to continue to improve access and reroute the Trace off of roads where possible.
The Kentucky Trail reroute is open and active. The Trace continues to change, evolve as we work to move the route off of roads where possible. Working with the leadership of the Big South Fork NRRA and the Stearns District of the DBNF, we have secure a new route for the Trace south of Rock Creek.
The new route uses Wilson Ridge Road to take hikers/backpackers over to the Kentucky Trail. The route then follows the Kentucky Trail for 20 miles until it exits on the Laurel Hill Trail to Divide Road where you rejoin the existing trail to Peter's Mountain and down to Great Meadows.
This reroute reduces the road walk by 4 miles and lengthen the Trace by 10 miles. The current Trace in this area will be renumbered and reblazed. The STA will have the Kentucky Trail blazed with the STNRT blaze and remove the blazes from the Trace from Beech Grove to Divide Rd.
Your support to the Rue Access Fund through our GoFundMe page will help us to continue to improve access and reroute the Trace off of roads where possible.
Hunting Season 2019-2020
announcement from the Forest Service:
November, 2019
WINCHESTER, Ky., Aug. 29, 2019 – Just in time for hunting season, the U.S. Forest Service will open several roads on the Cumberland Ranger District to public vehicles again this year.
“We’re providing additional motorized access to the national forest during hunting seasons to better distribute hunters across the landscape, ensure an effective harvest, and improve safety in the woods,” said District Ranger Jonathan Kazmierski with the Daniel Boone National Forest.
In the Morehead and Cave Run Lake area from September 5 through January 20, the following Forest Service roads will be open to licensed vehicles: Ramey Creek Road 961; Buffalo Branch/Click Cemetery Road 973, the main road only; Big Perry Road 977; Peter Branch Road 1058; and Pioneer Road 1225.
In the Stanton area, Hatton Ridge Road 165 and June Bug Road 167 (not Short Creek) will be open during the same timeframe.
Hunters should use caution and be aware that many of these roads have surface damage from heavy rainfall over the past year. Several roads that are normally open for hunting season will not be open in 2019 due to poor conditions, including Shooting Range Road 909, Murder Branch Road 1074, and Scott Creek Road 1093. The Forest Service is working to secure funding to repair these roads.
On Paragon Road, work is ongoing to repair flood damage. More than three miles of the road between Highway 519 and Jones Ridge Road remain closed to motorized vehicle use. Vehicle access is available up to a new gate installed a half mile east of Highway 519 or via Jones Ridge Road. The entire road is scheduled to open by October 16, in time for the first muzzleloader season for deer.
On Lockegee Road, a landslide at the southern end of Road 16 has resulted in the closure of 1.5 miles of the road nearest to Twin Knobs Campground. Lockegee Road and the surrounding area is still accessible from the north via Highway 1274.
To help ensure the availability of open roads in the future, visitors are expected to carry out their trash, keep vehicles on established roadways, avoid blocking gates, and respect the land by not cutting down trees. Any vandalism or illicit activity found to occur may result in the roads being closed to further use. Inclement weather causing road damage or safety concerns may also result in the roads closing earlier than planned.
All-terrain vehicles, including side-by-sides, are prohibited on national forest system roads and prohibited from cross-country travel on national forest lands. The White Sulphur ATV Trail system is open to ATV use.
Hunters are encouraged to try a new online mapping tool that provides the public with management status of open lands and forested areas, including timber harvests and fire history. The link is
https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c58fc9969c96499a9be878aa79aba0e2.
Copies of the Daniel Boone National Forest motorized vehicle user maps (MVUM) are available at www.fs.usda.gov/main/dbnf/maps-pubs. Additional information can be obtained on the Daniel Boone National Forest website or by contacting one of the Forest Service visitor centers or information desks.
“We’re providing additional motorized access to the national forest during hunting seasons to better distribute hunters across the landscape, ensure an effective harvest, and improve safety in the woods,” said District Ranger Jonathan Kazmierski with the Daniel Boone National Forest.
In the Morehead and Cave Run Lake area from September 5 through January 20, the following Forest Service roads will be open to licensed vehicles: Ramey Creek Road 961; Buffalo Branch/Click Cemetery Road 973, the main road only; Big Perry Road 977; Peter Branch Road 1058; and Pioneer Road 1225.
In the Stanton area, Hatton Ridge Road 165 and June Bug Road 167 (not Short Creek) will be open during the same timeframe.
Hunters should use caution and be aware that many of these roads have surface damage from heavy rainfall over the past year. Several roads that are normally open for hunting season will not be open in 2019 due to poor conditions, including Shooting Range Road 909, Murder Branch Road 1074, and Scott Creek Road 1093. The Forest Service is working to secure funding to repair these roads.
On Paragon Road, work is ongoing to repair flood damage. More than three miles of the road between Highway 519 and Jones Ridge Road remain closed to motorized vehicle use. Vehicle access is available up to a new gate installed a half mile east of Highway 519 or via Jones Ridge Road. The entire road is scheduled to open by October 16, in time for the first muzzleloader season for deer.
On Lockegee Road, a landslide at the southern end of Road 16 has resulted in the closure of 1.5 miles of the road nearest to Twin Knobs Campground. Lockegee Road and the surrounding area is still accessible from the north via Highway 1274.
To help ensure the availability of open roads in the future, visitors are expected to carry out their trash, keep vehicles on established roadways, avoid blocking gates, and respect the land by not cutting down trees. Any vandalism or illicit activity found to occur may result in the roads being closed to further use. Inclement weather causing road damage or safety concerns may also result in the roads closing earlier than planned.
All-terrain vehicles, including side-by-sides, are prohibited on national forest system roads and prohibited from cross-country travel on national forest lands. The White Sulphur ATV Trail system is open to ATV use.
Hunters are encouraged to try a new online mapping tool that provides the public with management status of open lands and forested areas, including timber harvests and fire history. The link is
https://usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c58fc9969c96499a9be878aa79aba0e2.
Copies of the Daniel Boone National Forest motorized vehicle user maps (MVUM) are available at www.fs.usda.gov/main/dbnf/maps-pubs. Additional information can be obtained on the Daniel Boone National Forest website or by contacting one of the Forest Service visitor centers or information desks.
Be Alert for Aggressive Dogs
May, 2019
Recently (Spring 2019) 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
Landslide at Clear Creek
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May, 2018
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. Update on 11/15/19: still not fixed. Ask Steve about a reroute.
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Reroute at Stoney CoveAt 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.
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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.
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Wartburg, Tennessee Planned Southern Terminus for TraceWorking 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.
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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!
