Mapping the Sheltowee

[Walkin'man]

Hiked this section the weekend of Oct. 16/17. I parked my car at the Natural Bridge Lodge and had the wife drop me off at Corner Ridge trailhead. There were no signs discouraging this and I didn’t bother to ask It turned out fine and no one bothered my car.

The weather was a perfect 75 degrees during the day, officially down to 47 that night, but in the valley it was more like 40. Maybe colder; I camp in a hammock so it seemed colder to me, anyway.

Overall, this has to be one of the top hikes of the Sheltowee in terms of scenery and beauty. I have not been on this section, even in the RRG area, so it was nice to 'discover' Indian and Adena arches, countless cliff views, beautiful pine and hemlock valleys still flowing with water even this far into a very dry season, and apparently even an explorable cave! The one thing it didn’t have was solitude.

Saturday was about a nine mile walk according to my pedometer, which is usually pretty accurate. This is a nice trail, easy at first, following what I assumed to be an old roadbed. It's well marked and has plenty of water along the way. There was a large mud puddle stomped out by horses just a little way from the trailhead while still on top of the ridge, so obviously it was spring fed and the first of many along this route.
The first junction is the trailhead for Osborn loop where the trail crosses Salt Fork creek before it dumps into Gladie creek. It’s here where you realize what comes down an easy trail must go up another, not so easy, trail. Seriously, I’d consider some sections of this to be downright difficult, but it’s still beautiful, all the same. It’s here I met up with the first of large count of people. Of course, I’m technically in the Red River Gorge, so I didn’t really expect much different.

One of the group told me there was a cave about a mile south of the creek junction that is big enough to do a little exploring, but I missed the side-trail to it. I did, however, pass two more groups of folks out enjoying the great weather.

I checked out a couple of the side trails, though, one leading to an unmarked arch that another group of folks told me was called Adena. This arch IS the end of a ridge that pokes out of a horseshoe canyon, and give you a 359 degree view. Awesome.

The trail passes directly by Indian arch, so you don’t have to look hard for it.

At some point during Saturday I realized that what I thought would be a 14 to 15 mile hike was going to be a little longer, so I didn’t explore every side trail and probably missed, besides a cave, a lot of nice campsites and views. The trail signs say it’s ten miles from Red River to Corner Ridge, but I’m guessing it’s closer to thirteen, and another group I ran into at the junction for Bison Way trail confirmed that with their GPS.
I bypassed the west end of the Indian Staircase side trail due to time restraints, but only reluctantly and only after promising myself I’d be back.

I camped about a mile before the east end of the Indian Staircase trail, on the west side of a slope to catch as much evening sun as possible. Sometime shortly before dark one of my neighbors yelled out a greeting, and I answered simple because I thought I should. I think he was trying to figure out if the noise I was making doing my camp chores was a bear or something else After dark, I could see another neighbor’s light somewhere behind me on the trail, but gratefully everyone stayed quiet and kept to themselves.

The next day I got a late start and needed to make up some time, so I pushed myself hard but had no idea what was waiting on me. Before getting to the Red River, the trail goes up and down and in and out several valleys and ridges. I passed quite a few more people and was started to think it was as crowded as Disneyworld, relatively speaking. That thought was confirmed when I got to the swinging bridge and actually had to stand in line to go across! There was a large group with several small children going across a couple at a time.

I was finally in what I consider the Gorge proper and had never been on this part of the trail; it was another easy walk up the river valley to Rough Trail. The wildfires had closed part of the Sheltowee through Pinch-em-tight. I could have chosen to go that route and turn up Buck trail, but I’d been that way before and knowing I had a ½ mile road walk on a busy highway I choose the shorter route via Koomer Ridge. I have been down Koomer Ridge a little over a mile from the campground, but have never seen the back half. Had I chosen it just for the shortcut, I would have gotten my just rewards – this was the hardest and steepest trail I’ve gone down (up!) for some time! It literally climbs the entire ridge from the valley to the top in what seems like a straight up, mile-long climb.

Before leaving the valley floor, though, the trail goes through and over several creeks. One established, non-LNT campsite was right on the creek and someone has built some nice looking chairs out of fallen timber, canvas and twine. They look really comfy and sit in front of a nice fire pit. No one was camping there; if I had another day I would have!

After (finally) reaching the top of Koomer Ridge, it was back to an easy ridge walk to the camp ground where I stopped and availed myself to water and a picnic table to rest my blisters. I hadn’t even gotten my socks off when the camp host pulled up on a golf cart asking me if I was camping. When I said no, just resting, he said I was technically using the campsite and should pay the campsite fee. I couldn’t believe it - he was being a complete jerk. Needless to say, I didn’t stay long. After I’d gotten my shoes back on and was walking out, he was being a jerk to some kids that had parked in front of the campsite and had just come off the trail. He was telling them there was a $75 fine for parking there and threatening to call the authorities. Keep in mind there wasn’t one single campsite in use, and their car was the only one there. I repeat, this guy’s a jerk.

I was on the downhill stretch now; with only Whittleton branch left to go before getting to my car. I’d never been down this trail, either, but for some reason didn’t expect much from it. I guess I was thinking it was just a convenient connector from the Gorge to Natural Bridge. What a pleasant surprise this trail turned out to be another beautiful valley hike, under a pine canopy, along a creek with interesting rock features and beautiful scenery. What a great finish to a great hike.

[jbd]

Nice trip report and photos. I will be hiking that section next year if all goes as planned.

[Walkin'man]

Thanks, JBD. I forgot to mention that, gratefully, there was little to no trash through this area. No comments or judgements on why that is, just stating a fact.

Another point I may have made indirectly; I did this hike in two days, but I would love to have had more time, possibly four days, just to explore more and really enjoy the scenery.

- Jeff

[Chilton]

You're right in says that this is an amazingly scenic section. My favorite.