Mapping the Sheltowee

[twostep]

I am planning on a spring trip south of I75 on the Sheltowee. Anyone been on the trail lately to discuss the conditions.

Also, I will be doing about 10 mile days to allow lots of site seeing.

Anyone interested in making the trek, let me know.

[Hiram]

I hiked from the bark camp trail jct north to Laurel dam over Thanksgiving. The trail was well cleared and well marked, but appeared very little used. For variety, I made a loop returning over the "flood bypass" between the mouth of laurel boat ramp and bark camp. The bypass is extremelyhard to follow, especially on the lower end near the boat ramp. However, I doubt many folks would be out hiking in conditions that would make the bypass needed.

I also added KY 192 to Cane Creek and found that in good shape also.

I hope to mountain bike the STT sections from Laurel Dam to Ky 192 and from KY 80 south to Forest Rd 457 this spring or summer, and would be interested in in current info on those sections

[Boyd]

Hello Hiram,

I think the portion of the ST between the Dam and KY 192 is all in Holly Bay and is a great mountain bking trail. Twisty singletrack that I understand is a regional favorite.

The section south of 80 is a web of OHV trails and I think the ST there is open to a big variety of off-road use. photos of ST from KY192 to 80

For a fast mountain biking experience on bascially a lunar landscape, go north of Hawk Creek, which is just north of old 80, and ride those jeep trails. They're dry all year because the top soil is gone. It's crazy!

twostep...this lunar landscape section is I75 south to KY 80, maybe 6 miles. South of KY 192 the ST gets better every mile in my opinion and then in your in the Big South Fork! photos of I75 to old 80

[Hiram]

Thanks Boyd-

Maybe I can get out to ride these sections this spring. My interest in hiking the Sheltowee thru the ATV Hell north of 80 is low. Maybe riding my mountain bike will be more fun. At least the miles will go by faster.

When I drove through the Holly Bay area this fall it looked like there was a green-blazed trail that crossed the access roads to both the marina and campground. The green blazed trail lies on the west (highway) side of the STT, and you can occasionally see it from the highway. I'm hoping to make a loop with the two, but don't know the start or finish of the green trail. Has anyone tried it?

[twostep]

Thanks Boyd, from what it looks like I won't be missing anything trying to camp along the Trace from I-75 to 80. To much four wheeling.

I think I might just do the 80 to 192 trek and see what kind of camp sites down around Dog Branch I can find. Are there any more pictures of sights in that area posted on the sight anywhere else.

[Boyd]

twostep,

I don't have any other photos from that section, but as you get close to 192, there's great hiking near the Rockcastle River and a bridge across the river to an old overlook. I'd definitely drop the I75-80 segement and pick up the Rockcastle Narrows loop at the end....might even add an extra day! The loop is well discussed in the "50 Hikes in Kentucky"...written by our friend Hiram.

Hey Hiram,

I haven't seen that trail...maybe it's new? Have you hiked the short trails below the dam? Probably a mile, but a nice view down the valley.

[Hiram]

Boyd-
I haven't hiked or mountain biked that trail, or the short trails near the dam yet. It will probably be spring before I get up there again. The timing may depend on the campground opening. I'm looking to plan out two days of good mountain biking, maybe one at Laurel Lake and the other on the STT between Rockcastle and hway 80.

[Boyd]

I think Holly Bay Campground opens April 15 or May 1. Unlike Big South Fork campgrounds which stay open all year, but without bath houses, I think the DBNF campgrounds lock up without even tent camping. I think Bee Rock stays open all year.