Sheltowee Trace

About the route

The Sheltowee Trace is a National Recreation Trail that runs south through Kentucky into Tennessee. The Sheltowee Trace Association gives its length as 343 miles, from the northern boundary of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County, Kentucky, to the southern boundary of Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee. The association's shuttle list ends its last stretch at Burnt Mill Bridge. The association resets the mileage each January after reroutes, and says finishing the last Big South Fork section will change the figure. A Forest Service page still describes the end as Pickett State Park and gives a shorter figure, so confirm both ends before you book a shuttle. Most hikers start in the north and go south. The association says the average is 25 days, and 21 is possible, but it encourages you to take a month. Permits depend on the section. In Big South Fork you need a backcountry camping permit. It covers one trip of up to 14 days at one site, and you can get it at a park visitor center or online through Pay.gov. If your trip starts or ends in Pickett CCC Memorial State Park, you also need a free Tennessee State Park backpacking and parking permit from the park visitor center. Backcountry camping elsewhere in the Daniel Boone National Forest is free. In the Red River Gorge, a vehicle left overnight needs a pass on display. The association's hike registration is voluntary, but it asks every hiker to register; the numbers help it make the case to land managers. Red River Gorge parking passes are sold at Forest Service offices and at local vendors such as the gas stations in Slade. Natural Bridge State Park, which the trail crosses at about miles 83 to 87, allows no backcountry camping and no pets, so plan on its two campgrounds on the trail. The Forest Service describes the trail as rugged, along narrow ridges and down into gorges with tall cliffs. Cell service is missing on many sections; the association says Verizon works best, near towns and on hillsides, but not along the cliff lines by rivers. Parts of the trail are shared with other users: mountain bikes and horses around Cave Run Lake, ATVs and dirt bikes from Turkeyfoot to S-Tree, and bikes and horses on parts of Big South Fork. Hunting is allowed on national forest land under state rules, so take care in hunting season. The association warns of local dogs that may come out to greet you along a 15-mile rural road stretch on KY 399, Cressmont and Todd Road, about southbound miles 103 to 119. It links advice on handling them and asks you to report any bad encounter to the State Police. If the Red River is high, fording is unsafe and the association lists a high-water route. The association says you can camp 300 feet off the trail in the open forest, and it asks you to use existing sites. Do not camp under rock houses or cliff lines except in an emergency. In the Red River Gorge, camping is banned within 300 feet of a developed road or trail, and within 600 feet of Gray's Arch, unless you are at a designated site. Forest orders also ban camping within 300 feet of the water's edge of Cave Run Lake, Laurel River Lake and Lake Cumberland, and within 300 feet of any road or trail leading down to them, except at designated sites. Big South Fork bars camping within 100 feet of a cave, rock shelter, arch or trail, within 100 feet of or in sight of a paved road, and at its developed parking areas, which include Alum Ford, Yamacraw, Blue Heron, Leatherwood Ford, Charit Creek and Burnt Mill Bridge. A campsite there may not be left unattended for more than 24 hours, and pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The Big South Fork is a whitewater river that can rise quickly. Overnight parking at Bandy Creek is only at the pool lot and the F-loop area. Treat all water. There are many streams and creeks, and you will get your feet wet, so bring camp shoes that can double as water shoes. Along the way, Turkey Foot Campground (mile 131.8) and S-Tree Campground (mile 149.9) are free and open all year, Koomer Ridge is the only Forest Service campground in the Red River Gorge, about 3 miles off the trail, and Charit Creek Lodge at mile 306.9 is a backcountry lodge open to the public. Black bears are present. Food left unattended must be in a bear-resistant container, a closed vehicle, or hung. In Big South Fork, hang packs and food sacks 10 feet up and 4 feet out. Wear blaze orange in its backcountry, especially in big game season. The association names five trail towns: Morehead, McKee, Livingston, London and Stearns. Each has someone who can shuttle you to a hotel, restaurant or medical care. Lago Linda Hideaway near Beattyville takes food boxes and has a small store. Confirm with any stop before you mail a box. The association's guidebook lists water sources, shelters and resupply points; it is also stocked at the visitor centers in Morehead and London and at the Gladie Visitor Center. The association's printed map sets predate two reroutes that added 14 miles, around Cave Run Lake and on the Kentucky Trail in Big South Fork, and its Clear Creek Campground reroute is not on the print maps either, so check the alerts page against any paper map. No air, train or bus service reaches either end. For the north end, shuttles run from the Cincinnati, Lexington and Huntington airports, or from a bus stop in Lexington or the Amtrak stop in Ashland. For the south end, the nearest airport is Nashville. STA volunteers cover shuttles on the first 60 miles in the north, and commercial shuttles serve the south end around Laurel Lake and Cumberland Falls. For a ride between the two ends, the association lists its director (606-308-0625) and Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort (800-541-7238). The association asks for shuttle requests at least five days ahead. Closures change. Check the Sheltowee Trace Association alerts page, the Daniel Boone National Forest alerts page, and the Big South Fork alerts and conditions page. The association says its social media sometimes carries newer reroute news than its website. For hunting seasons, check the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The association's director answers questions by text or phone at 606-308-0625. When you finish, send your name, city, state, phone and finish date to the association for its End-to-Ender registry; it sends finishers a certificate, patch, rocker and mileage decal while it has them in stock.

Permits

Permits depend on the section. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area requires a backcountry camping permit, available at a park visitor center or online through Pay.gov. Trips that start or end in Pickett CCC Memorial State Park also need a free Tennessee State Park backpacking and parking permit from the park visitor center. In the Red River Gorge, a vehicle left overnight on national forest land needs a pass on display. Natural Bridge State Park, which the trail crosses at about miles 83 to 87, allows no backcountry camping and no pets; use its two campgrounds on the trail.

• Permit information and applications↗ (opens in new tab)
• Big South Fork online backcountry permits↗ (opens in new tab)National Park Service
• Daniel Boone National Forest passes↗ (opens in new tab)USDA Forest Service
• Daniel Boone National Forest permits↗ (opens in new tab)USDA Forest Service
• Sheltowee Trace Association↗ (opens in new tab)

Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current application windows and requirements with the issuing agency.

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