View Full Version : Red River Gorge - Sheltowee Trace
I was thinking thru hiking the Sheltowee Trace through Red River Gorge (just the 17 miles in the Gorge, not the 200 or whatever it is).
Is this a pretty cool section of trail or should I visit some other places in RRG instead?
Thanks,
MTS
MTS,
I am glad to see that there is a little talk on here about the RRG. Sheltowee Trace will intersect some other trails as you go either north or south through the gorge. It is a quick hop over to Grey's Arch and back over to the trail via Rough Trail, highly recomended. If you are looking for a good end to end you might also want to take Swift Camp Creek Trail up and over to Koomer Ridge/ Sheltowee and then north to Indian Staircase. Just be carefull when you go because just this past weekend there was a 750 acre fire that was directly where sheltowee passes thought the heart of the gorge. There is a decent map on a site called Red River Saga, just google it. Hope all of this helped. P.S. there is a fire ban for 120 days.
DBD
MTS,
I am glad to see that there is a little talk on here about the RRG. Sheltowee Trace will intersect some other trails as you go either north or south through the gorge. It is a quick hop over to Grey's Arch and back over to the trail via Rough Trail, highly recomended. If you are looking for a good end to end you might also want to take Swift Camp Creek Trail up and over to Koomer Ridge/ Sheltowee and then north to Indian Staircase. Just be carefull when you go because just this past weekend there was a 750 acre fire that was directly where sheltowee passes thought the heart of the gorge. There is a decent map on a site called Red River Saga, just google it. Hope all of this helped. P.S. there is a fire ban for 120 days.
DBD
Thanks for the heads up on the fire ban. I had no idea.
Swift Creek Trail and Indian Staircase are all on my list of things to see so that's a good idea.
Midway Sam
10-08-2008, 17:24
My favorite 2-day excursion in the RRG was as follows:
Park in the lot over at Natural Bridge State Park. Take Whittleton Branch Trail over to Tunnel Ridge Road. Take Tunnel Ridge Road until you pick up the Sheltowee Trace which takes you into the Grey's Arch parking lot. Take Grey's Arch trail to the arch and enjoy for a while. Get back on the trail and work your way down to the bottom of the gorge for a nice camping area at the creek. Next day, take Rough Trail all the way to the Koomer Ridge Trail. Take Koomer Ridge Trail into the campground (restrooms, water fillup and trash disposal). Double back on the Koomer Ridge Trail to Buck Trail. Take Buck Trail over to Pinch'em Tight Trail. Take Pinch'em Tight Trail back over to the Grey's Arch area then back track over to where you parked via the Sheltowee Trace, Tunnel Ridge Road and Whittleton Branch Trail.
Red River Gorge was one of the nicest parts of my Sheltowee Trace hike from last summer. It is worth continuing on out of the Gorge all the way to Natural Bridge State Park. It is a nice way to finish up.
Water was plentiful in the Gorge area, and I enjoyed some fantastic swimming holes as well.
Midway Sam
10-08-2008, 18:02
It's dry as a bone now.
How many miles would you say this is?
My favorite 2-day excursion in the RRG was as follows:
Park in the lot over at Natural Bridge State Park. Take Whittleton Branch Trail over to Tunnel Ridge Road. Take Tunnel Ridge Road until you pick up the Sheltowee Trace which takes you into the Grey's Arch parking lot. Take Grey's Arch trail to the arch and enjoy for a while. Get back on the trail and work your way down to the bottom of the gorge for a nice camping area at the creek. Next day, take Rough Trail all the way to the Koomer Ridge Trail. Take Koomer Ridge Trail into the campground (restrooms, water fillup and trash disposal). Double back on the Koomer Ridge Trail to Buck Trail. Take Buck Trail over to Pinch'em Tight Trail. Take Pinch'em Tight Trail back over to the Grey's Arch area then back track over to where you parked via the Sheltowee Trace, Tunnel Ridge Road and Whittleton Branch Trail.
Midway Sam
10-08-2008, 19:06
20ish
SmokeEater
10-08-2008, 19:19
The gas station next to subway has great maps. Buy the one that folds out not the one in the package. Double arch is nice!
The gas station next to subway has great maps. Buy the one that folds out not the one in the package. Double arch is nice!
I have the USDA Map which is awesome and opens up pretty big...I think that's what your talking about.
And yes Double Arch and Haystack Rock are awesome.
I'm actually taking two other guys that have never been backpacking before so I'm trying to decide the coolest things to show them.
We were originally going to the Smokies but I called too late and everything is booked up until next week.
We went to Indian Staircase. All I can say is, WOW.
Lots of partying going on though....no wonder people die up there so often.
Anyways. Does anyone know of a book about the Unmarked trails of Red River Gorge? I heard of one but I don't remember it's name or where to get it.
heading down to the gorge in a couple of days, ill let everyone know how bad that fire is or was.
was at the gorge last week, drove past where i thought the fire was but so no evidence of anything. camped out on auxier ridge and had a great time. There is still a ban on fires, signs everywhere but other then that all is well at the gorge.
The Solemates
11-03-2008, 09:48
i would love to know more about this trail....post any trip reports you can, especially if you decide to thru the trail...
Thanks for the heads up on the fire ban. I had no idea.
Swift Creek Trail and Indian Staircase are all on my list of things to see so that's a good idea.
Yea, it's been dry(ish) there all year.
I like the STT, & have been to Indian Staircase about 5 times. Indian Staircase is truly "Party central" but if you can go on a weekday, It's quiet. There is a small pack of coyotes in the area, so hang your food at least a few feet off the ground, but I have never been bothered by them. And, well worth the effort to find it, near IS there is a huge rock house, be sure to look for the “Ohm Dome”. Be careful, the fall from that cliff can be timed with a calendar.
I am not a fan of the Swift Creek trail, at least the 1/2 farthest from the Rock Bridge trail: There are a lot of very narrow minimally maintained sections that if it's even a little slick, you may fall. And for many of those stretches the treadway slopes toward the cliff, sometimes at greater than a 45 degree angle. And, water is hard to come by, oh, you are at times only 50' from the river, 50' straight up with no access. ON THE OTHER HAND: some great views along here, & it is a rarely used trail. Lots of secluded campsites if you know how to find them.
traildust
11-15-2008, 12:11
This is a general message to all those who are visiting this site. I want to encourage those who can't thru-hike the A.T., to consider hiking "The Trace". It can be done in about two weeks and cover 260 miles. It runs from Ky down the Daniel Boone Forest to Tennessee. Here is a link to a former thru hiker who has chronicled his hike. http://www.kywilderness.com/tr/sheltowee/sheltowee.htm.
If you are considering a A.T. thru but unsure of your abilities, The Trace is an excellent way to gains some experience as a long distance hiker. Please visit the Sheltowee Trace site for more info on maps. Be advise that this long trail, in comparison to the A.T., has few shelters and privies and trail towns. It will be a logistical challenge and a real test of your endurance and ability to set up camp in the woods and collect water. You will experience moderate elevation gains and losses so the hiking part will not wear you down. Still, it is a challenge. If you can't get to the A.T for that 6-month "thru-hike" this year, maybe you can come to the Bluegrass and hike "The Trace".
Hope to see you on the trail.
I'm doing a thru of the ST pretty soon. PM me if you want to chat about it.
big_muddy
01-21-2009, 11:26
The book on the unofficial trails is called Hinterlands, http://www.lostbranch.com/index.htm
I've done a few trips in the gorge, liked Swift Creek Trail the best, but no one else in my group appreciated the difficulty of the trail. I've tried the trail twice. The first time we bailed at Wildcat and then did part of the rough trail. Second time it took us two days to complete the swift creek trail. We got a late start.
If you need a place to stay (car camping) I recommend Jim at Red River Gorge Campground http://www.redrivergorgecampground.com/
scooterdogma
06-19-2009, 17:12
It's written by Jerrell Goodpaster, he has also written, "Red River Gorge Trail Guide". Great book, if u enjoy a dry sense of humor, he is the author for you. You can order both from www.lostbranch.com (http://www.lostbranch.com)
Cookerhiker
06-19-2009, 19:56
It's written by Jerrell Goodpaster, he has also written, "Red River Gorge Trail Guide". Great book, if u enjoy a dry sense of humor, he is the author for you. You can order both from www.lostbranch.com (http://www.lostbranch.com)
I just moved to KY and was given this guidebook. Haven't had a chance to peruse it yet but I hope to hike the RRG and Sheltowee late this fall.
Ox97GaMe
06-20-2009, 22:50
Sole, I thru hiked the trail in 1999. I can answer some of the questions you may have about the trail. I dont think it has really changed that much in 10 years, as it doesnt get a lot of foot traffic.
There was a lot of road walking back then and I especially hated the section just south of where the trail crosses I-75 near exit 50??? That was a lot of 4 wheel /ATV trails back then that werent very well marked. I got lost in that section for 2 days. Not sure if I was on the trail or not, but eventually found my way to the truck stop at that exit and got confirmation I was headed in the right direction.