Lakes-to-Ocean Trail (LOT)

[Taba]

The Lakes-to-Ocean Trail is a newly designed path that runs from Chicago to Charleston, SC and the OBX, NC. It connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean using a system of long distance trails, greenways, sidewalks and country roads. It includes the new Hoosier Trail of Indiana, the Sheltowee Trace of Kentucky, the Bartram Trail, the Palmetto Trail of South Carolina, the Foothills Trail and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, with Thru-Hiker's Manuals for each trail included plus 2 routes across Kentucky and Tennessee to tie everything together. It is designed to allow the hiker to experience the most out of a cross country hike. To learn the culture, the cities, small towns and wilderness in every state it travels through. It spans 2,800 miles with one beginning point and 2 ending points...a pick your own path kind of adventure.

check it out at www.LakestoOceanTrail.com and on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/LakesToOceanTrailLot

also please use this forum or facebook to ask any questions about this journey. It's a fantastic way to experience America!

[O-H-10 Lil Ohio]

Taba ,thanks for the update, apprecciate your hard work , diversity, /culture input to the Lake to Ocean trail . Hope all is well!!Tic-Toc

[Taba]

Just wanted to say here that if you are planning any hikes on the Hoosier Trail, the Sheltowee Trace, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the Bartram Trail, the Foothills Trail, or the Palmetto Trail and you are looking for the directions for the adventures, there are "Thru-Hiker's Manual's" for each of these trails at www.thruhikersmanual.com

[10-K]

Taba that's simply amazing! Congratulations and thank you for your efforts. The manuals to these lesser hiked trails are very awesome.

[Dogwood]

Like what you're doing TABA!

[10-K]

Like what you're doing TABA!

It's really great.

I would encourage anyone in the position to do it to purchase one or more of his guides to support his efforts.


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[Taba]

It's really great.

I would encourage anyone in the position to do it to purchase one or more of his guides to support his efforts.

...Thanks 10-K... I have spent a lot of my life dedicated to this lifestyle hoping to make these journeys easier for others to enjoy. It is a lot of hard work but the support from people like you make all the efforts worth it.
Thanks again,
Taba

[Grits]

TABA did a great job an if you get a chance to hear his Story on this trail very worth the time.

[Taba]

The Lakes-to-Ocean Trail:
This is a path that connects several existing long-distance hiking trails in full length. It spans from the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago on Lake Michigan going south-east to Charleston, SC with an optional route to the Atlantic Ocean on the Outer Banks of NC. The total length of this trail system is about 2,800 miles with one beginning and 2 ends, a pick you're own path kind of journey. The Lakes-to-Ocean Trail connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean creating the LOT. It's a LOT of hiking, a LOT of trail and a LOT of fun. this is not intended to be a wilderness in its purist state but to be an American experience. The idea is to go into the major cities and look up at all the tall buildings and continue through the suburbs out of town to the country whether that be the mountains or farm lands. Each of the 6 states, not including Illinois, has a fair share of road walking and greenways with a good balance of wilderness hiking trails. This allows the adventurer who's travelling this path an opportunity to learn about the entire state not just the wilderness and state parks of each state. The chance to learn more about the cultures and acquire the knowledge of locals about the areas you find yourself. As well as the opportiunities to make life long friends along the way.

Here is a break down of the trail system:
It is divided into 8 Legs beginning from north to south
*Leg 1 - The Hoosier Trail (HT) - a newly connected pathway of rails-to-trails, sidewalks, country roads and wilderness trail. It's 420 miles from Chicago to Louisville, KY going through Indianapolis on greenways. The southern portion is where the wilderness trails are which include the Tecumseh Trail, the Pioneer Trail, and the Knobstone Trail, about 145 miles of hiking trails through here.
*Leg 2 - The Kentucky Connection (KC) - a safely designed road system across Kentucky through Louisville, Frankfort, and Lexington to the Northern Terminus of the Sheltowee Trace. About 180 to 200 miles
*Leg 3 - The Sheltowee Trace (ST) - a 320 mile wilderness trail through the Daniel Boone National Forest for just north of Morehead, KY to south of Oneida, TN. This trail includes natural features like rock shelters, natural arches, caves, waterfalls, streams, creeks, rivers, and lakes. Most of the trail is below in the deep trenches of sheer cliffs with various mountain top views and vistas.
*Leg 4 - The Tennessee Connector (TC) - 233 miles across Tennessee on roads with just over 100 of this on trail. This Leg goes through the cities of Wartburg, Oliver Springs, Oak Ridge, Knoxville, and Seymour to Gatlinburg connecting the Sheltowee Trace to the Appalachian Trail where the LOT continues south from there to Leg 5. The TC climbs over Mt. Leconte and Clingman's Dome so you definetly climb the highest mountain in Tennessee and the highest on the Appalachian Trail. At Clingman's Dome is the beginning of Leg 8 the Mountains-to-Sea Trail this is an alternate ending for the LOT to othe Outer Banks of NC. Bypass the MST to continue south on the LOT/AT to Cheoah Bald to begin Leg 5
*Leg 5 - The Bartram Trail (BT) - 120.5 miles of wilderness hiking trail with some road walk through 3 states, NC, GA and SC. to connect at an intersection of Leg 6 and Leg 7. This is the first good set of directions for the Bartram Trail catered to long distance hikers.
*Leg 6 - The Palmetto Trail (PT) - another cross state all terrain trail through South Carolina beginning at Oconee State Park in north-west South Carolina and ending in Awendaw at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge on the Intercoastal Waterway of the Atlantic Ocean. The PT includes mountains, cities, small towns, farmlands, pine forests and swamps. 472 miles A fantastic trail to experience South Carolina and some sourthern hospitality
*Leg 7 - The Foothills Trail (FT) - an alternate 5-10 day trail to go around the first stretch of road walk on the PT. A tough mountainous trail with great views good camping and water. A great AT training trail. The FT begins at Oconee State Park at the intersection of the legs 5 & 6 and ends at Table Rock State Park, SC touching some of North Carolina.
*Leg 8 - The Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) - this is the alternate route that the LOT bypassed in Leg 4. It's the final leg of the LOT and the longest of the all. The MST is 1,000 mile across NC from Clingman's Dome on the AT near Gatlinburg to the Outer Banks and the Atlantic Ocean. Combining wilderness trail with roads, sidewalks and greenways.

Prices for the Manuals are as follows:
Hoosier Trail -- 15.00
Kentucky Connection -- Not available yet
Sheltowee Trace -- 15.00
Tennessee Connector -- 10.00
Bartram Trail -- 10.00
Palmetto Trail -- 20.00
Foothills Trail -- 15.00
Mountains-to-Sea Trail -- 20.00

Check out the website www.Lakestooceantrail.com for more info or contact me directly at 561-319-2564
Thank you,
Scot Ward