The Sheltowee Trace Trail Is The Single Most Dangerous Hike In All Of Kentucky
By Celina Colby|Published June 29, 2021
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Celina Colby
Author
Celina Colby is a Boston-based writer and native New Englander who has been covering travel, arts, food, and culture nationally for ten years. When she's not on deadline you can often find her reading, sewing, and searching for the perfect empanada.
The Sheltowee Trace Trail spans nearly 323 miles, from the Northern corner of Kentucky winding all the way to Tennessee. Most of the trail can be found in the Daniel Boone National Forest. When taken in small pieces as day trips or side trails, the Sheltowee can be utilized by hikers of all levels. But for those who attempt to hike the trail in its entirety, serious survival skills will be needed.
The sheer size of the trail means you'll be camping on the way and hiking for over a week. The fastest known time for completing the hike is eight days.
Along the way you'll find hanging bridges in various conditions as well as a number of stream crossings and rocks that require scaling. Hikers recommend wearing water shows to combat the sometimes deep streams. On the plus side, there are many beautiful waterfalls to experience during your climb.
The Sheltowee Trace Trail goes through Natural Bridge State Resort Park, located in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Proceed through the Natural Bridge section cautiously, around 40 people fall from these steep cliffs annually, sometimes resulting in death.
Bears are another common concern on the Sheltowee. Many hikers have reported encounters with the animals at campsites and while hiking. The campsites do have bear boxes to store food in, but it's important to prepare for a potential confrontation.
Navigation is crucial on a long haul hike like Sheltowee. Although there are many fantastic apps with maps and navigation of the trail, many hikers have reported lack of cell service while hiking. Keep a backup paper map with you and a sharp lookout for the trail markers which can be easily missed.
The Sheltowee may be a significant and dangerous undertaking, but it's also a submersion into the beauty of the natural world. Don't forget to take in the sights!
The Sheltowee Trace Trail was named in honor of Daniel Boone. Sheltowee was the name given to him by Chief Blackfish of the Shawnee tribe. And if you’re planning to hike the whole trail, you’re going to want Daniel Boone level survival skills to do it.
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