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Post by thcadtom on Mar 5, 2017 7:35:15 GMT -8
I'm planning on taking my 14 year old daughter and 10 year old son on a 2 night backpacking trip to Red River Gorge KY April 5-7. Any suggestions for a good loop to try? I really like the looks of Swift Camp Creek trail. Is there any way to make it a loop? Anyone hiked it as an out and back? Thanks!
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Post by markweth on Mar 5, 2017 17:18:01 GMT -8
I posted a reply in a similar thread you posted in the mid-Atlantic forum. I've hiked the SCC Trail several times and unfortunately you can't really form a good loop out it. I would suggest the Sheltowee Trace/Rockcastle Narrows East a bit further south in the Daniel Boone National Forest as probably the "best" trip for a variety of reasons: www.kywilderness.com/forum/index.php?topic=7372.0 |
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Post by thcadtom on Mar 18, 2017 6:09:12 GMT -8
I posted a reply in a similar thread you posted in the mid-Atlantic forum. I've hiked the SCC Trail several times and unfortunately you can't really form a good loop out it. I would suggest the Sheltowee Trace/Rockcastle Narrows East a bit further south in the Daniel Boone National Forest as probably the "best" trip for a variety of reasons: www.kywilderness.com/forum/index.php?topic=7372.0 |
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Post by thcadtom on Mar 18, 2017 6:11:06 GMT -8
We're going to do the Rockcastle Narrows East trail. Any suggestions on which direction to hike it?
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Post by markweth on Mar 18, 2017 7:00:03 GMT -8
I would recommend hiking from the Sheltowee Trace parking lot towards Van Hook Falls on the Sheltowee Trace. It is about 2.5 miles to the falls and shortly past that is the junction with the Rockcastle Narrows East Trail/6-mile loop.
There are fairly obvious, and for the most part quite nice, places to camp between the parking lot and Van Hook Falls. So you might spend your first night at one of the camps a mile or so in, depending on what you get started and what your "schedule" is. If you set up camp early, you could explore in the creek (there are some nice off-trail waterfalls, but be careful of course with slippery rocks, drop offs, etc.) or perhaps even do an out-and back to Van Hook Falls, although that would sort of spoil the surprise. So I'd probably stick with exploring around camp.
From the junction with the Sheltowee Trace and Rockcastle Narrows East Trail, I would suggest hiking west on Rockcastle Narrows East Trail (following Cane Creek first, then following the Rockcastle River upstream, then looping back around). The trip just flows better this way. There are a few options for campsites, but the most obvious one is about halfway through the loop near the Rockcastle Narrows, a section of Class III rapids that are pretty cool to look at. From here you could end the loop and then hike back to the car via the Sheltowee Trace (so about 6 miles on your last day).
Hope this helps, have a great trip!
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,999 
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Post by driftwoody on Mar 18, 2017 14:19:17 GMT -8
Are there difficult river & creek crossings along the Rockcastle Narrows loop?
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Post by markweth on Mar 18, 2017 17:52:24 GMT -8
No. The crossings of Pounder Branch and Cane Creek (on the Sheltowee Trace) have bridges.
There is a crossing just above Van Hook Falls that might require taking boots off, but it isn't difficult and can usually be walked across on stepping stones or just stepped through at lower water levels.
There is one crossing of a Cane Creek tributary that is on a ledge and not a place where you would want to fall, but this can easily be negotiated. In the past few years, it seems like there was starting to be a pretty obvious user-created bypass trail of this "hazard" that crossed downstream.
Long story short, you will not find yourself in a situation on this trail where you reach a creek crossing that you will find too hazardous to cross . . . unless you just really dislike water!
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driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,999
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Post by driftwoody on Mar 18, 2017 18:56:06 GMT -8
Thanks markweth, that's important info. I'm taking a week vacation the last week this month and I've been following the weather -- it's been pretty wet, with more predicted. I had planned to hike the length of Laurel Fork Creek in BSF, but that's a major stream with more than a dozen crossings. At this time of year it might be prudent to make other plans. |
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Post by Coolkat on Mar 20, 2017 4:20:03 GMT -8
I would recommend hiking from the Sheltowee Trace This reminds me of a few years ago when I was hiking a 40 mile section of the Sheltowee Trace. The trail took me out to a road near the Clear Creek Furnace and there were some forest service workers walking down the road with fire starters in their hands. I asked what they were up to and they said they were getting read to do a controlled burn. I kept on going wondering if they even thought that someone might be hiking the trail. |
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