Welcome to the Trace

A 354-mile backcountry trail that spans the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork National Recreation River and Recreation Area. Updated September 2020.

Trail markers
Trails signs of the Trace

Connecting trails are shown with mileage to help plan great section hikes and loop trips. Official trails are shown for the the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork. This map is essential for any exploration of the ST, whether it is for a thru hike or a day hike.

 

Current web map
We host an interactive web map that users with mobile devices and a data connection can use to locate themselves on the Trace via GPS. Our online map is keyed with our printed map, so they can work together in field. Visit sheltoweetrace.com/hike on your mobile device.

 

Web map

interactive web map View an interactive online map

Our maps contain official trails in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Big South Fork NRRA, and the state resort parks at Cumberland Falls and Natural Bridge. It shows recreation areas, campgrounds, trailheads, and scenic areas. Read our blog for the Sheltowee Trace.

 

Buy this Map

Sheltowee, or Big Turtle, was Daniel Boone's name in his 1778 Shawnee family.

Topographic maps at 1:31,680 scale with 50-ft contours, trail mile markers, GPS grids, and detailed hiking info in a rich, full-color 19" x 27" page size folded down to 5" x 7". Lamination waterproofing available via our custom heat press method.

Big South Fork

Our south map now contains the official trail network for the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. It replaces the older John Muir Trail in the Big South Fork map.

 

Places to Visit 
Northern Terminus - New Morehead Reroute - Eagle Lake - Rodburn Hollow - Amburgy Rocks - Four Fingers - Cave Run Lake - Clear Creek - Corner Ridge - Clifty Wilderness - Red River Gorge - Natural Bridge State Resort Park - Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve - Turkey Foot - McKee - S-Tree - Horse Lick Creek - Hawk Creek - Rockcastle Narrows - Bee Rock - Cane Creek WMA - Laurel Lake - Mouth of Laurel - Cumberland River - Cumberland Falls State Resort Park - Barren Fork - Yahoo Falls Scenic Area - Big South Fork - Blue Heron - Scuttlehole - Charit Creek - Pilot Wines and Big Island - Station Camp Creek - Rock Creek - Leatherwood Ford - John Muir Trail - Twin Arches - Litton and Blevins Farms - No Business Creek - Honey Creek - Burnt Mill Bridge

Photographs & Maps

Sheltowee Trace Photos

Pixel's Travels

Vew images of maps for the Sheltowee Trace

Images of Maps

Current weather maps and data for the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Weather maps and data for DBNF

Go Explore!

Our Favorite Hikes

Furnace Arch, Sheltowee Trace

aalCave Run Lake Trail Guide
Distance: 6 Miles round-trip from trailhead
Difficulty: ++
Scenic Views: +++
Elevation Relief: 500ft ^
Ownership: Daniel Boone NF, USFS

Sheltowee Trace North Trail Map

Hiker Hiker Hiker

Imagine the scene around Clear Creek Iron Furnace in the 1830’s, the trailhead for this hike...

Our Sheltowee Trace Blog

RRG 3D terrain map

Interactive web maps have come a long way over the years. First we had slippy maps using raster t...

A simple GPS tool for the phone

If you visit this site often, you likely have a favorite map app on your phone. I certainly do an...

Sheltowee Trace elevation profile

Working on the 2020 update of the Sheltowee Trace maps using high-resolution DEMs derived from li...

Our Clients' Maps

RRG 3D terrain map

Interactive web maps have come a long way over the years. First we had slippy maps using raster tilesets – they’ve been around for about twenty y...

A simple GPS tool for the phone

If you visit this site often, you likely have a favorite map app on your phone. I certainly do and I have installed dozens of apps over the years. ...

News & Weather

News from SheltoweeTrace.com
Veterans Day Hiking 2019
Author: twostep
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 6:24 ...
What happened?
Author: Elkins45
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 9:26...
Po'Boy Adventures
Author: twostep
Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:13 ...
Insanity 2016 (thru hike in 9 1/2 days)
Author: I.B.Me
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2016 6:25 p...
Tweets from the STA
News from the Sheltowee Trace Association about Kentucky's long trail, the Sheltowee Trace.
Tweets from KyWilderness
Activities in the great outdoors of Kentucky and beyond, focusing mainly on the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork.
Current Weather Conditions

Cave Run Lake

33.6F, Clear - 2:20 PM EST Mar. 6

Red River Gorge

30.9F, Clear - 2:20 PM EST Mar. 6

Turkey Foot

31.9F, Clear - 2:19 PM EST Mar. 6

Laurel Lake

34.3F, Clear - 2:19 PM EST Mar. 6

Big South Fork

30.3F, Clear - 1:15 PM CST Mar. 6