Awesome. That’s the a good word to describe the current trail conditions at Cave Run. Often plagued with muddy trail conditions from numerous seeps, the trails now are fast, firm, and fantastic. Trails around sandstone outcroppings are sandy as usually and the soil elsewhere is dusty.
Water is an issue for backcountry ridge campers. Clear Creek is not flowing at the Iron Furnace. Occasional pools are found with plenty of crawdads and water spiders, but above that nothing. Of course the lake has plenty of water, but one will have to climb off the ridge to refill their nalgenes.
For more info about the drought conditions the forest is experiencing, visit our post on this topic here.