Welcome to the trail guide section of our site. Wondering where to hike? We get that question all the time. This trail guide highlights our favorite destinations across Red River Gorge, Sheltowee Trace, Cumberland Gap, and Big South Fork—from iconic overlooks to hidden gems that see fewer boots. Trails featured here appear on our detailed topographic printed maps in our shop, complete with GPS coordinates, photo tours, and practical hiking info to help you plan your adventure. While you can use these descriptions with any map, they’re designed to work seamlessly with our printed and digital trail maps.
We also offer a map that assesses scenic conditions along trails in the Big South Fork, Daniel Boone National Forest, and the state parks that border these public areas. View this map on SheltoweeTrace.com
A general key for our difficulty, scenery, and elevation measures.
Difficulty
+ Easy. Well-maintained trail with stairs, boardwalks, and bridges; no creek crossings and little or no elevation gain.
++ Moderate. Fast trail over moderately variable surface; minor creek crossings, bridges across deeper creeks; some steep elevation changes.
+++ Difficult. Trail over highly variable surface, slow with switchbacks, creek crossings, or fords, and steep elevation changes.
++++ Tough-n-Rough. Stretches of poorly signed, steep, and aggravating trail that will occasionally require crossing swift moving streams. Ladders, scrambles, and/or fords that could become impassable in bad weather or high water.
Scenic Views
+ I’m outdoors at least. No proper scenic views or areas; area is overused, noisy, and/or derelict. Road walks and stretched of trail on private land. Recent logging or mineral extraction and/or fouled earth.
++ Pleasant. Mostly in forest with periodic scenic views into the depth of the woods or across a nice creek.
+++ Gorgeous. Great trail in big forest with big views. Developed scenic areas or overlooks. Arches or other geology.
++++ Outstanding. Major overlooks to fantastic geologic and water features. If you see people, they will surely have cameras.
Elevation. Since the elevation relief is given for the trail, the number of ‘ascents’ or ‘uphills’ are denoted by the ^ character.
^ 1 Uphill, etc….
^^
^^^
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