The Great Smoky Mountains Trail Atlas
Over the past few months, we’ve been designing this new map/atlas of the Great Smoky Mountains. The atlas will contain 1:96,500 scale full-color maps that show all trails, high points, low points, waterfalls, forest cover, spot elevations, backcountry campsites, and a UTM grid and GEO graticule for use with GPS. A companion booklet and insets will discuss trail statistics, such cumulative elevation gain/loss and start/end points, climate for different elevations, park amenities, and historic structures found along the trails. [Read more…]
Map Atlas of the Great Smoky Mountains
September 18, 2007 by
GEO or UTM? Graticule or Grid?
September 15, 2007 by
We’re developing our latest map for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and we had a question. As a hiker and user of maps, do you prefer a detailed GEO graticule (you know…the degrees, minutes, seconds…) or do you prefer the military grid, UTM, which is in meters?
We have both on most of our maps, but which would you use most?
Of course the graticule would be most useful with a GPS unit in default configuration. If you choose a GEO graticule, do your prefer units in decimal minutes (e.g., 36° 45.35′) or decimal degrees (e.g., 84.2546°).
Red River Gorge Climbing Areas
July 10, 2007 by
Red River Gorge Sports Map
Distance: Varied mileage for approaches to climbing areas
Difficulty: ++++
Scenic Views: ++++
Elevation Relief: 800ft
Ownership: Daniel Boone National Forest, USFS, Red River Gorge Climber’s Coalition, The Muir Valley, and private lands
Google to trailhead
| Red River Gorge Sports map: $7 |
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The Red River Gorge is internationally known for rock climbing. With the expansive development of climbing areas in the Gorge, numerous guidebooks have been published to help climbers find new routes. The current definitive publication and website is RedRiverClimbing.com. An interactive map locating climbing areas pulls from redriverclimbing.com’s online guidebook and shows the myriad of publications currently available. While the basic GPS-gridded map with 50 crags, the Muir Valley, and the Southern Gorge can be purchased here.
Tater Knob Trail – Pioneer Weapons
July 9, 2007 by Leave a Comment
| Sheltowee Trace North Trail Map: $26 |
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This is an essential Cave Run Lake experience: hiking to the top of Tater Knob. You can’t say you’ve ‘done’ Cave Run, unless you’ve watched the sunset from this last-standing fire tower in the Daniel Boone national forest. Built in 1934, the tower was decommissioned in the 1970’s when aircraft replaced fixed observation points.
Grand Gap Loop – John Muir Trail
July 9, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Big South Fork Map
Distance: 6 Miles round-trip from Leatherwood Ford
Difficulty: ++
Scenic Views: ++++
Elevation Relief: 525ft ^
Ownership: Big South Fork, NPS
Google to trailhead & coordinates
| Big South Fork Trail Map: $12 | |
The hike from Leatherwood Ford along the John Muir Trail to the Grand Gap Loop trail is one of the most scenic river walks in the park. Contrasting the views of wildflowers and Fall Branch creek are the gorge overlooks found along the 4 mile stretch of Grand Gap Trail that hugs the cliffline above the river. The notable vista is the Angel Falls overlook and many deep pools in the river for swimming and fishing. You might find other happy day hikers and backpackers who shuttle from Bandy Creek Campground and hike the 12 miles from Leatherwood Ford back to the campground.
Gibson Gap – Ridge Trail – Hensley Settlement
July 9, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Cumberland Gap Map
Distance: 23 Miles round-trip from Wilderness Road Campground
Difficulty: +++
Scenic Views: ++++
Elevation Relief: 2,100ft ^^^
Ownership: Cumberland Gap, NPS
Google to trailheads
| Cumberland Gap Trail Map: $12 |
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Trails in Hensley settlement
Sherman Hensley hiked up this mountain in 1903 with his pregnant wife and all of the tools and food-on-foot he could drive. They saw the large meadow that would bear the Hensley name and carved out a pioneer homestead. The Gibson family later joined the settlement and together they lived on the mountain, even after the park purchases their land until Sherman left in 1970. [Read more…]
Pine Mountain Trail – Elkhorn City to Skeet Rock
June 13, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Pine Mountain Trail Map
Distance: 14 Miles round-trip from trailhead
Difficulty: ++++
Scenic Views: +++
Elevation Relief: 2,100ft ^^^
Ownership: Private, Kentucky SP, Jefferson NF
Google to Elkhorn City trailhead
| Free download |
The Pine Mountain Trail is one of the most challenging trails in Kentucky. The elevation change, distance, and the undulating, serrated ridge together make a hard, but rewarding backpacking trip. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the trail are the many intersecting jeep and ohv trails. Even with a good map and navigation tools, you will loose the trail and hopscotch down this trail or that. No worries though, since the trail essentially hugs the knife edge of the ridge, you will eventually, if arduously, retake the trail. [Read more…]
Twin Arches Loop
May 8, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Big South Fork Map
Distance: 4.7 Miles round-trip from trailhead
Difficulty: ++
Scenic Views: ++++
Elevation Relief: 525ft ^
Ownership: Big South Fork, NPS
Google to trailhead & coordinates
| Big South Fork Trail Map |
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The Twin Arches loop is the benchmark trail for the Big South Fork. You’ll see not one, but two spectacular arches, hike under fine cliffline, visit two historic homesteads, collect numerous great photos, and to top it off, you can overnight at Charit Creek Lodge.
Twin Arches
The lodge offers two cabins, full meals, and hostel loding for the hiker or equestrian. Reservations are required. A great morning hike is to take 3.2-mile round-trip excursion to the Charit Creek Overlook.
Charit Creek Lodge
Hidden Passage & Rock Creek Loop
April 30, 2007 by Leave a Comment
Big South Fork Map
Distance: 9.7 Miles loop
Difficulty: ++++
Scenic Views: +++
Elevation Relief: 250ft ^^
Ownership: Pickett State Park, Tennessee
Google to trailhead
| Big South Fork Trail Map |
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Rock Creek valley
This loop just southwest of the Big South Area in Pickett State Park is a wonderful trail for seclusion and scenic rests developed by the CCC in the 1930s. While Pickett doesn’t have the elevation relief of the Big South to the east, this trail follows the rugged meanders of Thompson Creek and exposed ridges with nice views of pine forests.
The great deal with this loop is that you visit Rock Creek, if only for a mile. Rock Creek forms essentially the northwest boundary of the Big South Fork recreation area and is one of the largest tributaries of the Big South Fork river. The lower sections are muddied by historic coal mining, but the upper reaches are damned by beavers and fished for trout. Hikers will find large pools and wide, cool stream channels.
Entering Big South Fork country
Directions: Start at the historic Sheltowee Trace southern terminus trailhead in Pickett Start Park on TN 154.
- Mile 0: Hike from a rerouted parking access trail to the historic trail
- 0.5, intersection with group camp trail.
- 0.6, Hidden Passage rockhouse and Crystal Falls.
- 4.4, side trail to Double Falls, a 1.5-mile round-trip.
- 5.0, turn right to Rock Creek. If continue straight on Hidden Passage Loop, then you’ll reduce the loop distance by 1.7 miles, but avoiding the cooling waters of the creek.
- 5.8, intersection with Rock Creek and camp. Ford creek, turn left and follow up creek on old rail bed.
- 6.7, Cross creek on Tunnel Trail and visit old train tunnel.
- 7.2, after passing a few scenic rests and nice vista, go straight at intersection with Hidden Passage Loop trail.
- 9.2, close loop one tributary west of Crystal Falls
- 9.7, historic Sheltowee Trace terminus parking lot.
Crystal Falls
Veterans Park Frisbee Golf Course
July 5, 2006 by Leave a Comment
Veterans Park Frisbee Golf Coursr
John’s Run Walk maps
August 25, 2005 by Leave a Comment
Three running routes around Chevy Chase
Street map for southeast Lexington with 10-foot elevation contours
Often folks wonder were to run in Lexington, especially after purchasing some fast and fly sneakers. These two maps present options for the runner. The first map locates three routes that verteran runners use for safety, scenery, and distance. The second map is simply a topographic street map for southeast Lexington inside New Circle.
At Leisure’s Edge
August 8, 2001 by Leave a Comment
Download audio documentary (66 Megabytes)
At Leisure’s Edge, an audio exploration of Kentucky’s historic black parks. This download contains maps and audio that locate and describe Kentucky’s once-segregated black parks, including Cherokee State Resort Park in western Kentucky.
Have a listen to the Introduction.
Read the Script-Radio-Documentary and visit the SoundCloud set.
Maps: InfoSheet and InfoSheet-Map
Or watch a one-hour documentary.
The Elkhorn City Living Cemetery Project
April 9, 1999 by Leave a Comment
Click to view map. Requires Flash.
This project was supported by the U.K. Appalachian Center, Elkhorn City Heritage Council, and the Kentucky Humanities Council.
View interactive Map requires flash.
