50km - first section (distances are best estimates)
1. Start at the Tailwater Picnic Pavillion just below the dam
2. South out of parking lot on grass/road to Hwy 826 (paved) (0.2 mi)
3. LEFT on 826 and up dam hill
4. RIGHT at top of hill into Stoney Cove (0.6 mi)
5. Follow paved road and go around metal gate by marquee onto gravel road
(0.9 mi)
6. [Sheltowee (white diamonds with turtle markers) has been rerouted here
to stay on the road.] STRAIGHT on gravel road, then dirt, then trail (3 mi)
7. LEFT on Sheltowee Trace Trail (3 mi)
8. STRAIGHT on Sheltowee past Caney Loop Trail (4 mi).
9. Cross two creeks AND muddy sections!!!
10. Immediately past second creek, RIGHT onto White Sulphur Springs (white
diamonds) connector (6 mi)
11. Cross creek and go up hill (6.4 mi)
12. Slight LEFT onto dirt/gravel road, then AID (6.5 mi)
13. Reverse back down, cross creek, to Sheltowee (7 mi)
14. RIGHT on Sheltowee, and start up hill
15. RIGHT on Sheltowee at Buckskin junction (7.7 mi), go up up up hell
16. Slight LEFT on Sheltowee at White Sulphur Springs junction (9.7mi)
17. Sharp LEFT starting down hill with two switchbacks still on Sheltowee(10.2
mi)
18. Follow Sheltowee to Buckcreek junction (11.7 mi)
19. LEFT on Buckcreek connector (white diamonds) to Buckcreek (11.8 mi)
20. RIGHT on Buckcreek (red diamonds/some white also) to FS 129 (12 mi).
AID
21. REVERSE going back on Buckcreek(12.2 mi)
22. RIGHT staying on Buckcreek at Connector trail.
23. UP UP UP to Zilpo Road (12.8 mi).
24. Cross road going STRAIGHT on Buckcreek Trail.
25. Down Clearcreek Trail occasionally crossing creek to gravel road (14.3)
26. CROSS road, go around metal gate and onto Buckcreek Trail (gravel).
27. LEFT at Tater Knob Connector Trail (white diamonds). (15 mi)
28. UP UP UP to Tater Knob parking lot. (16 mi). Climb 200+ wooden/metal/rock
steps to Tater Knob Fire Tower, and reverse back to parking lot (16.3 mi).
29. RIGHT on road out of Tater Knob parking lot to Zilpo Road (16.4 mi).
30. LEFT on Zilpo Road and diagonal to opposite side of road. And RIGHT onto
Cave Run Trail (blue diamonds) (16.4+ mi).
31. RIGHT at gravel road (16.8 mi) and around metal gate staying on Cave
Run Trail (16.8+ mi).
32. Down long trail with many switchbacks. At bottom LEFT staying on Cave
Run Trail at Buckskin Connector (18 mi)
33. Follow creek for 0.7 mile, then SHARP RIGHT crossing creek, into smaller
creek/trail (18.7 mi).
34. Follow creek/Cave Run Trail UP UP UP to gravel road (20 mi)
AID
35. Cross road staying on Cave Run Trail for 50 yards to 5-way junction.
36. Nearly STRAIGHT onto Hogpen Trail (red diamonds).
37. Stay on Hogpen going down hill into creek drainage/trail, crossing the
creek several times, skirting mud, cursing (22 mi).
38. LEFT at junction with Buckskin Trail (yellow diamonds), then follow Buckskin
to Sheltowee Trace Trail (23.5 mi)
39. RIGHT on Sheltowee at Buckskin junction to White Sulphur Springs Trail
connector (24.2 mi)
40. Follow trail, crossing creek and ending at the AID station (24.7
mi)
41. REVERSE onto White Sulphur Springs connector back to Sheltowee Trace
Trail. (25.2 mi)
42. LEFT onto Sheltowee Trace Trail, crossing two creeks, climbing some small
elevation adjustments to Caney Loop junction. (27.2 mi)
43. Stay LEFT on Sheltowee to the "Trail Closed" Sign (28.2 mi)
44. RIGHT on Sheltowee on dirt trail, then dirt (mud) road, then gravel road
to metal gate in Stoney Cove (30.3 mi)
45. Around metal gate and LEFT on road out of Stoney Cove to Hwy 826.
(30.6 mi)
50. LEFT at 826 (paved road)
51. RIGHT near bottom of hill into Tailwater Area (31mi)
52. Straight back to picnic pavillion and finish for first loop and
AID (31.2 mi).
You now have the option to stop at 50 km or continue for ~51 miles. JUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT YOU LET THE VOLUNTEERS KNOW YOUR INTENTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER!!!
Second section - 20 mi (or less) - for the 51 milers
A. Take the sidewalk around the spillway to the old road (0.2 mi) Follow
old road to top of dam at HWY 826 (0.6 mi)
B. LEFT onto HWY 826
C. RIGHT onto HWY 801 (0.8 mi)
D. Slight LEFT on service road and quick RIGHT onto Sheltowee Trace Trail
(0.9 mi) and start up hell (1.1 mi)
E. Stay on Sheltowee to LakeView Trail junction !!(2.2 mi)
F. RIGHT onto Lakeview Trail (plain white diamonds)
G. Follow Lakeview Trail along ridgeline then down hill to wooden bridge
(5.2 mi)
H. Cross bridge and RIGHT on old dirt road along powerline. Follow road,
then trail to gravel road (5.6 mi)
I. RIGHT on gravel road, pass metal gate to Hwy 801. Cross 801 into Goose
Pond parking lot. Just past the guardrail (5.7 mi), LEFT onto Lakeview Trail.
Then straight on Lakeview Trail, staying close to the Hwy 801 parallelling
this section.
J. Trail stops at Twin Knobs campground entrance (6.0 mi) AID
K. First, LEFT out of Twin Knobs towards Hwy 801.
L. Cross Hwy 801 DIAGONALLY RIGHT towards gravel road (FS 16)
M. Up FS 16 (1.4 mile climb), then follow this gravel road to gravel road
going off to left !!! Beware; don't miss this turn (10.4 mi).
N. LEFT on gravel side-road (Amburgey Rocks Road). Follow road to AID (12.0
mi)
O. Straight past AID, around metal gate and onto old logging road. There
may be large rock on the first part of the road. AND this section may be
muddy. This is Big Limestone Trail.
P. Follow Big Limestone Trail to junction with Sheltowee (15.4 mi)
Q. LEFT onto Sheltowee, and stay on this trail along ridge top, and then
down long hill (passing Lakeview side trail - 17.5 mi), staying on Sheltowee
to FS service road (18.8 mi).
R. LEFT the 10 yards to Hwy 801, then quick RIGHT and down to Hwy 826 (18.9
mi)
S. LEFT onto Hwy 826. Watch for signs!!!
T. Follow Hwy 826 to beginning of Cave Run Dam. Notice Cave Run Lake to left,
and go RIGHT at paved road (19.1 mi)
U. Follow curving road to base of dam, and continue 100 yards on gravel
road.
V. Go STRAIGHT staying parallel to the base of the dam when the gravel road
veers away. Run along grass to the sidewalk by the spillway. GO PAST THE
SPILLWAY STAYING TO THE LEFT.
W. Directly past the spillway, turn RIGHT and follow the sidewalk to the
finish area (19.7 mi)
Congratulations!