Last modified 30 October 2006 || photos of the course | list of entrants ||

MAPS OF THE COURSE - thanks to Alan Storrow

Natural Bridge Section
Red River Gorge Section
Clifty Wilderness Section
Elevation Profile (to Indian Arch)  
Elevation Profile (to finish)

Herb Hedgecock
329 Mary Branch
Mt. Sterling KY 40353
Phone 606-783-2928 (w)
606-356-6175 (c)
h.hedgec@moreheadstate.edu
ultrachemist@ycnx.net

This run is in one of the most beautiful areas in Kentucky - Natural Bridge State Resort Park, and the Red River Gorge. The course is extremely hilly; you will pass under-through-over four stone arches; run past rock shelters and magnificent natural formations. You will run on steep ledges, cross two swinging bridges, cross streams, pass a herd of bison, and much more. A few pictures are added to give you some flavor of what to expect.

The cost will be $75, and will include a buffet the night before (5:00-8:00 p.m.) at the NBSRP lodge, a quality sweatshirt, five well-stocked aid stations, and a finisher's memento.

Find out more about Natural Bridge State Resort Park, the area, the Daniel Boone National Forest, and lodging [listed in order of preference] at Li'L Abner Motel [606-663-5384] ($50-60), The Red River Inn {$70, ten rooms plus a few cabins), Shadow Mountain Mist Country Inn ($79 all queen beds, 10 rooms - also several cabins), Red River Outdoors cabins (~$90, 2-day minimum, three small cabins and several other large ones), Cabin Country Rental and Sales (~$60, 2-day minimum, four mini-rooms at Tecumseh Resort, and many other pricey cabins), and Torrent Falls B&B and cabins. All of these are less than three miles from the start/finish.

Driving Directions
Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the run are about 50 miles east, southeast of Lexington KY.
If travelling east on I-64, take Exit 98 (Mountain Parkway). Take Exit 33 (Slade). Turn right off the exit to go to the lodge and start of the run. The road to the lodge is 2.0 miles up this road. Follow the signs. The start of the run is 2.6 miles. Look for the sign (on right) to the cottages, Original Trail, Hoedown Island. The run begins at the first parking lot to the right.

If travelling west on I-64, take Exit 110, turn left on US-460/KY-11. Drive 0.3 miles (to the second light) and turn right onto Indian Mound Dr/KY-686. Follow this road 2.8 miles to Hwy 11. Turn right onto Hwy 11. Follow KY-11 13.5 miles to Clay City and the stoplight intersection with Hwy 15. Turn right on Hwy 15, and drive 0.7 miles. Take the left onramp to the Mountain Parkway East. Drive 16.5 miles to Exit 33 (Slade, Hwy 11). Turn right off the exit to go to the lodge and start of the run. The road to the lodge is 2.0 miles up the road. Follow the signs. The start of the run is 2.6 miles. Look for the sign (on right) to the cottages, Original Trail, Hoedown Island. The run begins at the first parking lot to the right.

COURSE DIRECTIONS - (mileages are best estimates from Forest Service and State Park information, and then of course we usually guess if we're unsure. The course is certainly not longer than estimated!!!)
* Start at bottom of Original Trail (at NBSRP).
* Climb Original Trail (0.7 mi)
* Go through Natural Bridge
* LEFT through Fat Man's Misery to the top of Natural Bridge
* LEFT across Natural Bridge and follow trail. Past the Sky Lift, the trail follows along a wooden fence here. The fence ends at Lookout Point, and the trail turns left
* Sharp LEFT at Lookout Point (dangerous!)
* About 50 yards past Lookout Point, RIGHT to Devil's Gulch (1.0 mi)
* Down rock and wooden stairs to Battleship Trail (at wooden fence)
* LEFT on Battleship Trail, and going down trail to junction with Rock Garden Trail (1.2 mi)
* LEFT on Rock Garden Trail, going through Rock Garden, then after about one mile, starting up a cliffline (dangerous)
* Climb up stone steps, ledges, and enjoy running back up to Natural Bridge (2.8 mi)
* Go straight through Fat Man's Misery to the top of Natural Bridge.
* RIGHT for 50 yards to junction with Sheltowee Trace Trail/Balancing Rock Trail
* LEFT on Sheltowee/BRT along and down ridge, down many stairs, down past Balancing Rock. The steps are almost done! Then 50 more yards where you will pass a cave/rock shelter
* Then just past the cave, RIGHT down the rock steps to the sidewalk
* RIGHT on sidewalk and wooden walkway. At the end of the wooden walkway, down wooden steps and follow the trail down to the starting point (3.6 mi) AID
* Cross suspension bridge, and LEFT at the end of bridge onto Lakeside Trail. At the end of the trail. Up stairs, and directly across parking lot to Hwy 11
* LEFT on Hwy 11 for 75 yards to Whittleton Campground entrance
* RIGHT into Whittleton Campground, and follow road veering slightly LEFT. At the end of the campground, go straight onto Sheltowee Trail/Whittleton Branch Trail (4.2 mi)
* RIGHT onto Whittleton Arch Trail (5.2 mi)
* Up to Whittleton Arch, touch the big boulder in front of the arch and waterfall, then reverse directions back to Sheltowee Trace Trail/Whittleton Branch Trail (5.6 mi)
* RIGHT on Sheltowee Trace Trail/Whittleton Branch Trail going up to Hwy 15 (6.6 mi)
* Cross Hwy 15, cross the concrete bridge and follow Tunnel Ridge Road (gravel) for 100 yards
* LEFT onto Sheltowee Trace Trail. Follow Sheltowee Trace Trail to Pinch 'Em Tight parking lot. (7.3 mi) AID
* Cross parking lot getting onto Sheltowee Trace Trail/Pinch 'Em Tight Trail to gravel road (7.5 mi)
* LEFT on gravel road for 75 yards, then RIGHT at first entrance to Gray's Arch Picnic area, and follow road as it circles the picnic area (toilets here)
* At the end of the parking area loop, RIGHT onto D Boon Hut Trail (7.6 mi)
* About half way down D Boon Hut Trail, there is a trail marker on the left. This goes off to D Boon Hut rock shelter. It is worth the time to take this 0.1 mile side trail. Believe us!
* Down D Boon Hut Trail to junction with Rough Trail (at small stream) (8.5 mi)
* RIGHT on Rough Trail, going up, up, up to junction with Gray's Arch picnic trail (on right) (9.5 mi)
* LEFT at junction staying on Rough Trail along the top of the ridge for about a half-mile. Then down long hill leading to Gray's Arch. There is a good view of it at the overlook by the wooden fence. (10.4 mi)
* Continue down trail and wooden steps passing Gray's Arch and finally coming to a small stream
* Cross stream following white diamond trail markers. You will cross the stream three times along here (10.9 mi)
* Up hill to junction with Rush Trail (on right) (11.6 mi)
* LEFT staying on Rough Trail, and down trail past large rock house, down following the stream to the right, down along steep ledges (dangerous), down to the stream. The trail here makes a sharp RIGHT and quick LEFT at the stream
* Then (guess what!) up another elevation adjustment. Quit complaining; this is only the sixth climb. Enjoy the scenery.
* About 50 yards past the top of the climb, junction with Sheltowee Trace Trail/Pinch 'Em Tight Trail (12.7 mi). Pinch 'Em Tight Trail stops here, but Sheltowee continues as does Rough Trail
* LEFT onto Sheltowee Trace Trail/Rough Trail (Got it!!!). Follow this trail along ridge, then down to creek crossing. Follow trail to the sign where Sheltowee turns left and Rough turns right.(13.8 mi)
* LEFT onto Sheltowee Trace Trail. Cross stream several times, one small climb, mostly flat bottom here (sometimes muddy). Continue to suspension bridge, cross bridge and go up and slightly right to Hwy 715 (15.9 mi) AID
* Cross Hwy 715 and follow Sheltowee for four miles to the top of the world! Definitely take a little time here to enjoy the views. Follow the trail to Indian Arch (19.9 mi). Note that there is a sharp left turn 30 yards before the arch; watch for all of the markers here.
* Down wooden stairs, follow cliffline, then continue on trail gradually down to junction with Bison Way Trail (20.9 mi)
* RIGHT onto Bison Way Trail, and follow this to the parking area. Cross the parking area to Hwy 715 (21.8 mi)
* RIGHT on Hwy 715 (paved). Note this is a narrow road. Keep to the left side of the road. Look for the herd of bison on the left. Follow Hwy 715 to Sheltowee/AID station (23.0mi)
* LEFT onto Sheltowee Trace Trail, down to suspension bridge, cross suspension bridge and turn RIGHT onto the trail. Follow trail to the junction with Rough Trail. (25.1 mi)
* LEFT onto Rough Trail. DIRECTLY past the stream crossing (you will get your feet wet, if the water is up!), junction with Koomer Ridge Trail (25.2 mi).
* RIGHT and up the steep, next-to-last (honest!) hill. After getting to the top of the hill be very careful here, because the junction with Buck Trail is a sharp hidden right!!! (27.4 mi)
* RIGHT onto Buck Trail going down the rhododendron trail finally getting to the creek. Cross the creek and (what you've all been waiting for ...
* Up the last hell till Buck Trail junctions with Sheltowee Trace Trail/Pinch 'Em Tight Trail (28.9 mi)
* LEFT onto Sheltowee Trail/Pinch 'Em Tight Trail, and follow this to the gravel road. Then slight left crossing the road to reconnect with the trail. Follow trail back to parking lot and AID (30.6 mi)
* Cross parking lot, get back onto Sheltowee Trace Trail. Follow it to the junction with the gravel road
* RIGHT on gravel road, cross  concrete bridge, and cross Hwy 15 (31.3 mi)
* Rejoin Whittleton Branch Trail/Sheltowee Trace Trail. Follow it back to Whittleton Campground road. (33.3 mi)
* Continue out of campground to Hwy 11
* LEFT on Hwy 11 for 75 yards to parking lot entrance
* RIGHT across Hwy 11, and go directly to the back of the parking lot to the wooden stairs
* Down wooden stairs and follow Lakeside Trail to suspension bridge. Cross bridge to the finish (33.9 mi)

Natural Bridge from Lookout Point

Indian Arch in the Red River Gorge

Trails in NBSRP

Trails in the Red River Gorge

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