Sheltowee Trace NRT: Section 24 North

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

The northernmost portion of this section of the Sheltowee Trace had been obscured by the USFS but is once again taking shape.

If you're not bikepacking in, you can park at the 49er (truck stop) at Exit 49 on I-75 or drive further down the Trace to a pull off before the trail becomes undrivable.

Working with the Forest Service recently, the Sheltowee Trace Association has worked to clear trees and cut back vegetation from the trail to reclaim this section of Kentucky's longest trail. The tank traps are still there, but there are stretches of trail that are slowly coming back into shape as a mountain bike trail. At the north end, you'll have to lift your bike over the bollards-on-steroids, but otherwise the trail should have only short sections of hike-a-bike. There are some sections of bare sandstone to ride over to take your mind off the terrain.

Only a mile is difficult, the rest of Section 24 is rideable. After escaping the dreaded mile, the Trace follows first an old logging road and then picks up a gravel road for a short distance before cutting off on another singletrack ride down into a dark, green Kentucky holler.