This section follows the ridgeline and eventually descends into downtown Morehead where you can grab a hot meal, ice cold Coke, and resupply with whatever you need. The hiking is relatively easy with a lot of gravel road for the first portion and mostly gentle rollers along the ridgeline. If in town and hungry, Gatti’s Pizza buffet is highly recommended:-)
Read MoreWith a full day at our disposal, we planned to make something around 15 miles for the day that would take us into Section 4 of the Sheltowee Trace. This is a quiet, solitary hike through the forest where we encountered exactly one other human on the trail. As a bonus, this hike provides an AMAZING lunch spot at Dry Branch where you’ll find privately owned Clark Park.
Read MoreBork and I started our backpacking trip at the Northern Terminus of the Sheltowee Trace, Kentucky’s longest trail. To get there, we dropped Bork’s car at Archaic in Red River Gorge and had Rat shuttle us up to the trailhead. The goal for the day was to make camp on the ridgeline at the first available site - right at a mile up the trail.
Read MoreThis is the quintessential sunset hike at Red River Gorge. It’s a short 1.8 miles to a spectacular panoramic vista facing west toward Double Arch overlooking the gorge below. We’ve done this hike many times at this point, but on this evening, high clouds persisted, but still delivered a beautiful show.
Read MoreAfter having such a great time with the kids on this hike in April, the wife wanted to see what all the fuss was about. This really is one of the best hikes available at Red River Gorge. It’s 7 miles that offers a highlight reel of what the Gorge is all about - walking through hardwoods, panoramic vistas, super cool geology, and of course, a big ass arch (Gray’s Arch).
Read MoreThis was a really nice warm-up hike leading to a nice, solitary rock shelter via old road bed, open meadow, and game trails. It’s worth checking out if you’re camping at Woodland in Red River Gorge.
Read MoreThis is the best hike for solitude at Bon Secour NWR. Thanks to the boardwalk closure that formerly connected the eastern and western trail systems, this hike provides peace and quiet with many skipping this hike for the better views and varied terrain offered on the west side of the refuge.
Read MoreWith the Centennial Trail closed, the eastern portion is basically the Jeff Friend Trail which is a mile-long loop covering gravel, dirt, and synthetic boardwalk trails. It's a nice, short loop that includes some Maritime forest, an open view of the lagoon, and plenty of saw palmetto. It's an ideal trail for flat, easy running.
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If visiting the Gulf Shores area, this is a must-do hike that includes pristine dunes and beaches - free from all the commercial development in the area. It’s a beautiful nature hike that is likely best with a sunset behind the dunes.
Read MoreThis was a really nice way to breakup our long drive down to Gulf Shores, Alabama. After stopping in Pelham for the night, we opted outside in the morning to stretch the legs and take in an awesome view from King's Chair in Oak Mountain State Park. It's a short hike with what's likely one of the best views in the Birmingham area.
Read MoreThis is a great local race with exactly zero frills, hand timing, and about as laid back an atmosphere as you’ll ever find. Coming off a new distance PR last week at Hawthorn Half Day Relay and Ultra, I added this race to round out my recovery week, and it was just what the doctor ordered.
Read MoreIt was all sun and games at Hawthorn Half Day Relay and Ultra! Seriously, it was the hottest day of the year thus far with temps topping out at 87 degrees with plenty of wetland provided humidity and exactly zero clouds until about an hour before the finish. It made for a tough day for everyone, as training for heat isn’t easy when temps jump like that. Such is the nature of Spring races, right?
Read MoreLast year’s Big Turtle 50K was my trashiest run of 2018. I was undertrained and paid the full price. This year was redemption time! Oh, and wildflower season was in full effect too!
Read MoreThis is a nice walk in the woods that will take you out toward the Mountain Parkway that you’ll be able to hear, but not see. We followed this trail out to the end and did a little bushwhacking to reach some bearing trees before heading back. There is a side trail 1/2 mile into the hike that is worth exploring, and I’ve made plans to return using a different route in the winter to explore the large rock shelter that lies below.
Read MorePioneer is a camping area complete with bear-proof trash bins and pit toilet. This hike is short and sweet, heading back to a pair of decent sized camping areas, some limited views into the Gorge, and a water source to the south.
Read MoreOf the many unmarked trails off Tunnel Ridge Road, this is among the best, providing an excellent view above Nada Tunnel Road. With views to the west and a short hike in and out, this is a great place to take in sunset.
Read MoreThe wife and I rented Amy’s A-frame on Airbnb to celebrate our anniversary. She’s always wanted to stay in an a-frame, and Red River Gorge is our happy place, so here it was. We really enjoyed the stay and our host and property manager, Wendy, was awesome! As a bonus, renting the cabin came with access to Torrent Falls.
Read MoreAccording to legend, Pilot Knob is where Daniel Boone took in his first views of Central Kentucky’s rolling hills. Whether or not this is true doesn’t matter much today, but you can still expect a beautiful view without breaking into too much of a sweat.
Read MoreEasily one of the best hikes at Red River Gorge, this loop will give you an easy sunrise hike with an equal dose of ups and downs on Rough Trail as you make your way to Gray's Arch. You’ll get one of the best sunrise views in Kentucky while showing off one of the most impressive arches too. If you have a modicum of nighttime hiking experience, this hike will give you all the love.
Read MoreThis was the third year in a row that I ran Yamacraw, and I continue to be impressed with race management. We brought back the same crew as last year, and rented a pair of cabins nearby to host the weekend's festivities. It was a wonderful time as usual, and if I'm able to register in time, I'll lace up for the 50K in 2020.
Read MoreFinding peace and happiness on the trails of Kentucky.
