Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
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Located on the dividing line of Kentucky and Tennessee, this recreation area is jointly administered by the US Forest Service and the US Dept of the Interior. It would be difficult to describe every trail in this short space, so let me just highlight the natural bridges/arches on the Kentucky side. I will take up the same subject in a later issue regarding the Tennessee side.
Take US 27 south from Somerset, KY to the junction with KY 927. Turn right and follow sign to Natural Arch trailhead. Reach the arch on a 1.2 mile hike. It is 50 ft high and 90 ft long. While here, why not pick up the scenic Buffalo Canyon Trail? Back on US 27, go to the junction with KY 700. Turn right and follow the sign to Yahoo Falls Scenic Area. Watch for the trailhead sign for Yahoo Arch (a one mile hike). The arch is 17 ft high, 51 ft wide, with a 70 ft base set within a large rock shelter.
Markers Arch Trail starts at the same trailhead. To go there return to US 27 and proceed to the junction with KY 92. Turn right and follow this road, crossing the bridge over the Big South Fork. At the junction, turn left and travel to the next left turn, which will be FDR 582 (gravel road). Go 0.8 mile up the mountain and look for a small Forest Service sign on your left for Koger Arch. This arch is 18 ft high and 91 ft wide.
Heading back toward US 27, watch for a sign to the town of Stearns. The Blue Heron Railway excursion train is also located here. Find Hwy 1651 and follow the brown sign to Bear Creek Overlook/Split Bow Arch. A staircase takes you to the bottom of the arch as well as views from the top. Numerous campgrounds and motels abound in Whitley City, Stearns, and Oneida.
Pursuant to last month’s adventure guide to South Fork National Recreation Area on the Kentucky side, we will explore the Tennessee side of this area that encompasses the Daniel Boone National Forest, Cumberland Falls State Park and Pickett State Park.
From Oneida, Tennessee follow TN 297 to the signs for the East Rim and Sunset Overlooks. After seeing the overlook, continue on TN 297 to TN 154 near village of Sharp Place where you turn north. Watch for Divide Road and follow it to Middle Creek Trailhead. This is a 3.5 mile loop trail that passes numerous large rockhouses and tall bluffs. When finished, continue north on Divide Road to the sign for Twin Arches Trailhead. This is a 1.4 mile loop. The south arch has an overhead clearance of 70 feet and a span of 135 feet. The north arch has a clearance of 51 feet and a 93 foot span. The arches can be viewed from both the top and base of the trail.
Continuing now on the Divide Road go to TN 154 and drive north into Pickett State Park. Once in the park I recommend exploring the Natural Bride Trail, Indian Rockhouse Trail, Hazard Cave Trail, the Ladder Trail (yes, you can use ladders to connect bluffs and caves), and the eight-mile long Hidden Passage Loop Trail. The latter traverses a long ridge 500 feet above a creek with continuous views, rockhouses, and a sandstone tunnel through a bluff.
Our last stop is the Buffalo Arch Trail — the mother of all arches. Take TN 154 north to the Kentucky line. Turn right on gravel road KY 562. After 0.7 miles, turn right on an unmarked road. Park in the clearing for a 0.8 mile walk. While other trails intersect this trail, Daniel Boone National Forest has no signs to the arch. This huge arch is at the end of the ridge. It has three sides and resembles a flying buttress holding up the hillside. The only lodging is the area are cabins and chalets at Picket State Park.
For additional information on this hike or other outing locations, call Bob Tyson at 684-5643 or mailto:robkay43@webtv.net
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