Some people love the outdoors and spend every opportunity they can to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. Then, some casually appreciate the beauty but are comfortable with their modern lifestyle. I would put myself closer to the first category because I just can not get enough when it comes to adventuring. That's why the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail caught my attention. This is one of the most rugged trails in Tennessee apart from the Appalachian Trail. It is also one of the longest trails and to experience it, you will have to embark on an epic backpacking journey.
The Sheltowee Trace was planned and mapped out back in the 1970s and is still highly used to this day.
The trail was named to honor Daniel Boone. The story goes that this famous mountain man was busy making salt close to the modern-day Sheltowee Trace and was suddenly captured by the Shawnee people. After being taken to their leader, Chief Blackfish, he adopted Daniel Boone as his son. After doing so, he renames him Sheltowee which translates to “Big Turtle.” When you travel along the trail today, you will notice turtles as trailblazers which pay homage to this story.
To make the whole trail from point to point is a rugged 321-mile trek with over 35,000 feet of elevation gain.
This is not a hike for casual hikers or those who want to dabble in a little appreciation for our beautiful world. No, this trail will require strength, endurance, and lots of preparation. If you choose to put in the hard work, then you will be richly rewarded with stunning views along the way.
This trail got its start in Kentucky and works its way down into Tennessee.
For us Tennesseans, the starting point is located in Big South Fork and will have you hiking the entirety of this recreation area. The Tennessee section in Big South Fork offers a multitude of fascinating rock formations to witness as you travel onward.
If you are up for an epic challenge, you can do the whole trail from point to point.
Along the way, there are several places where you will be crossing roads and other sections where you will be hiking alongside the pavement. You will have plenty of time to get back under tree cover or this could also be a good opportunity to take a break. Many people will break the hike up into sections and pick back up where they left off on a different trip. Either way, this trail is a huge accomplishment for anyone who braves this rugged hike.
As you work your way through places like Big South Fork, Daniel Boone National Forest, Red River Gorge, and many more scenic areas, you will witness vast overlooks, interesting caves, phenomenal natural bridges, wonderful waterfalls, and much more that make all of the hard work worth it.
The best way to take on this challenging hike is to prepare before you go.
Train up before you take off on this adventure of a lifetime, pack plenty of supplies that are needed, and you can also use a very helpful tool I love to use when I hike, the AllTrails app. This app will give you a downloaded map and will track your progress along the way so you don’t take a wrong turn and end up lost. Here is the map for the Sheltowee Trace for you to look over and with that in hand, you are sure to make the most of this beautiful hike.
This is one of the most rugged trails in Tennessee but is all worth the effort and gives you a massive sense of accomplishment upon completion. However, this hike is not for the casual observer. This is reserved for those who are hardcore into hiking. Then again, for those who just are curious, you can hike a section of the trail to get a taste of what it is like. We share this massive trail with the Bluegrass State and you can check out our coverage on the points of interest along the way in our excellent Sheltowee Trace in Kentucky article. That's not the only thing we share – we also share Big South Fork. So, forget the state lines for a moment and unite in our love for the great outdoors.
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