Sheltowee Trace
- 1.7 mi
- round trip
- 415 ft
- climb
- Out and back
- route
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 19 h ago
Is Sheltowee Trace open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Daniel Boone National Forest. It doesn't name Sheltowee Trace, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).
Fees waived for Veterans Day, Nov 11
Agency closure covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
National Visitor Use Monitoring, Oct 2026-Sept 2027
Agency closure covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
Scott Creek Boat ramp briefly inaccessible, July 30
Agency closure covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
Barren Fork Horse Camp, surrounding trails closed for prescribed burn operations, November 8
Agency alert covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
Low water levels at Laurel River Lake
Agency alert covering Daniel Boone National Forest · USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Daniel Boone National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Sheltowee Trace is a mountain biking route of about 1.7 miles on the London Ranger District of Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. The ride is an out-and-back, with a total length of about 3.4 miles and a one-way climb of about 415 feet, taking you from a low of about 1,024 feet to a high of about 1,412 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Berea College weather station run to highs around 70°F in April and October, with September and May near 80°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail's high point, so expect slightly cooler temperatures up top. Foxtown Boulders, a climbing area, lies about 3.5 miles away, and Racoon Creek Road, another mountain biking route, is about 5 miles off. For an overnight stay, S-Tree Campground is about 5.6 miles away, and paddlers can reach Laurel Fork, about 6 miles from the trail.
Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Sheltowee Trace
Best months: March–June and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
45° / 29°
Feb
51° / 32°
Mar
60° / 39°
Apr
70° / 48°
May
78° / 57°
Jun
84° / 64°
Jul
87° / 67°
Aug
86° / 66°
Sep
80° / 60°
Oct
70° / 49°
Nov
58° / 40°
Dec
49° / 33°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Berea College, KY, 16.6 mi away at 1,070 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
