By Daniel Leathers
Special to NKyTribune
There are untold miles of foot trails throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Each trailhead is the signpost to adventure. Each path holds the promise of new discoveries for the explorer. Each turn or curve is an exciting mystery. Each hill and valley captivates our imagination and causes our present to collide with our past.
Some of these trails have seen the footfalls of hundreds or even thousands of years of warriors, settlers, explorers and adventurers. It is no less true for the adventurer of the 21st century. With so many opportunities, the modern explorer has the chance to hike a different trail or at least section of trail with each excursion.
No one knows for sure the number of miles of trails in Kentucky. There are trails on federal, state and local government land as well as private camps and properties.
The longest of these trails is the Shelltowee Trace National Recreational Trail which takes you on an absolutely beautiful route through the Daniel Boone National Forest. Running 319 miles from end to end (269 miles are in Kentucky), it offers chances to hit the trail on a multi-day backpacking trip or smaller day hikes.
You’ll walk along river banks, over stone bridges, through meadows, mountains, and can even spend the night in rock shelters.
There are paths for every physical ability and stamina level. Be sure to do your research before heading out. Trail maps will normally let you know the difficulty rating and include trailheads for accessing your chosen adventure. One great place to start is the Kentucky Department of Tourism hiking page.
You can find information about countless trails here and they include nearby attractions and other important information. Any research you do will help you to build your trip plan.
A trip plan is one of the most important items you need when heading out into the woods. Be sure to leave a copy of the trip plan with someone back home so that you can be located in case of an emergency.
This plan should include beginning and ending points, projected trail route, equipment needed, travel route to and from your trailheads, list of names of everyone hiking, and copies of any special permits or permissions needed for your trip.
While every adventure is different, there are a few items that you need to have no matter where or how far you go. More articles in the future will delve into this a bit more in depth, but here is a short list of the most important: water, food, map, compass, rope or paracord, flashlight or headlamp, and some type of all weather fire starter.
Be prepared to spend more time than planned and you will be more comfortable in case of unexpected delays.
You can also include geocaching on your hike as well as incorporate any number of outdoor skills such as orienteering, camping, wildlife observation and more.
Another great activity, with a little preplanning, is a scavenger hunt.
Hiking, whether at a city park or in the distant woods, can give you the chance to combine learning with fun. There are always new things to find when venturing into the unknown. All you need is a little planning, sense of imagination and air of mystery in order to hear your footfalls transition through time to the explorers of old.
Don’t fall prey to the rigid, unceremonious world in which we live. Grab a pack, a friend, and child’s sense of wonder and carve out time this summer to visit a state or national park or perhaps just stroll along the myriad trails through towns, city parks or forest.
You won’t just carve out the time you’ll step through it to a new unexplored world. At least, it’s not explored by you. No matter how you choose to spend your time this season, don’t leave the outdoors out. Make it a part of every season.
Veteran outdoorsman Daniel Leathers is a U.S. Army veteran and also has worked as the director of the Outdoor Program for the Boy Scouts of America in Central and Western Kentucky and as the regional director for the National Wild Turkey Federation. He is the co-founder of Longhunter Outfitters, an outdoor skills, guide service and experiential learning company. Email him at leathers11@live.com.