The day was defined by things having to do with the Laurel River, beginning with the Laurel River Dam which the trail crosses. In the early mornings the mist rising off the water was really pretty, but that was all gone by the time I had walked there today.
Laurel Lake is large with a lot of drowned river valleys- at least six- so views are convoluted. This shot is taken from the dam.
There are dead trees in a number of those valleys. I liked the way these looked.
The trail headed downstream with good footing most of the way to the Mouth of the Laurel where it joins the Cumberland River. The Cumberland flows northwest, draining into the Ohio River.
But of course a day couldn't possibly be all easy. At the Whitman Branch there was another boulder crossing. That long oblong rock was about the size of three pickup trucks end-to-end. But that top edge was a nice 90-degree angle. I threw my stick over the top (checking that it wouldn't disappear into a crevice), launched myself like a spider and caught that top edge, then crab crawled up to the top and dropped down the other side.
After that, just to even things out, were seven-tenths of a mile of horrible trail. But I had a short day, and it was fine.
I've moved campsites, and my next hiking and support companions have arrived. Stay tuned! The last third of the trip is beginning.
Miles walked in 2026: 551.9
Sheltowee Trace miles: 223.9
Sheltowee Trace, Kentucky. Holly Bay boat launch to Bee Creek Rd. 6.6 miles.
 | See Sheltowee Trace- Stearns Coal and Lumber Company |
