Major Reroute

Date Posted

Aug 16, 2019

Section

Shawnee

Chapter

Appalachian Foothills Chapter

This update applies to both the Shawnee Section Map Edition of December 2011, and the West Union Section Map Edition of August 2012.

A major change in the routing of the trail through properties owned by The Nature Conservancy has favorably affected the route of the trail through the western end of the Shawnee Section and the eastern end of the West Union Section.

About the Shawnee Section map, the most significant change is that the Section no longer reaches old Point 29 (Sunshine Ridge Rd (T156) at Long Lick Rd (T181)). However, because there have been a number of little changes, these little changes have been incorporated west from Point 25 to Point 28. The biggest changes are in what is best referred to, as changes to the West Union Section. For these changes visit the West Union Section page.

The log below reflects changes to the Shawnee Section only:

CW 41.4 N | CCW 4.1 SE | Point 25 | Buckhorn Ridge Bridle Trail at Sunshine Ridge Rd (F17/T202B)

Note: The Bypass Trail from Wamsley rejoins the BT here. Join Sunshine Ridge Rd that climbs N. After just 350’, the trail reaches, arguably, the highest point it reaches anywhere in the state - 1276’. Continue to meander generally NW on Sunshine Ridge Rd.

CW 43.6 SW | CCW 1.9 SE | Point 26 | Sunshine Ridge Rd (F17/T202B) at Carter Run Rd (T173)

A cemetery is located at this intersection. Meander generally W on Sunshine Ridge Rd (now T202A); after 0.9 mi, pass a cemetery. The churches that were associated with the cemeteries seem to be gone.

CW 45.1 W | CCW 0.4 N | Point 27 | Sunshine Ridge Rd (T202) at Lower Twin Creek Rd (C4)

Meander generally W on Sunshine Ridge Rd that now seems to be C4.

CW 45.5 W | CCW 0.0 N | Point 28 | Sunshine Ridge Rd (C4/T156) at Slate Fork Rd (C4)

Continue generally W on Sunshine Ridge Rd, now designated T156D.
After 0.26 mi (Location: 38.71612°N, -83.33181°W), exit Sunshine Ridge Rd onto a footpath; head generally W on a gradual descent. Soon, pass through a Mountain Laurel patch. After 0.35 mi, join an old road briefly (75’). Continue descent. After 0.12 mi, ford a stream. (Bad water. Do not consume!) Almost immediately, ford a second stream (potable after purification); soon turn NW. After 0.12 mi, join Johnson Run Rd in the middle of a turn marked with a wide spot on the E side of the road. Head SW briefly (60’). Exit the road W across a bridge over Johnson Run; begin a gradual ascent. After 0.7 mi, cross primitive Reel Ridge Rd (T289, Location: 38.721658°N, 83.342169°W). Very soon, turn parallel to road. For the next 0.5 mi or so, climb slightly to a high ridge. After 1.1 mi, ford an intermittent stream; begin steeper descent.

CW 3.2 W | CCW 66.3 SE | Point A | Footpath at Moon Hollow Trailhead (C, P)

Location: N 38.73361, W 83.35263. If you liked cowboy western music during the late 40’s through the early 60’s, you probably have heard of Cowboy Copas, Oklahoma Cowboy or The Waltz King of the Grand Ole Opry. Those sobriquets were adopted by a Lloyd Estel Copas who was born in this hollow on July 15, 1913. Among other accomplishments, he was the first to record and popularize Tennessee Waltz.

NOTE: Parking at any time is restricted to 4 vehicles. In addition, any vehicle left overnight must display a valid parking permit in the windshield. Exit the trailhead W onto Moon Hollow Rd (T415, 100’). Follow the road S for about 50’. Exit the road W across a bridge over a tributary to Blue Creek. Follow footpath SW across field behind barn and through a fence (Location: N 38.73269, W 83.35341, 350’). Continue generally W on footpath upslope. Ford a stream after 0.14 mi. After 0.6 mi on a ridge, pass a Carsonite Marker (Location: N 38.73390, W 83.35715) that marks the spur trail to the Moon Hollow campsite. Continue along the ridge with occasional views. After 0.8 mi, join Sunshine Ridge Rd (T156C, Location: N 38.72616, W 83.36442) and head W.

CW 4.9 NW | CCW 64.6 E | Point B | Sunshine Ridge Rd (T156C) at Blue Creek Rd (C18)

Continue on Sunshine Ridge Rd, now NW, with a new designation, T156B.

CW 5.5 S | CCW 64.0 E | Point 2 | Sunshine Ridge Rd at Morel Hollow Rd (T312A)

This is Point 2 of West Union. Continue with the map updates on the West Union Section page.