The singletrack sections of this route were built for hikers in mind, not cyclists, so the trail itself is very challenging in sections, with large rocks and boulders you will need to haul your bike up and over.
Not only will riders get a glimpse into the beauty, culture, and hospitality of Appalachia, but also the sometimes bleak reality that faces some of its residents. There’s also plenty of fauna on the Sheltowee, so don’t be surprised if you see a black bear, deer, big and little birds, snakes, and small critters like scorpions, spiders, and centipedes. The flora is also abundant, with plenty of wildflowers in the spring and incredible foliage in the fall. The Sheltowee travels through some incredibly scenic areas such as Cumberland Falls, Cave Run Lake, Laurel River Lake, and the Big South Fork Region – not to mention the hundreds of waterfalls, outcroppings, creek crossings, and hollers that are sure to amaze riders.Īlong the way, you will encounter some rough trails and hike-a-bikes, but it usually evens out with a spectacular descent or section of fast and flowy singletrack. The Sheltowee Bikepacking Route connects the bike-friendly sections using various trails, USFS roads, and local highways via a combination of singletrack, gravel, and pavement. Over the years, the trail has been extended, and certain sections have been opened to mountain bikes, though other sections remain closed. The origins of the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail date back at least to the 1970s, when Verne Orndorf, a USFS landscape architect, laid out the foot-travel-only route, which has become popular among backpackers and day-hikers. The name pays homage to Daniel Boone, who traveled this region heavily, and was given the name Sheltowee, meaning “Big Turtle,” by Chief Blackfish of the Shawnee tribe. Purpose-built to explore the rivers, canyons and thrilling land meets sea geography of the Kimberley, the True North is uniquely able to access remote parts of the region.In the heart of Appalachia – spanning from the northern boundary of the Daniel Boone National Forest to the Big South Fork NRRA in the south – the Sheltowee covers some gorgeous yet rugged terrain in the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Kentucky and a sliver of northeastern Tennessee.
Indigenous rock art features on a beach walk at Vansittart Bay, an area traditionally owned by the local Wunambal Gaambera people, and featuring millennia-old artworks protected by caves and overhangs, and emanating with creativity and spirituality. Helicopter pilot Colbert steers us on a thrilling 20-minute flight up the Sale River, criss-crossing above the river's gorge for excellent views for all six of the luxury chopper's passengers, before flying thrillingly down a terracotta canyon to set us down right above a waterfall, just metres from a remote swimming hole.Īnother secluded spot only reached by helicopter is Eagle Falls, named by the True North team on an earlier visit, and now the location for a gourmet barbecue and an afternoon of swimming and relaxation. Helicopter pilot Rob Colbert flies over a spectacular gorge on the way to an equally impressive waterfall. In an Australian twist on snakes and ladders, they traverse laterally like mountain goats before zig-zagging in morning sunshine along narrow fissures in the Kimberley's ancient rocks.Īvian locals include brahminy kite sea eagles patrolling high above as powerful birds of prey, and spindly-legged jabiru storks, tentatively exploring the shallows like a picky eater considering their options at a hotel buffet.Ī humpback whale and her calf are sighted in warmer northern waters, the youthful cetacean a recent birth in the Kimberley, after its mother's annual migration north from Antarctica.
Mud river back seat cover skin#
Exploring mangrove inlets to catch mud crabs, True North's staff are always at hand, whether it is to find the best catching spot or measuring your crabs.īeyond fishing or hands-on checking of baited mud crab pots – some occasionally stripped of their barramundi skin bait by saltwater crocodiles cruising the mangrove labyrinth of the Hunter River – Kimberley wildlife viewing True North-style includes rock wallabies ascending the-near vertical cliff faces of Koolama Bay.
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