Of Woods and WaterInformation in and around
Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort near Cumberland Falls in Kentucky |
 I realize that many of our customers are not aware of our efforts regarding eco-friendly/eco-sustainable, or whatever word or phrase one might use to describe our efforts to have lessen our impact on our environment.
Although we have always been good at trying to recycle/reuse materials, our first real jump was moving to LED lightbulbs. This was way, WAY back when they were first coming out. My Dad (our founder) was never fond of new technology, but he was fond of saving money. I convinced him based on the savings on our electric bill. The same was true when we switched to tankless water heaters in all of our existing buildings. They were more expensive to buy and install, but with the energy savings, they were less expensive in the long run. New buildings are built with blow-in foam insulation, tankless water heaters, and high efficiency heat/air units. As a result of this, our monthly electric bill for all 6 couple cabins averages out to $240/month. So, what is our big news? I just signed a contract for a company to come in and install solar on our property! I am both nervous and excited. This will not be a battery system, but instead a net metering system. It will connect to the main buildings, including the cozy cabins and super cozy cabins, as well as to the campground. Our hope is to provide enough electricity through the solar panels to offset our usage on those 2 meters. An added benefit will be shaded parking along the front and back rows of the main parking area. We are super excited and a little nervous about this huge (for us) project. The cost should be mostly off-set by a REAP grant and tax benefits from being in an empowerment zone. I will provide updates occasionally on here! Wish us luck!  We are trying to expand the activities we have available during the off season! We have purchased four reusable escape room kits for our guests to check out and enjoy together if you're looking for something fun to do! Below are the descriptions and age ranges for each of the escape room games:
Wooka Booka Island (5-8 years old) A mysterious door appeared in your room out of nowhere! As you walk through it, suddenly you find yourself on the wondrous island of Wooka Booka. There are four animal kingdoms and only one treasure chest. You have a chance to find this long-lost treasure, but first you need to pass the challenges of every kingdom. 45-60 minutes of fun. 2-5 players. Professor Swen’s Lab (9-13 years old) Professor Swen Hemerson has devastating plans for the city of South Lake Tahoe and someone must stop him before it’s too late! Now is the chance to figure out how to find his secret lab and shut down his evil machine. 45-60 minutes of fun. 2-5 players. Houdini’s Secret Room (9-13 years old) The 150-year-old house that belonged to the most famous illusionist Houdini is now a museum. You decide to go there and learn some of his greatest tricks and illusions. Your curiosity leads you to a secret room. As you enter, the door slams shut leaving you locked inside while the walls start closing in slowly. You must solve the challenges to get the right key so that you can escape. 45-60 minutes of fun. 2-5 players. The Gilded Carcanet (13+ years old) An ancient treasure has been said to be buried on a small island outside the coast of Turkey. Little is known about it and its existence has been heavily debated in the archeology community. Professor in archeology, Bartholomew Wilson, has always dismissed the idea as a myth. Until now. Armed with a mysterious letter and a cheap souvenir from his old friend, He and Oscar set out on an epic adventure. Piece together the answers to the many mysteries of the Aegean Sea. 90-120 minutes of fun. 1-4 players. These games are a perfect mix of board game and escape room, that can be played anywhere and everywhere! Work cooperatively to solve the puzzles and accomplish tasks. Can be played with or without a time limit. Pick up at the reservationist building. Self Guided Pricing:
Moderated Pricing:
One thing this area has in abundance is natural beauty. From grand sweeping vistas to lovely creekside ferns, any hike you take will be a treat to the senses. You can spend your morning climbing over and under arches and large boulders as the golden morning sun shines through the trees and then spend your afternoon splashing in a swimming hole beneath a waterfall. It is hard to narrow it down to our favorite area trails, so we picked the ones we love the most that are closest to the resort.
Eagle Falls Trail- This trail is inside Cumberland Falls State Park. This trail, while the same distance as the shorter trail to Dog Slaughter Falls, is a bit more rugged. This trail not only takes you out to Eagles Falls, but also gives you an amazing view of Cumberland Falls from the other side of the river. Once you get to the falls, there is an fabulous swimming hole beneath the falls, and some boulders to climb on. Don’t want to hike that far? Another way to get to Eagle Falls is to take our Rainbow Mist SUP trip. After you paddle to Cumberland Falls you head downstream a bit to visit Eagle Falls. Bark Camp Creek Trail- This trail is 5 miles out and back. In an area full of beautiful hikes, this one still manages to stand out. The entire trail, from beginning to end is spectacular. The trail doesn’t lead to a big waterfall or arch, like the others on the list, but the whole trail, and the cascades at the end make it one of our favorite trails on this list. Dog Slaughter Falls Trail- A horrible name for a beautiful hike. There are a couple of different trail heads depending on how far you want to hike. The second trail head is just 3 miles out and back to get to the falls. A nice distance when you want to squeeze something in, or would rather spend more time playing than hiking. Once you get there you can stop, picnic and play in the water before heading back to your car. Pinnacle Knob Fire Tower- When open, the Pinnacle Knob Fire Tower provides an amazing view of the surrounding areas. While the tower isn’t always open the trail can be hiked anytime. The park should be able to tell you when the tower will be open. The park sometimes offers guided hikes out to the fire tower, if they are hosting one while you are in town it is definitely worth checking out. Natural Arch- An amazing 50 X 90 ft arch. On the trail you pass two gorgeous scenic overlooks and then take some stairs up to the bottom of the arch. A truly impressive site and a family friendly hike, make this trail hard to beat. You do need a parking pass for the scenic area, you can either pay the fee there, or we sell one day parking passes in our main office. Schoolhouse Arch- This arch isn’t very far off the road, once used as a classroom it would make a great place to have an afternoon picnic in the woods. At only 7 feet high (but still an impressive 80 ft wide) this arch lacks the scale of Natural Arch, but gives you a smaller more intimate experience. If you take Forest Service Roads 193 to 88 and then head west on 88 for 1.3 miles. The arch is 150 yards down a dirt road on the left. If you have any questions about these hikes, other hikes on the area, or the kind of lodging and trips we offer you can send up an email using the contact form below, or give us a call at 606-526-7238 / 1-800-541-7238 1) You get paid to be outside and get in shape. "Pain is just weakness leaving the body". We won't pretend that you won't be sore the first week or so of training, but what a great way to stay in shape all summer!  2) You look forward to going to work. OK, maybe not *every* day, but there aren't many jobs that pay you to have this much fun!  3) Your friends will want you to take them to work with you. One of the benefits of working here is that you can take 1 person (at a time) down the river for free!  4) You get to wear swimsuits and shorts to work. I mean, if you *want* to wear a tie down the river, I guess you could.  5) The smell of suntan lotion, hot days, river funk and sweat. Although sometimes (often?) guides are better seen and not smelt.  6) You love work so much that you don't want to leave at the end of your work day. "Has anyone seen ? His Mom is on the phone." "Go check in the back. I think he is still here."  7) You love work so much, you hand out in your off time. OK guys - you can take your PFD's off now. Your next trip isn't until tomorrow.  8) You can make a difference in your customers' lives. Seriously. As I was going through pictures for this blog, I came across a picture that a guide had been tagged in by a customer on the trip. In the comments was, 'We were best friends with her by the beginning of the rafting trip.'  9) Evening campfires and best friends. I don't think there is a better wat to spend the summer.  10) Best tan lines ever! It's all good.  Cumberland Falls is Kentucky's best-known waterfall, and for good reason. At 65 foot high and 125 feet across, it is well worth the visit. Plus, there is the world famous moonbow every month (weather permitting) as a bonus. But, did you know that there are plenty of other (smaller) waterfalls in this area?  Rafts below Cumberland Falls. Photo courtesy of Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort. 1) Eagle Falls This 44 foot waterfall is located inside Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. It is accessible via a 1.5 mile moderately strenuous hike on the Eagle Falls trail, located on river left at the falls area. An added bonus is great views of Cumberland Falls as you hike the trail. You can also see this waterfall as you float down the river on the Cumberland Below the Falls whitewater rafting trip through Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort.  Eagle Falls. Photo courtesy of Thomas Hall 2) Dogslaughter fallsA beautiful 15 foot waterfall with a terrible name. Dogslaughter Falls is accessible off of FS Road 195, about 5 miles from Cumberland Falls, and .5 miles from Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort. Two trailheads along the FS Road let you choose a shorter (1+ miles) or longer (3+ miles) hikes to the Falls. The trail meanders along Dogslaughter creek, and is rated moderate.  Dogslaughter Falls. Photo courtesy of Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort. 3) Star fallsThis little known, mostly hidden gem of a waterfall is along the Sheltowee Trace trail on the lower section of the Cumberland River. It is a seasonal waterfall, and is most easily accessible by continuing along the Dogslaughter trail to the Cumberland River and turning right along the Sheltowee Trace. Star Creek shelter, located where you turn up Star Creek to get to the waterfall, is a nice place for a picnic or overnight stay.  Star Falls. Photo credit: http://destressoutdoors.com/cumberlandfallstostarfalls.html 4) Triple fallsAnother seasonal waterfall, this hike gives you 3 waterfalls, one right after the other. Most of the 1/2 mile hike is an easy wide trail, with some steeper stuff right at the end. Continue along the single-track trail to follow Falls Creek, which has several more unnamed waterfalls and cascades as well, for a 1.5 mile loop. The trailhead is behind the main building at Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort.  5) Bark Camp CascadesNot technically a waterfall, Bark Camp Cascades is still worth a mention here for its long cascades. Bark Camp trail follows along the creek for 2.6 miles, past numerous rock shelters, cliffs and cascades, finally reaching the Cumberland River, several miles downstream of Star Falls. A loop, of sorts, can be made connecting Dogslaughter Falls, Star Falls and the Bark Camp cascades, for a long day of hiking or an overnight trip. The trailhead is accessible off of FS Road 193, part of a network of Forest Service Roads that includes trailheads for Dogslaughter Falls and Schoolhouse Arch.  Bark Camp Creek Cascades. Photo courtesy of Pam Gibson. 6) Amos FallsThis is the only waterfall on the list that doesn't have an actual trail leading to it, so be prepared with a compass (  7) Yahoo fallsLong claimed as the highest waterfalls in the state of KY, this 113 foot high waterfall is well worth the 1 mile hike from the parking lot. The creek that forms it is somewhat seasonal, so the best time to visit is in the Spring or after a good rain. The waterfall is located off of Hwy 700 in McCreary County. It is in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.  Yahoo Falls. Photo credit - National Park Service 8) Princess fallsAlso located in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in McCreary County, Princess Falls is a short but wide waterfall along Lick Creek. It is about a mile hike from Yamacraw Day Use area along the Big South Fork river. The waterfall is easily accessible from canoes or kayaks on the Yamacraw to Alum Ford Section of the Big South Fork.  Princess Falls. Photo credit Jeremy Patton (http://www.kentuckyboytravels.com/princess-falls/) 9) Lick creek FallsThe 2nd waterfall along Lick Creek, this 50 foot high waterfall is off a side trail from the main trail. It is about 2.25 miles from the Yamacraw Day use area long the Big South Fork River, or accessible from the river itself. Along with Princess Falls, it makes a nice 2-for-1 hike.  Lick Creek Falls. Photo credit Jeremy Patton (http://www.kentuckyboytravels.com/lick-creek-falls/)  Visitors to our Adventure Resort over the last month or so may have noticed 4 orange cones set in a square pattern in our parking lot and wondered what was going on. If you asked one of my kids, they would have excitedly shown you the Sand Piper eggs nestled in a depression in the gravel. The Spotted Sandpiper is freshwater shorebird, although it can be found inland near any body of water that helps provide it with a diet of insects, earthworms and other invertebrates. Clutches generally contain 4 eggs, although 3 (and rarely 5) are also possible. Spotted Pipers are polyandrous (with up to 5 mates), and the Dad usually incubates the eggs. We had 2 sandpipers around the outfitters, and while I often thought that there might be a 2nd nest, I was never able to find it. Eggs are laid in a shallow depression on the ground, sometimes under shrubs or a fallen log, and sometimes lined with grass, moss or feathers. The clutch at our resort was laid in an unlined, shallow depression in the gravel and had 4 eggs. Protection of the eggs relied heavily on natural camouflage and distraction of potential predators by the parent. Whenever we approached closely, both birds would fly off and then land a distance away, pretending to be hurt. The birds were often out and about on summer days, but were always back on the nest for the night-time cold. This was not the first year that we had the birds, but it is the first time that I was around right after the chicks hatched. When they first hatched, it looked like they hadn’t made it. They were not moving and looked somewhat wet. When we went back later, they had fluffed out and were in a different position, so we knew that they were doing just fine. They never moved any of the times that we were to look at them, and I suspect that this behavior is a protective mechanism. By the next day, the chicks were gone from the nest during the day. Sandpiper chicks fledge at 17-21 days, so it will be a while before we remove the cones. If you happen to come by in May, take a look and see how they are doing!  |
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