6 Stunning Hikes Near Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort

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