A solo excursion on the best foot trail in the Big South Fork and the Daniel Boone country -- the John Muir Trail. This 50-mile trail commemorates the life and wilderness explorations of John Muir, the father of our national park system. In September 1867, Muir walked across Kentucky as part of his first epic wilderness journey, which began in Louisville, Kentucky and ended in Cedar Keys, Florida and later became the book, A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf. The trail is symbolized with a blue silhouette of a bearded man with a hat. Each profile has a little different personality upon closer inspection. Hikers will enjoy many inspiring overlooks. I encountered 4 other solo backcountry packers who all marveled at their good fortune to commune with nature in such isolated and remote country, even on a busy holiday weekend. Saturday began at Leatherwood Ford, then onto Angel Falls Overlook, Grand Gap, Duncan Hollow, Station Camp Creek, and Laurel Fork Creek. Sunday began with coffee, then Station Camp Ford, Duncan Hollow Trail, Angel Falls Overlook, Onieda & Western Bridge, and then to the Leatherwood Loop and Overlook. Sunday found Jake mostly leashed due to abundance of copperheads. 38 miles total, with 22 unique miles of the John Muir Trail mapped.

This area is covered in our Big South Fork Trail Map:


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