North South Trail
The North/South Trail begins at the North Welcome center off Hwy. 453. The trail covers over 60 miles from beginning to end at the South Welcome Station.
The northern section follows along the bays of Kentucky Lake, crosses Hwy 453 near Gold Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium and then begins to level out and moves parallel to Hwy 453.
The southern section leaves Hwy. 453 and continues down the middle of LBL before merging with Bear Creek Loop and ending at the South Welcome Station.
There is a nice map that has the trail divided into sections with mileage to different points of interest along the way. Many trail heads have signs with mileage as well. We averaged about 2.0 miles an hour with packs though most of the northern section. There is plenty of water and the trails are well maintained. The following is a description of a small section of the northern part of North/South Trail.
Starting Point 3 (White Trail Blaze)
0.0 Begin at Duncan Bay Trail head.
0.1 Trail continues south past an open field on the right and crosses a gravel road (132).
0.3 Cross many small tributaries, arrive Hatchery Hollow
Golden Pond is 18.3 miles, Buzzard Wing Spring is 9.7, Coffin Cove is 5.8, Sugar Bay Lake, 5.4, Nature Station trail head is 5.2, Sugar Jack Spring 2.8, Token Trail Springs, 2.7
0.31 Trail proceeds down and crosses at creek merger. Cross several foot bridges and pass through a power line field. Trail follows a dirt road through a crop field and crosses a creek before leaving the road.
0.7 Trail head Nature Station 4.8, Golden Pond 17.8, Buzzard Wing Springs, 9.3, Coffin Cove 5.3, Sugar Bay Lake 5.0, Sugar Jack Spring 2.5, Token Trail Springs 2.3
0.71 Trail climbs small hill. Trail marker to the points to the right and follows along a creek bed heading toward Kentucky Lake. Trail follows along edge of crop field which is to your right. Trail continues up and down for a distance before coming to another field on your left. After you leave the field the trail begins to climb. Cross a footbridge. Trail begins to descend and crosses another creek. After crossing the creek the trail crosses an old logging road that leads to the left. Continue straight as the trail levels out for a while before merging with the logging road again. Trail begins to ascend again. At top of ridge is a good place for a camp. It is level with plenty of room. Trail crosses gravel road (139). Turn left following white trail blazes along gravel road.
1.5 Trail head, Golden Pond 16.5, Dead Beaver Camp 12.3, Buzzard Wing Springs 7.9, Coffin Cove 4.0, Sugar Bay Lake 3.6, Road continues 1.0 to Sugar Jack Springs.
1.51 Turn right and follow trail markers. Straight ahead is small cemetery. Trail descends from the road and follows along a creek. Possible campsite here. Trail crosses footbridge.
1.6 After crossing several creeks Sugar Bay comes into view. The trail crosses a flood plain at the end of the bay and continues to move up and down along the bay. The trail merges with a logging road, continue left.
1.8 Trail moves away from the bay heading south.
2.5 Trail comes to a finger of Sugar Bay and goes around another flood plain. Cross several more creeks and begin heading west toward the main part of Sugar Bay. Trail turns south and begins to ascend. After reaching the top of the ridge, the trail descends through a series of switch backs. Be sure to follow the trail markers, there are many spur trails in this area.
5.4 Sugar Bay boat ramp. This section took about 2 hours from Duncan Bay Trail Head. Cross road and follow trail over improved foot bridge, ford a small creek. Cross another food bridge and creek before coming to a dirt road. Continue to the right.
5.6 Trail head, Golden Pond 12.7, Brush Arbor Camp10.6, Dead Beaver Camp 8.5, Buzzard Wing Springs 4.1, Coffin Cove to right 0.2.
6.1 Huggins bay. Follow trail through some pine trees, along a creek and cross a foot bridge, turn south along bay through some switch backs along the bay.
7.6 Trail turns away from Huggins bay and begins to climb toward the ridge. At the top it levels off before climbing some more. At the top is a nice level area for a campsite. Trail descends and merges with a logging road, continue left. You can see Rhodes Bay straight ahead. Trail merges with logging road, go right. Trail merges with logging road again, continue to the right. Trail emerges to a dirt road, cross small creek and follow road. Corn field on left, bay on right.
9.7 Buzzard Wing Springs, Road 141, Golden Pond 8.7, Brush Arbor Camp 6.6, Dead Beaver Camp 4.5. Trail leaves the road and is level. Frog pond to the right, trail crosses creek and begins to ascend steeply away from the bay. Trail passes through nice stand of pines before emerging at road 337. Continue to right.
10.3 As 337 continues to the right the trail leaves the road to the left and begins to descend steeply. Finger off Kentucky Lake can be seen to the right. Cross foot bridge and follow trail along lake finger. Trail leaves the lake and continues toward Vickers Bay. Trail climbs and merges with Road 338 continuing to the right. Trail leaves the road to the left and gets steeper, continuing to climb up and down. There are some nice overlooks along this section of the trail. After a short distance the trail winds around through a stand of pines.
11.7 Trail merges with logging road and levels out. Road merges with trail head where two creeks come together. Cross foot bridge and follow trail to right.
12.0 Dead Beaver Camp .8 miles to left. Brush Arbor Camp 2.9. Continue across foot bridge.
12.9 Trail crosses field gas line field and merges with road 143. After crossing the road the trail crosses a very nice footbridge with decorative rock work. At this point the trail stays mostly flat. The trail continues to follow the creek crossing in several places before reaching Brush Arbor Camp.
15.9 Brush Arbor Camp .5 to right. Golden Pond 2.6, Jenny Ridge Picnic Area, 1.6
15.91 Cross foot bridge, open field to the left. Trail follows creek crossing several foot bridges.
16.9 Trail passes along some eroded hill sides before ascending towards the Jenny Ridge Picnic Area.
17.5 Jenny Ridge Picnic Area. Trail continues toward the Trace Road and enters a stand of pines.
18.0 Trail leaves the pines and follows the Trace Road to the Golden Pond Visitor Center.
18.3 Golden Pond
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