Cave-run Lake

Signs here day no mountain bikes allowed.

Cave run is pretty gnarly. You have some fast downhills and some flow trails with loose rock. This place will bite you in the butt if you arent paying attention. They are adding more trails all the time and the current trails are great!

Pretty sweet network of trails located near the northern terminus of the Sheltowee Trace. There are lots of elevation here so bring your climbing legs. You start down near the rangers station and go UP UP UP. There are a few loops that can be made from the top...and an out/back down to the swinging bridge. The downhills is amazing...the uphill is painful. There are a few new sections in the works on the Limestone side that circle off the old forest road. Lots of exploring can be done here and a huge loop if you use the gravel.

On the east side of the lake, trials from visitor center. Mile climb to start out. Then consistent up and downs. If you choose there are 3 long awesome downhill runs including the intial mile climb. All are tough climb back up and out. If poor conditions, it would be poor for climbing those runs.

There has been some question of the legality of this trail. As per the USFS website, it looks like there are certain trails in this area that are open to mountain bikes, and certain trails that are closed to mountain bikes. Just make sure you ride the right one: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/dbnf/recreation/?cid=stelprd3793019

It being a horse trail and I swear at the bottom of every hill there was a mud hole even though it hadn't rained in 4 days killed the fun for me. But if your looking for a long power through ride with beautiful scenery this will give you that. But your better off going to Shantee Trace in London Ky. Also great directions from the review below got me right there. Thanks.

Lots of horses and manure

Caney Loop is an all-around perfect trail. Beautiful scenery and nice flowing singletrack.
From Lexington take 1-64 east to exit 123 and turn right on US-60 E. Drive about 9 miles and turn right on 826. Drive another 3 miles and turn right and park at the Stoney Cove Recreation Area. You will see an iron gate at the beginning of a gravel drive that leads up into the forest. As you ride up the gravel drive the Caney Loop TH is on the left and Sheltowee is on the right. You will see the signs at the Trail Head.

This is one of the nicest trails that I have ridden to date. Yes it does have muddy holes from horses and manure. The lake is a beautiful backdrop for the first 5 miles or so of trail. We finished up on the Shaltowee trail to come back to the trail head. The last 2-3 miles were very fast. Over all the trail is 9mi with great flowing single track with enough rocks and roots to keep you interested. The trail is composed mostly of sand for the better part. I would recommend that you make sure that it hasn’t rained recently. I will be going back as soon as I can.

This is a great trail. There was a decent variety of terrain and in November, the late fall weather was perfect. The views were wonderful for the most part and the trail was well taken care of. One MAJOR drawback...the a section of trail between map 2 and three of the "Cave Run Lake Trail Guide", just before White Sulfur Horsecamp trail coming from Stoney Creek, was mauled by a small trail cat. This opened up the trail WAY too wide and the trail was nasty. muddy, and unpacked. Everything has been knocked down there. The good news is that it is only about a mile long section, and the rest of the trail (to about Buckskin) was in good shape, barring some hoof marks from local equestrians. Beautiful trail. Really. I took my backpack out with me and spent the night. A great place for camping too. Watch out for horses coming around corners during some of this flowy singletrack. :)

Nice area with lots of trails. many levels of difficulty to choose from. I stopped by the bike shop on the way to the ranger station and bought a map. best investment I made in a long time. Only hills I could find since I moved from Knoxville

Note: The directions above are wrong. The directions above say to take I-75 south when in fact Cave Run is off of I-64 between Lexington and Ashland (east from Lex/west from Ashland).