Sheltowee Trace - Laurel Lake Trail

Trail gets better near the lake. Beautiful scenery but the trail was mediocre. Ok beginner trail with a few intermediate dips.

Great ride! I was traveling from Atlanta to Cincinnati and planned a stop here. This is a fast and flowing trail with nothing that needs much skill. I paired this trail up with the sheltowee sec 26(N) trail. You need to be an advanced rider to tackle this section. This has plenty of Rock gardens (I like rock)and obstacles. Awesome ride to do both together. Well worth my time to get off the highway!

From the trailhead at the intersection of 92/1193, the Sheltowee Trail 100 (next to the big wooden notification board) takes 4 mi. exactly to Holly Bay boat launch/campground. It starts narrow & a little techical, then after 1.5 mi. gets wider with great flow. GORGEOUS views along the water most of the way.

For December 29 and after a major wind and rain storm a day or two earlier the trail was a fantastic visit. We cleaned up some trail debris but a chainsaw is needed for at least 7 large trees across the trail, otherwise its in excellent shape.

Great Trail. Beautiful Ride! plenty of technical areas along with some easy ride areas for beginners. Plenty of places to drop in or get out to limit the miles you ride.

rode this trial and also cane creek yesterday, had a blast! Trail is fairly easy technically. very fun and flowing. doesn't seem to rough and rooty compared to other trails i have ridden. Being from northern indiana, the hills were a challenge towards the end of ride. I loved riding along the lake. It's similar to brown county trails, but it is more single track and a little more technical climbs. It was a 5 hour drive and we will be back.

It has been a long time since I rode this trail. I forgot to post a review. Not a bad trail system, i started in the middle are and rode a few miles in during a light drizzle. Rockss and roots were slippery but provide a great amount of reasonable terrain for a enjoyable ride. Great scenery, with waterfalls and bridges. Some pretty cool man made obsticles to encounter as well. I was on a quick mission so I was only able to push out about 5 miles of the trail, but it was fun. Seemed like I was further from the lake, so I didn't see a soul while there. I think it is a nice trail system if you are in the area and have time to explore it, I wouldn't make a special trip to ride it, but it was nice to get on a trail while in the area on business.

I think some other reviewers are talking about another trail. Definitely go out of your way to ride this trail! Park at 192 and 1193 and ride south towards the lake. You probably won't see anybody else on the trail, maybe some hikers. It doesn't get used that much so debris will be on the trail, like branches piles of leaves, and hidden roots and rocks. On my ride yesterday I cleared a ton of crap off the trail and used a folding saw on bigger stuff.
The ride itself is top biking with rolling hills and fast speed. Some technical sections with some man made obstacles, but one is falling apart so use at own risk. Always be on the lookout for small stumps that can catch a pedal, this is the wilderness.
I wouldn't recommend riding past the dam, that's more for hiking. I got a tick there yesterday. Very rugged past that point and a washed out creek crossing that can barely be crossed on foot. After the creek crossing there are downed trees everywhere and the terrain is dangerous.

I rode about 5 miles or so one way. I ask a local bike rider on the trail how long it was from the trail head to the dam, he said about 11 miles. That was too much for me, lots of up and down hills, it was a great workout for me. It seems like it could get dangerous in some spots. I drove almost an hour to get there, and wasn't disappointed. Great ride great people in the area, I'd recommend this trail. Watch out for hikers! I only seen 1 though.

6-7-15 #1 rated Mt Bike trail in KY lol what a joke not worth the trouble 2 mile by the lake is it , not even a trail map at the TH at the Y

Great Appalachian Ky Mtb riding for all Levels. Lake trail is easy, flows well & has good climbs but Cane Creek is a whole other beast. Rock gardens, trees to carry your bike over water falls & some very technical areas. Plenty of trail & miles for days. I can't ask for more the portions of downhill are a thrill. I'd be careful how far you get out, there are sections from the trails that have no Strava segments & you can get lost in those woods. I really recommend you hit the trail w/ someone that knows the area or you may end up in Tennessee. There are some creek crossings, bridges & downhill to uphill switch backs that can stop you in your tracks if you've failed to switch gears on time. I have put in 30 plus miles in 2 days & for the most part there where some parts that I round tripped but then found other trail segment to divert from. I would have to say this is better than green river by far...

Great little trail network in the area. Park at the Y and head north for some really scenic technical riding (lots of waterfalls) out and back or south and go around the lake. Go on past the dam a few miles on the trail for some great stuff, too. It gets kinda sketchy for about a mile after about 12 miles, but if you can leave a car at the Mouth of Laurel Boat Ramp its a nice point to point ride.

This trail just keeps getting better and better. It is being maintained and some obstacles have even been added to make the trail interesting to us mtn bikers. You can keep your speed up for most of the trail so that even the flat parts become fun

I enjoyed this trail. But it shouldn't be ranked #201. That is what it is asw I write this review. I would consider this a trail that would be great for locals. Don't go way out of your way to ride it.

Fast, flowing, scenic. From Rt 192 trail flows on natural surface for several miles. From there to the dam trail has been armored with pea gravel. Is still an awesome ride, nothing technical so a newbie can ride with ease. Trail flows so good that if you are good at keeping momentum, you will think you rode without peddling. Once past the dam you are back to old school ST. The drop into the gorge is awesome with caves and cliffs to distract you.

Very nice ride with lakeside view. This trail is easy for the most part. There are sections were you can just sail. You can make a loop by parking at the fork, riding south to the dam then taking the road back to the car, about 16miles round trip. The spillway area underneth the bridge offers a nice rocky technical playground.

Rode this trail with my friend who has just started mountain biking. She really enjoyed it. Nothing very challenging about it, great for beginners. I had a lot of fun on it. There are some fast sections twisting around the lake shore. It is a pretty ride if you just want to relax on a short ride. * Review edited 10/27/2010

This trail is awesome... From 192 it runs through some great forest scenery - it's true mountain biking - both uphill and downhill. There's nothing too difficult other than rocks and roots and a few steep ravines, but the south end - as you get closer to Holy Bay Marina is amazing... You ride along side Laurel Lake and the trail gets pretty easy along the 3-4 mile stretch before you reach the Marina. I HIGHLY recommend this trail to anyone... from beginner to advanced riding... there's something for everyone. I took my wife with me. She only had to walk her bike a few times (when it got really steep or rocky), but we both had a blast!!!

TIP: You could also park at the Marina and go north, if you just want to do the easier, more scenic part of the trail.