| Updated July 23, 2010.
Link to Corp. of Engineer Licking River release information.
Morehead, Kentucky is located in the heart of the Cumberland Ranger District of the Daniel Boone National Forest. This region is has a rich biodiversity which is one of the many reasons for its outstanding recreational opportunities. The miles of world class mountain bike and hiking trails, back roads, road bike routes, rivers, creeks, and an 8,000 acre lake with over 200 miles of shoreline will provide you with endless opportunites to enjoy the area.
The Cave Run Lake Area offers miles of mountain biking and endless flatwater paddle opportunities. In addition, there are miles of hiker trails and great wildlife veiwing at the Beaver Creek Wetland Complex and Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery. Below is some more information about the area and other online resources.
ROAD BIKING
The road biking in the area offers incredible views of the beautiful Appalachian foothills and the most diverse deciduous forests in the world. The shop has maps and route descriptions available for rides varying in length from 7 miles to 100 plus miles. A local rider was nice enough to post some of the local rides at http://bicycling.allsportgps.com/Data/MapSearch.aspx.
I highly recommend purchasing Random Rides in East-Central Kentucky, by Jerrell Goodpaster.
HIKING/TRAIL RUNNING
The area is filled with excellent hiking. Although most of the trails are multi-user trails you have several shorter natural and senic trails that are hiker only. Two links of interest for input on the area check out Sheltowee Trace and KentuckyTrails.org.
PADDLING
Cave Run Lake, the Licking River, and the local streams offer miles and miles of flatwater paddling. The lake provides year round paddling. There is plenty of room of the lake and lots pf places to get away. The backwater areas make excellent paddling areas as well as placed to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. The land along the Licking River south of Cave Run Lake dam is mostly privately owned (at least until you get to Blue Licks State Park -- about 120 miles downstream).
Cave Run paddling maps and directions. These maps are not for sale -- so we advise printing them in advance. We recommend all of the paddling routes. But if you insist on a specific recommendation here you go. For a short half day of paddling, I recommend the Yellow Route (Poppin Rock to Caney). If you have more time try the Aqua Route (Bangor to Claylick). The shuttle for this trip is less than 10 minutes.
Feel free to be creative and make your own routes or to use any combinations of the routes we suggested to customize your experience. The maps were created to help you plan your trip and to provide some guidance, not to limit your experience. In the off season you can pretty much paddle anywhere you want on the lake with out many power boats. The only reason the main part of the lake is not mapped out is because of motor boat traffic Memorial thru Labor day, after that or even during the weekends the main lake is worthy of a paddling trip. Use your judgement.
To contact some of the area paddlers you can go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caverunkayakclub. The Licking River is home to many fish and other species (The Nature Conservancy).
TOURISM AND LODGING
For more information on the Morehead Area contact The Morehead Tourism (http://www.moreheadtourism.com).
Comfort Inn and Suites -- (606)780-7378.
Twin Knobs Campground -- (606) 780-1818.
CAMPING
http://www.camprrm.com/Kentucky%20Campgrounds.htm
Near by (HWY 801) places to eat
Area Resturants (http://www.moreheadtourism.com/Dining/). We recommend the Fuzzy Duck Coffee Shop, Pasquales, Melini Cuizini Resturant, Bakery on Main (for a tasty snack), and Buffalo Wild Wings.
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