Blog

Weekend Gem: Little Loops Traverse

Posted by eriksoltan on May 11, 2022 in Weekend Gem | No Comments

Ice Castle Falls After a too long outdoor hiatus, I got back out to the wonderful Big South Fork to hike this circuit again. This time I tacked on the rest of the Leatherwood Loop that I skipped over last time and checked out some hidden arches and waterfalls along the way too on this great 31 mile traverse. If you don’t have a copy of the OutraGIS Southern Sheltowee Map for the area, you really need to get your paws on it. It has lots of hidden sights for the area and is a considerable improvement from the National Geo Map. Make sure you get it laminated, because the paper they print it on is not sturdy enough for wilderness travel. Start out at Leatherwood and begin hiking south on the Sheltowee/JMT along the River to the O+W Bridge and cross it. The way now gets steeper as you pass beautiful Jake’s Falls and onward up to Devil’s Den on your right. The way begins to mellow out by a picnic table and signs for the Needle’s Eye or Hole in the Ridge. This is a great destination and worth a side trip if you have the time, but be aware it is back there about 3/4 of a mile. Continuing on the Sheltowee you cruise along up high for a bit before dropping down to the Honey Creek area. But before you start descending, look for some small rock outcropping on your right and follow it along the edge to Welder Arch. It is off the trail about 60 feet or so and is tucked in low along the ground. Back on the trail, take a right at the split to follow the JMT as it descends. When the trail makes a sharp right, look for Belly Arch inside a growing outcropping on the right. This rad arch is cupped inside a bigger ledge, like the heart of the rock itself. Soon you will be down along the creek and crossing it in front of rugged Boulder Falls that puts your tiny stature back into context again. Next up is a split on your right heading down to Honey Creek Falls (the map has it reversed with Ice Castle) After another couple steep, scrambles and crossings you end up face to face with Ice Castle Falls in a epic cove complete with a nice camp. Following Honey Creek on out of the area, you start ascending back into the sun again and eventually wind up at the Honey Creek TH. This next section is a mixed bag of old road/road and then again trail as you continue to lightly climb. Soon when it becomes a trail proper, you start dropping down to Beaver Creek and your camp for the night. When you hit the creek, make alert and follow it downstream to a nice private camp. That roar you hear is amazing Beaver Falls! Set up camp, grab a sip of whisky and hop the stream following ribbons to the Fall’s edge. Be careful though, it is a really cliffy here, so watch your footing near the edge please.

Eft

Big ol’ rock

Jake’s Falls

Devils Den

Welder Arch

Belly Arch

Boulder Falls

Wow, what a great night’s sleep I had by this pleasant stream. With the roar of the waterfall so close you can almost imagine yourself at the foot of it and soaking in the sun. Before you take off, hop over the creek and snap a few pics of the fantastic Beaver Falls from this most absurdly precarious perch. I found myself thinking about how cool it would be if I was one of those high divers. You know, the ones that dive off those tall cliffs in Hawaii or some shit like that. Back on the trail after a lovely cup of joe you climb out of this significant drainage and then it’s down, down, down to the Clear Fork. Turn right and mosey on down until you hear the roar on your right and surprise!, it’s another rad unnamed falls! A nice trail contour brings you riverside for an up close and personel experience the majesty of this artery of the Big South Fork, I love this section! Last time I hiked this Traverse I camped down here. The camp spots are amazing along the first stretch, with nice private coves and bigger group spots. If you have the juice and think you can push on to here on your first night, it is in your best interest logistically to do so in my option. Keep your eyes peeled for the impressive Skull Creek and Burnt Mill Falls on the other side of the river. They are definitely worth a gander for a breath or two. This part of the Clear Fork did not get quite as jacked as the main BSF artery which saw a stunning amount of flow during a storm this last winter. I saw a plastic barrel like 30 feet above the present normal water height. It is both amazing and terrifying at the same time, but that’s nature for you. Soon you will arrive at Burnt Mill Bridge which was washed away in that legendary flood and replaced with a more sturdy concrete one. It is surprisingly the same height as the old one? But I’ve never made a bridge so what do I know. This part of the loop stays along the river, but shortly climbs up to intersection where you made that right. Retrace your steps back to the Honey Creek Loop and make a right this time. This section is a little rougher than the other section and is a little more random route finding wise. Follow the arrows up and around some big boulders and skirt some ledges. Keep them peeper open for Moonshine and appropriately named Hideout Falls. Climb up the crazy steep staircases to the Honey Creek Viewpoint and soak in the sights. Near the end of the loop when you are by the stream, follow the Honey Creek across the boulders in the creek and up a cascade. When the creek turns a bend follow the “main trail” sign as the tread steeply climbs up. With all the new stuff out of the way today, retrace your steps to Devils Den. There is a small bivy spot in the center of the Den along the overhang. It is the only truly flat spot not under the overhang that is not full of glass or whatnot, so watch your step. Besides the glass, this is a great spot to spend the night. There is water usually flowing well to the left of the Den and there is an amazing viewpoint high above the river. Just follow the trail back up to a way trail that is on your right and follow it to the ledge, it is a 5 minute walk. Enjoy a great sunset as you scarf down some dinner and whisky sipper, ahhh yeah!

Dive on in!

Mayapple madness!

Burnt Mill Bridges

On a mellow section Honey Creek

Moonshine Falls

Oh my!

Honey Creek Viewpoint

Hideout Falls

Sunset above the Den

Finding that hidden gem of a viewpoint was amazing. I must have sat up for a couple of hours just soaking it in. After a reviving cup of coffee, head on down past Jake’s Falls and on to O+W. After a spell on the River take the split to the left to finish off the higher regions of the Leatherwood Loop. This trail switchbacks up and up before it levels off into lovely forests that transition into pocket meadows on the top. Going on down, there are attractive ledges to enjoy as the roar of the river crowds any leaf crunching sounds. I can’t express the number of ways BSF has enriched my hiking career. Big mountain views are replaced by geologic wonders, raw wilderness and the power of such a powerful waterway. I find my mind drifting off to ancient seascapes previously unfathomed that spark my creativity. Do yourself a favor and get your Big South Fork soon! You won’t be sorry..,.