Trail 1: Departing from “C,” Trail 1 spans 5.2 miles. The trail works along the Ford Bay’s western edge along Lake Barkley. Trail 1 offers several beautiful views and provides ample opportunity to see all sorts of wildlife including bald eagles, ospreys, shorebirds, and other water fowl.
Trail 2: Trial 2 is a short 2 mile loop which offers beautiful late afternoon or early morning rides. The trail departs from the “C” trail head. Trail 2 offers lots of opportunities to see deer and wild turkey. You will also find an abundance of wildflowers (Seasonally).
Trail 3: Another relatively short loop (2.6 Miles), this trail departs from the “E” trail head and returns to camp on the back of “D” overflow. This is another great choice for an early morning or evening ride.
Trail 4: Beginning in area “A” this 3-mile trail starts near the old tobacco barn. The trail was specifically designed to run along ridge tops and saddles in order to minimize damage to this natural resource. It is not unusual for riders to enjoy this trail at night under a full moon.
Trail 5: Departing from the “A” trail head near an old Tobacco Barn, this 9.3 mile path includes beautiful fields, rolling hills, and several natural springs.
Additionally, there is a small wetland ecosystem which provide habitat for waterfowl nests, aquatic reptiles, and amphibians. These wetland ponds provide food, water, and shelter for many species of wildlife.
In order to protect the wildlife, please avoid lengthy rides in creeks, streams, ponds, and lakes.
Trail 6: This trail departs the “day-use” area, and runs about 11.8 mile to Blue Hole. Once there you will find picnic tables and tethering poles offering a great place to spend some time creek-side. Along the trail, there are opportunities to visit Laura Furnace and the the historic marker and grave of Revolutionary War’s Little Drummer Boy.
Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is a deep spring with a rich blue color for most of the year. The Blue Hole is located on the south end of the riding area. Riders love this stop due to the peaceful scenery, cool water and proximity to several historic sites.
While there, you may notice shiny blue rocks scattered along the ground. These are not actually rocks, but slag from the Laura Iron Furnace. It ceased operations more than 100 years ago and left a permanent mark on the landscape. Please leave the slag (blue rocks) behind for others to enjoy. These “rocks” are historic, dating back to the late 1800’s and they are a protected part of history.
Laura Furnace
At Laura Furnace you will notice blue slag covering the forest floor. This slag is a by-product of iron ore production which helped the area prosper during the mid-1800s, but significantly impacted the environment. While at Laura Furnace, you will see large stones from the furnace structure, now just a shell of what it once was. In 1880, the furnace was shuttered for good, but you will still notice the difference in the forest through the area as it is still recovering from overuse.
Little Drummer Boy
Nathan Futrell is believed to be the youngest drummer boy in the Revolutionary War at only seven years old. During your stop. you will find a plaque erected The Daughters of the American Revolution in honor of Futrell’s war contributions. Please leave your horse tethered before you enter the cemetery.
Trail 7: This trail continues after Blue Hole, leading to the tobacco barn. Departing from area “C,” the trail follows Forest Service Roads 174 and 353 with a crossing at Road 165 for a total of about10.8 miles.
Trail 8: At 19.3 miles, this is the longest trail in the system. It departs from area “C” and is shared with hikers along portions of the North/South Trail. Several roads serve as part of the trail. At around the 9.6 mile-mark, you can take trail 12 to the South Bison Range.
When riding on multi-use trails, be respectful and careful around hikers and bikers.
Trail 9: An 8 mile trail, #9 departs from the “Day Use” Area and crosses Forest Service Road 165. Along the way, you may see an old chimney and natural spring around Bacon Creek Road.
Trail 10: This is one of the favorites among LBL riders. The 10.5 mile trail offers a wonderful variety of terrain and moves along the edge of Lake Barkley where you will find remnants of the homestead.
Please do not disturb these historic area, and remember to watch for potential dangers like old wells and cisterns.
