The Knobstone Trail is the longest hiking trail in Indiana. Its southern terminus is about 15 miles (24 km) north of Louisville, Kentucky in the Deam Lake State Recreation Area. It currently ends at Delaney Creek Park near Salem, Indiana. However, there are plans to eventually extend the trail another 80 miles (129 km) north to Martinsville, Indiana. Most of the trail lies within Clark State Forest. As it lies along the Knobstone Escarpment, it is a difficult hike, which is why many use the Knobstone Trail to prepare for hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Knobstone Trail
Length58 mi (93 km)
LocationClark / Scott / Washington counties, Indiana, USA
TrailheadsDeam Lake;
Delaney Park
UseHiking
Highest pointRound Knob, 1,000 ft (300 m)
DifficultyModerate to Strenuous

The trail was first established in 1980, and was only 32 miles (51 km) long. It now runs 58 miles (93 km), mostly through public forest.

Hiking the trail in its entirety results in approximately 20,000 feet (6,100 m) of elevation change between the gains and losses. The trail passes through 3 counties and is surrounded by approximately 40,000 acres (160 km2) of Indiana State Forest. The rugged trail consists of steep climbs and descents throughout its duration. It is maintained to backcountry standards. There are no designated camp sites; rather hikers must camp at least 1-mile (1.6 km) from roads and trailheads.

After a tornado on March 2, 2012, destroyed 4.5 miles of the trail, sections of the trail were closed. The damaged areas were reopened in early 2014.[1]

Waypoints

edit

Following are waypoints on the trail:

Waypoint
Mile #
Coordinates
Waypoint 0 38°27′54″N 85°50′37″W / 38.46505°N 85.84352°W / 38.46505; -85.84352 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 0)
Waypoint 1 38°28′35″N 85°50′50″W / 38.47637°N 85.84728°W / 38.47637; -85.84728 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 1)
Waypoint 2 38°29′13″N 85°50′59″W / 38.48685°N 85.84972°W / 38.48685; -85.84972 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 2)
Waypoint 3 38°29′49″N 85°51′06″W / 38.49692°N 85.85155°W / 38.49692; -85.85155 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 3)
Waypoint 4 38°30′19″N 85°51′43″W / 38.50537°N 85.86182°W / 38.50537; -85.86182 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 4)
Waypoint 5 38°30′42″N 85°51′55″W / 38.51170°N 85.86527°W / 38.51170; -85.86527 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 5)
Waypoint 6 38°31′09″N 85°51′36″W / 38.51930°N 85.85988°W / 38.51930; -85.85988 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 6)
Waypoint 7 38°31′49″N 85°51′21″W / 38.53032°N 85.85572°W / 38.53032; -85.85572 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 7)
Waypoint 8 38°31′46″N 85°50′28″W / 38.52935°N 85.84123°W / 38.52935; -85.84123 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 8)
Waypoint 9 38°32′23″N 85°50′24″W / 38.53978°N 85.83992°W / 38.53978; -85.83992 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 9)
Waypoint 10 38°32′51″N 85°49′55″W / 38.54762°N 85.83205°W / 38.54762; -85.83205 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 10)
Waypoint 11 38°33′28″N 85°50′06″W / 38.55787°N 85.83493°W / 38.55787; -85.83493 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 11)
Waypoint 12 38°33′58″N 85°49′39″W / 38.56617°N 85.82737°W / 38.56617; -85.82737 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 12)
Waypoint 13 38°34′01″N 85°50′29″W / 38.56698°N 85.84130°W / 38.56698; -85.84130 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 13)
Waypoint 14 38°34′28″N 85°50′41″W / 38.57455°N 85.84478°W / 38.57455; -85.84478 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 14)
Waypoint 15 38°34′56″N 85°50′50″W / 38.58233°N 85.84720°W / 38.58233; -85.84720 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 15)
Waypoint 16 38°34′44″N 85°51′42″W / 38.57897°N 85.86162°W / 38.57897; -85.86162 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 16)
Waypoint 17 38°34′44″N 85°52′27″W / 38.57893°N 85.87425°W / 38.57893; -85.87425 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 17)
Waypoint 18 38°35′09″N 85°53′01″W / 38.58585°N 85.88355°W / 38.58585; -85.88355 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 18)
Waypoint 19 38°35′54″N 85°53′16″W / 38.59830°N 85.88780°W / 38.59830; -85.88780 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 19)
Waypoint 20 38°36′22″N 85°53′07″W / 38.60613°N 85.88538°W / 38.60613; -85.88538 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 20)
Waypoint 21 38°36′43″N 85°52′50″W / 38.61195°N 85.88043°W / 38.61195; -85.88043 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 21)
Waypoint 22 38°37′14″N 85°52′43″W / 38.62067°N 85.87858°W / 38.62067; -85.87858 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 22)
Waypoint 23 38°37′52″N 85°52′32″W / 38.63108°N 85.87562°W / 38.63108; -85.87562 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 23)
Waypoint 24 38°38′26″N 85°52′48″W / 38.64058°N 85.87998°W / 38.64058; -85.87998 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 24)
Waypoint 25 38°38′44″N 85°53′12″W / 38.64542°N 85.88657°W / 38.64542; -85.88657 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 25)
Waypoint 26 38°39′15″N 85°53′30″W / 38.65430°N 85.89178°W / 38.65430; -85.89178 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 26)
Waypoint 27 38°39′11″N 85°54′10″W / 38.65292°N 85.90270°W / 38.65292; -85.90270 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 27)
Waypoint 28 38°38′52″N 85°54′38″W / 38.64787°N 85.91043°W / 38.64787; -85.91043 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 28)
Waypoint 29 38°38′56″N 85°55′23″W / 38.64877°N 85.92293°W / 38.64877; -85.92293 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 29)
Waypoint 30 38°38′47″N 85°56′06″W / 38.64632°N 85.93488°W / 38.64632; -85.93488 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 30)
Waypoint 31 38°38′47″N 85°56′50″W / 38.64652°N 85.94727°W / 38.64652; -85.94727 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 31)
Waypoint 32 38°38′52″N 85°57′29″W / 38.64787°N 85.95817°W / 38.64787; -85.95817 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 32)
Waypoint 33 38°39′00″N 85°58′10″W / 38.65003°N 85.96932°W / 38.65003; -85.96932 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 33)
Waypoint 34 38°39′35″N 85°58′08″W / 38.65980°N 85.96883°W / 38.65980; -85.96883 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 34)
Waypoint 35 38°39′46″N 85°58′41″W / 38.66278°N 85.97803°W / 38.66278; -85.97803 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 35)
Waypoint 36 38°40′17″N 85°58′19″W / 38.67138°N 85.97193°W / 38.67138; -85.97193 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 36)
Waypoint 37 38°40′56″N 85°58′25″W / 38.68220°N 85.97370°W / 38.68220; -85.97370 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 37)
Waypoint 38 38°41′19″N 85°58′54″W / 38.68858°N 85.98168°W / 38.68858; -85.98168 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 38)
Waypoint 39 38°41′58″N 85°58′58″W / 38.69957°N 85.98275°W / 38.69957; -85.98275 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 39)
Waypoint 40 38°42′03″N 85°59′42″W / 38.70070°N 85.99490°W / 38.70070; -85.99490 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 40)
Waypoint 41 38°42′11″N 86°00′24″W / 38.70302°N 86.00653°W / 38.70302; -86.00653 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 41)
Waypoint 42 38°42′21″N 86°01′25″W / 38.70595°N 86.02367°W / 38.70595; -86.02367 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 42)
Waypoint 43 38°42′32″N 86°02′16″W / 38.70888°N 86.03777°W / 38.70888; -86.03777 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 43)
Waypoint 44 38°42′50″N 86°01′52″W / 38.71380°N 86.03110°W / 38.71380; -86.03110 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 44)
Waypoint 45 38°43′12″N 86°01′52″W / 38.72007°N 86.03118°W / 38.72007; -86.03118 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 45)
Waypoint 46 38°43′27″N 86°01′58″W / 38.72427°N 86.03275°W / 38.72427; -86.03275 (Knobstone Trail Waypoint 46)

References

edit
  1. ^ "[DNR] Knobstone Trail to reopen after 2012 tornado". Indiana DNR. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
edit