Powell County Highpoint Trip Report
seven areas (1,440+ ft)
Date: June 21, 2007
Author: Bill Schuler
From the junction of KY 11 and KY 15 in Waltersville (about 14 miles south of
Mount Sterling and I-64 at exit 110), zero odometer and head north on KY 11 for
2.3 miles to a white house #2271 and a gate saying "Keep Gate Closed" and FCC
Phone information, on the left (west). With permission, drive up to the
communication towers in about 1.3 miles. The lookout tower is no longer there.
Look around for the highest point on Rotten Point at Area #1. Then bushwhack
west down to a saddle and up to Pilot Knob for Area #2. It's about 1.4 miles
over and back. Return the same way to KY 11.
Go north on KY 11 to a turnout at marker 24 and park. There's a dirt road with
a locked cable across it. Hike this road for a little over 0.6 mile to the
vicinity of White Rock quarry. Bushwhack southeast down to a saddle and up the
west ridge to Areas #3 and #4 on Morris Mountain. It's about 1 mile round trip.
A GPS is useful to pinpoint the bumps but a topo map is OK. Return to KY 11 and
go south back to Waltonville in 3.1 miles.
Go east on KY 11/15 through Clay City to KY 1057. The remaining three areas can
be done the way I did them or in reverse by turning right on KY 1057 and driving
to the Vaughn Mill area in 12.3 miles. I continued east to KY 213 in Stanton in
5.2 miles. Turn right (south) on 213 and drive to the Powell county line in
about 7.5 miles.
At the county line, park on a dirt road on the right. Bushwhack west up the
ridge to Area #5. Continue northwest down to a saddle, then up a ridge to State
Rock at Area #6. On the return, you can contour around the first point on it's
north side back to the dirt road and your parked vehicle. A GPS waypoint at the
car helps. Drive south on KY 213 to it's junction with KY 1057 in Furnace.
Turn right onto KY 213/1057, Hardwick Creek Road. In 0.4 mile, turn right again
on to KY 1057 and drive to the community of Vaughn Mill. Turn left onto Frames
Branch Road. Go about 1 mile to the E.J. Raceway sign. Turn left into the driveway.
I had to search around to find someone to ask for permission to hike
up the hill. The gentleman I found didn't own the land but also didn't care if
I went up and showed me where to park out of the way.
My GPS said that it was only 0.45 mile south but it took over an hour round trip
to bushwhack in the heat and brush. It got very steep near the top and I was
using bushes in places to pull myself up. Perhaps there is a better way.
My GPS was flaky this afternoon and wouldn't give me a clear signal at the top,
requiring a bit of roaming around for Area #7. Back at the car, I drove out to
KY 1057. I turned left and, in 12.3 miles, was back to KY 11/15 in Clay City.
This county took all afternoon yesterday and most of the day today with many
mistakes, false starts, rejections and bushwhacking.