Waterfall Hero Hikes: Lick Creek Falls (Daniel Boone)

Lick Creek Falls is a tall waterfall on a tributary of Lick Creek in McCreary County, Kentucky. The waterfall is located in the Stearns Ranger District of Daniel Boone National Forest.

Hike Length: 5.2 miles
Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Stearns Ranger District of Daniel Boone National Forest.

Trail Users: Hiking only
Dogs: Yes
Features: Waterfalls (2)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around waterfalls are very slippery.
Trailhead GPS: 36.72478,-84.54380
Waterfall GPS: 36.71890,-84.51127

Directions:

From Whitley City, go south on Main Street for about a mile and bear right on Poplar Springs Road. In 1 mile, turn right on KY-92 west and drive 4 miles. Just before the bridge, turn right into the parking area for Yamacraw Bridge and drive down below the bridge to the parking area.

Map:

Hike Description:

From the upper end of the parking area, pick up the Sheltowee Trace Trail that follows the river downstream. At 0.7 miles, the trail passes a small tributary and Julia Lynn Falls is just upstream.

At about 1.2 miles, Sheltowee Trace Trail crosses Lick Creek on a footbridge. Don't cross, instead go right onto Lick Creek Trail (#631) to follow the creek upstream. The trail passes right past the top of Princess Falls.

In another quarter-mile, the trail crosses Lick Creek, which can be difficult in high water. There is one more creek crossing before reaching Lick Creek Falls Trail (#631A). Go right and follow to the end at the base of Lick Creek Falls.