BRING YOUR BINOCULARS: BIRDWATCHING
We’ve discovered more than 200 species of birds in this area including Shoebirds, blue-winged warblers, Eagles, Cranes and other waterfowl
Excellent Birding Sites in Rowan County:
- Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery
- Shallow Flats at Cave Run Lake
- Triplett Creek at City Park
- Eagle Lake on Morehead State University’s Campus
Online Resources:
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
Merlin bird ID app sponsored by The Cornell Lab
BEE CURIOUS!: Honeybee enthusiasts will have a sweet time at the Honey and Bee Connection
This is the perfect place to safely observe inside a thriving hive and witness a queen and her colony in action. Get fresh local Kentucky honey, and all the supplies, equipment and education needed to care for a hive of your own. Visit www.thehoneyandbeeconnection.com for more information.
“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” ~Sir Edmund Hillary
SLAB CAMP: Rock Climbing Adventures
Slab Camp is a half-mile long, horseshoe crag located 20 minutes from downtown Morehead (38.1291 North, -83.3641 West) in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
The easiest approach to the area from Morehead is via Clearfield Road. From there, take Dry Creek Road to Nichols Branch Road to Jones Ridge Road. Turn left off Jones Ridge Road onto Bowman Cemetery Road and follow it past the cemetery, down into the forest and to the power line clearing where you will find a parking area. A 15-minute hike from the parking area will bring you to the southeast entrance of the crag.
The crag features approximately 60 climbing routes including sport, traditional and mixed. First developed in the 1990s, much of the hardware has since deteriorated and needs replacement before the area can safely sustain a large amount of climbing traffic.
The Morehead Trail Town Task Force received a $1000 grant from Access Fund and American Alpine Club to facilitate the replacement of the original bolts and anchors with new stainless steel hardware that has an approximate 50-year lifespan when properly installed and utilized. The grant funds are supplying the hardware necessary to replace approximately 20 routes. Several local climbers trained in sustainable fixed gear replacement have surveyed the area and work is underway to replace worn hardware on the routes likely to receive the highest amount of traffic.
Interested in volunteering?
Access trails to the area require considerable maintenance. Pending approval from the US Forest Service, we will organize the first Slab Camp Trail Day and begin training local volunteers in sustainable trail design and maintenance. Stay tuned for more information.