Morgan County Highpoint Trip Report
nine areas (1,400+ ft)
Date: June 26, 2007
Author: Bill Schuler
The nine areas span the county from the far north to the far south and I did
them from north to south consuming parts of three days.
For the two areas 1 1/4 miles southwest of Redwine, I began in Wrigley. To get
to Wrigley from the north, leave I-64 exit 172 at KY 7 in Grayson and drive
south on KY 7 for 38 miles to KY 711. Zero your odometer and go east on KY 711
to Clebitt Branch Road 1.4 miles away (unmarked) and about 1 mile west of Redwine.
Turn right and go south on Clebitt Branch Road (private) to its end in
0.7 mile and park. It is 0.6 mile bushwhack south-southwest up the ridge to BM
"Mordice" (1400+ feet) for Area #1. Continue west-southwest along the ridge
another 0.2 mile to point 1400+ at Area #2. Return the same way. I ran out of
daylight waiting out a rain shower so drove south on KY 7 for 7.7 miles to West
Liberty and the Days Inn for the night.
The following describes Areas #3 through #6 west of KY 191. Zero odometer.
0.0 -- Junction of KY 7 and US 460 in West Liberty, go south on US 460.
2.3 -- KY 191, turn left (south).
11.6 -- Cannell City at the elementary school and the start of Railroad Branch Road;
remember this junction but continue south on KY 191.
13.2 -- Paved driveway #2, turn right (west).
The sequence as you reach this area is first a shed on the right,
then paved driveway #1 on the right, a dirt road on the right (downhill),
a rusty shed on the left and paved driveway #2
directly across from the shed and before an abandoned, decomposing house on the right.
The pavement ends at a trailer and a 4wd dirt road continues.
I got permission to drive up this road from the lady in the trailer and it was
verified by her husband farther up the track.
NOTE: None of the roads encountered show on the Topo map but they crisscross the
whole area. I drove in about 0.7 mile taking two lefts at Y junctions and parked.
I then hiked up a rough track to the ridge line for Area #3 in 0.2 mile.
Area #4 was a short distance west, barely noticeable. I returned to my
vehicle and continued driving to the next Y junction and parked where I could
turn around. A short bushwhack 0.2 mile south got me to Area #5 in a downpour.
Back at my car but soaking wet, I slithered down to KY 191 with 1.8 more miles
on my odometer. Scary.
15.0 -- KY 191, turn right (south).
15.9 -- A private road goes up the hill to the right (west) and is posted for "No Trespassing".
It only goes 0.1 mile anyway and it's hard to turn around up above.
Park at KY 191 without blocking the road and hike up the road.
A gentleman came out to meet me and I explained what I was doing there.
After his initial look of incredulity, he pointed up the hill to the ridgeline and said
"The highpoint of the county is right there, go get it". I didn't bother to
explain that it was only one of nine contenders. I was on top in 0.1 mile,
walked around a bit in the wet bushes to make sure it was the top of Area #6 and
headed back down. Meanwhile, the skies opened up again and after waiting around
an hour and looking for (and not finding) either of the roads that headed east
up to the vicinity of the next two areas from KY 191, I talked with a local gent
who said that the only way into that area was from Railroad Branch Road. I gave
up and went back to West Liberty for the night. These four points proved to be
easy after searching for and finding the best approach but the weather refused
to cooperate. Actually, the forced layoff felt great as I was pretty worn out
after five weeks on the road.
The next morning the rain had stopped, so I headed back to Cannel City and
Railroad Branch Road at the school. I drove south up it for about 2.6 miles
passing many homes and trailers. There were a lot of side roads up this Hollow
that I didn't explore but stayed on the main (albeit muddy) road. I drove as
far as I dared and got permission to hike. Area #7 was 0.3 mile up the draw
southwest to the north ridgeline and then south to the liner high point.
An ATV trail made it fairly easy until it turned the wrong way. I continued
bushwhacking south about 0.7 mile with a few ups and downs, then northwest 0.2
mile to Area #8. My GPS kept me pointed in the right direction as well as
helped me back to the car. This area of the Kentucky Appalachians is pretty
country and fairly easy hiking although the roads on the topo map tend to be
either heavily developed or nonexistent. Most hollows have homes in them.
Back at Cannel City, I headed south on KY 191 to Adele, then west on KY 9009 to
Helechawa and south on KY 205 to Lee City. At KY 1099, turn east to Belknap and
a road on the left after 2.8 miles. This is unsigned Maddix Branch Road.
It starts out as gravel, then turns to dirt. In 1.3 miles the main road ends.
With permission, drive up the dirt track. At a Y, keep left and miss the driveways.
I was warned about logging going on in the area. I went through
four open gates, all posted, to as far as I wished to push the car (it was still
pretty muddy). My GPS said the high point was 0.4 mile to the northwest.
As I got there, I realized that I had to go to the very top of the hill, even though
the top was in Wolfe County, to be sure of getting this liner. I made doubly
sure by zig-zagging north down the ridge for Area #9 and finally completing
Morgan County.
Aside from the rain that resulted in bushwhacking farther than necessary,
this was a fun county with many surprises.