Chasing Waterfalls: A Backpacking Trip for Beginners

Get ready to confidently backpack in the outdoors! This trip is geared towards people with little to no backpacking experience. Please only sign up if you are new(ish) to backpacking or haven’t been in a long time and could use a refresh.

In this trip, we’ll hike with all our gear no more than 5 miles per day on relatively flat trails, coming across waterfalls, rock shelters and a natural arch. Several experienced backpackers will be on hand to share backpacking tips, so it’s a great beginner experience..

We will explore the Yahoo Falls area in the Big South Fork, completing a counterclockwise loop along the Sheltowee Trace and Negro Creek trails. We’ll start at the Yahoo Falls trailhead and hike 5 miles on the first day, then set up basecamp. On the second day, we’ll dayhike to Princess falls, about 4 miles roundtrip. We hike 5 miles on Negro Creek on the last day and head back to our cars. This is a beautiful hike with waterfalls and caves.

We’ll meet at Meijer in Florence and decide on carpooling. At Whitley City, we’ll have a quick lunch (buy or bring your own) and will do the same on our drive back home.

Please reach out with any questions if you have not backpacked before, if you’re not sure what to bring, or are in need of gear. There are resources available to borrow some gear.

No dogs. All participants will need to sign a liability waiver. It’s also suggested you carry a completed medical form in case of emergency.