Vanhook Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 40 ft high | Kentucky
5 mi round trip
Vanhook Falls Hike at a Glance
The Vanhook Falls hike via the Sheltowee Trace is 5 mi round trip.
| Falls height | About 40 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 1,000 ft |
| Trail | Sheltowee Trace |
| Distance | 5 mi round trip |
Your time: about 1 h 40 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 5 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 940 kcal. No elevation gain is published for this route, so climbing time isn’t included.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 5 mi distance for this hike is verified (kentuckytourism.com), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Vanhook Falls
Vanhook Falls is a waterfall in Kentucky, about 40 feet high, on land managed by Daniel Boone National Forest (London Ranger District). Its height is from kentuckytourism.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Sheltowee Trace: 5 miles round trip, from Parking lot at the junction of KY 192 and KY 1193. Distance from kentuckytourism.com.
Before You Go
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Daniel Boone National Forest (London Ranger District) for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Vanhook Falls?
The Sheltowee Trace to Vanhook Falls is 5 miles round trip.
Where does the Vanhook Falls hike start?
It starts from Parking lot at the junction of KY 192 and KY 1193.
How tall is Vanhook Falls?
Vanhook Falls is about 40 feet high.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
3:00 PM
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Vanhook Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- kentuckytourism.com
- Distance
- kentuckytourism.com
- Falls height
- kentuckytourism.com
- Falls location
- explorekentucky.us
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Vanhook Falls.