Big South Fork NRRA: Maude's Crack

Maude's Crack happens to be the name of a destination in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area that Noelle and Eric have been wanting to check out for some time. Well today we finally made it there. It is named after Minnie Maude Roysdon, who reported used the crack to descend from the ridge top to a rock shelter in the valley below where she and her husband temporarily lived after their cabin had burned.


Our trip started with a long drive from Lexington down Interstate 75, around Somerset, over to Monticello, and south into Tennessee. Once we got into Tennessee we were shocked to find the road blocked by a friendly Tennessee State Park Ranger who informed us that an 18 wheeler was stuck half-on and half-off the road ahead. Luckily, we were barely able to squeeze past the stranded tractor trailer and made left the paved road at the Divide Road. From there we spent about another half hour traversing gravel roads to the Terry Cemetery.

Terry Cemetery marks the point of the trailhead. From there we hit the trail, first ascending, then descending to the Maude's Crack Overlook. It is an impressive overlook there, with views of surrounding vertical walls of sandstone. We had a quick snack there.

It is at this point that Maude's Crack becomes evident. Maude's Crack is a narrow crack in the sandstone

that descends to the valley floor in an almost ramp-like manner.

It was a lot of fun traversing the crack.

At the bottom of the crack we intersected the John Muir Trail. We decided to make a left to follow out intended loop in a counter-clockwise manner. When we reached the Big South Fork River we stated to see signs of a long vanished community.

Perhaps these structures represented the outskirts of the once thriving community of No Business. We followed the river to No Business Creek.

Although the official trail crossed the creek to follow some horse trails, we decided to bushwack on the other side of the creek to avoid a deep cold creek crossing. The bushwacking was rough. We were constantly struggling with the Multiflora Rose. We did get to see some interesting sights though, old rocks walls and fences left over from long ago.

Finally we rejoined the John Muir Trail where we hiked .9 miles back to Maude's Crack. From there we ascended back up the crack, along the trail and to our car. It was an interesting hike.