06/08/2026
The first English "Long Hunters," including Henry Skaggs, Joseph Drake, and the Bledsoe brothers, traversed the Appalachian Mountains in the 1760s using ancient animal and Native American trails. To bypass the steep Cumberland and Pine Mountain ranges, they relied on a specific path connecting the Cumberland Gap to Flat Lick Kentucky. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Warriors' Path: This ancient route ran from the Cumberland Gap through the Cumberland River Valley to a major ancient Native American trail junction at Flat Lick. Cumberland Ford: This crossing over the Cumberland River was utilized to navigate the waterways. Today, the site of the Cumberland Ford is known as Pineville, Kentucky. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Flat Lick: Situated in Knox County, this was a massive natural salt lick that attracted an abundance of buffalo. It served as a primary campsite for Indigenous travelers and early frontier explorers. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Skaggs Trace: The hunting paths and buffalo traces pioneered by Henry Skaggs and his contemporaries eventually evolved into "Skaggs Trace". This became one of the most heavily utilized pathways before being widened in 1796 to accommodate wagon travel as the now Wilderness Road. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In 1768, legendary frontier explorers and "Long Hunters" Colonel James Knox and Henry Skaggs established a hunting camp near Raccoon Spring, located along the East Fork of Robinson Creek in present-day Laurel County, Kentucky. This campsite became a pivotal location along the historic wilderness trail known as Skaggs’ Trace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Long Hunters who crossed the Appalachian Mountains for months-long expeditions to harvest deerskins and fur pelts.The Campsite Location: Situated near Lily, Kentucky, along now Cherry Hill Road. It originally served as an active Native American campsite due to the fresh spring water. Naming of the Springs: Named after Henry Skaggs encountered a raccoon while collecting water from the spring. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Skaggs' Trace: The camp sits directly on the wilderness track blazed by the Skaggs brothers. It predated and later integrated into portions of the famous Boone Trace, acting as a major highway for early pioneers migrating west into Central Kentucky. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hazel Patch, located about 7 to 8 miles north of present-day London, Kentucky, was the most critical junction in early pioneer history where the major western migration trails split. Long Hunters like Henry Skaggs originally popularized the spot in the 1760s because its dense hazelnut groves attracted massive game. The site served as a natural geographic crossroads, shaping the settlement of the American West through three historical milestones: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1. The Long Hunter Origins (1760s) Henry Skaggs is credited with naming "the Hazle Patch" during early hunting expeditions.The abundant hazelnut trees attracted deer, elk, and buffalo.Long Hunters utilized the nuts as a highly packable source of nourishment during long treks.The primitive trail they packed into the forest became known as Skaggs' Trace. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. The Great Trail Split of 1775; In the spring of 1775, Hazel Patch became the exact location where the two most famous trails into the Kentucky wilderness separated:Boone Trace: Daniel Boone and his trailblazers followed Skaggs' Trace up to Hazel Patch. At this exact junction, Boone branched northward to cut a new path toward Boonesborough. Skaggs’ Trace: Pioneers Benjamin Logan and John Floyd arrived at Hazel Patch shortly after Boone. They chose to stay on Skaggs' original trail, veering westward toward Crab Orchard and establishing Logan's Fort (Stanford). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. Transformation into the Wilderness Road; Over 70,000 pioneers traveled along Skaggs' Trace through Hazel Patch between 1769 and 1795.In 1796, Kentucky's first governor Issac Shelby commissioned Colonel James Knox and Joseph Crockett to widen this route.Their construction turned the rugged pack-trail into a true wagon road, officially cementing its name in history as the Wilderness Road. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------After leaving Hazel Patch on Skaggs' Trace, the path moved northwest into Rockcastle County on its way to Crab Orchard. Long Hunter Henry Skaggs originally established this trail in 1763, naming Crab Orchard after a beautiful stand of wild crab apple trees he found there. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Because this leg of the journey was incredibly dangerous due to geographic barriers and frontier conflicts, it evolved into one of the most critical stretches of the early American westward migration. Traveling from Hazel Patch to Crab Orchard required crossing treacherous terrain:Rockcastle River Crossing: Pioneers had to descend down Hazel Patch Creek and brave a dangerous crossing of the swift Rockcastle River. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Rockcastle Hills: The trail ascended into the steep, rugged Rockcastle Hills. Decades later, this exact high ground would serve as the site of Camp Wildcat, where the first major Civil War battle in Kentucky was fought in 1861. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Skaggs Creek Bottoms: After navigating the ridges, the path dropped down and followed the winding waters of Skaggs Creek up to its headwaters before descending toward the Dix (Dick’s) River basin. Strategic Frontier Landmarks Along the Way ;English’s Station: Located just two miles east of Crab Orchard, this early fort served as a vital staging and convergence point where Skaggs’ Trace and the later Wilderness Road officially joined together. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------William Whitley House: Just west of Crab Orchard, famous pioneer William Whitley (who traveled Skaggs' Trace in 1775) established a station. By 1794, he built "Sportsman's Hill" here—the first brick house built west of the Allegheny Mountains. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Crab Orchard: The Gateway & Caravan Assembly Point Upon successfully arriving at Crab Orchard, pioneers reached the edge of the fertile Bluegrass region. It became famous in frontier history as a refuge and assembly point.Because the Wilderness Road back through the mountains was so dangerous, solitary travelers or families would camp at Crab Orchard for days or weeks. They waited to form large, heavily armed caravans before attempting to travel back east. Advertisements were regularly run in early newspapers like The Kentucky Gazette, warning travelers that they must "go well armed" and gather at Crab Orchard to safely navigate the wilderness.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Legendary pioneer and "Long Hunter" Henry Skaggs explored and named Flat Lick, Hazel Patch, and Crab Orchard during his mid-1760s expeditions through Kentucky.He connected these specific landmarks via Skaggs Trace, a critical hunters' trail that later served as the western branch of the famous Wilderness Road. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Stories Behind the Names ; Flat Lick (Knox County): Henry Skaggs traveled this area as early as 1761. He noted the large, flat salt lick that naturally drew massive herds of migrating game like buffalo and deer, making it a premier hunting ground. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hazel Patch (Laurel/Rockcastle County): Henry Skaggs named this location because the landscape abounded with wild hazelnut trees. The abundant nuts attracted small game, providing a reliable food source for both wildlife and frontiersmen. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Crab Orchard (Lincoln County): Visited by Henry Skaggs and his fellow Long Hunters around 1764, the site was named for a striking, expansive natural grove of wild crabapple trees found growing in the area. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Historical Legacy ; Skaggs Trace began at the Warriors' Path in Flat Lick, headed northwest to Hazel Patch, and extended westward to Crab Orchard and modern-day Stanford to the Falls of the Ohio now Louisville. This trail eventually became the primary route for over 70,000 early pioneers migrating into central Kentucky, ultimately seeing heavier traffic than Daniel Boone's direct path to Boonesborough.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In 1774, Lord Dunmore (the Royal Governor of Virginia) ordered frontiersman James Harrod to lead an expedition to survey western lands. These tracts of land were promised by the British Crown as bounties to soldiers who had fought in the French and Indian War.This order set off a chain of major historical events on the American frontier: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Founding of Kentucky's First town in Kentucky ; The Expedition: Harrod left from Fort Redstone with a party of over 30 men, traveling down the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers to the Falls of the Ohio now Louisville.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Harrod's Town: On June 16, 1774, the group established the very first permanent European pioneer settlement in Kentucky, initially called Harrod's Town (now Harrodsburg, Kentucky). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Following the success of Harrodsburg, several other vital frontier settlements quickly followed in the mid-to-late 1770s: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Boonesborough (1775): Founded by the legendary explorer Daniel Boone. He blazed the famous Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap on behalf of the Transylvania Company. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Stanford / Logan's Fort (1775): Established by Colonel Benjamin Logan, this became Kentucky's second-oldest continuous settlement. Three prominent historical settlements that directly utilized Skaggs Trace (which later became a major western branch of the Wilderness Road) include: 1.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Boone followed the original Skaggs Trace from Flat Lick northward to Hazel Patch, Kentucky, when he blazed Boone’s Trace in the spring of 1775.: Boone and his party utilized Skaggs Trace—a rugged hunting path established by the "Long Hunter" Henry Skaggs—for the southern portion of their journey. The Split: Upon reaching Hazel Patch (in modern-day Laurel/Rockcastle County), Boone split from Skaggs Trace. Boone carved a new path heading north toward Boonesborough, while Skaggs Trace continued west toward Crab Orchard. Evolution: Both trails later evolved and merged into sections of the famous Wilderness Road by 1796, which served as America's primary western gateway---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 . St. Asaph (Logan's Fort): Established by Benjamin Logan in 1775 near modern-day Stanford, this fortified settlement sat directly along the path carved out by Skaggs Trace. Following Skaggs Trace northwest from the Hazel Patch junction allowed pioneers to reach the safety of Logan's Fort rather than heading toward Boonesborough via Boone's Trace.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3.Harrodsburg (Fort Harrod): As Kentucky’s oldest permanent English settlement, Harrodsburg was connected to the extension of Skaggs Trace. By 1779, the trail had been well-traveled and extended past the Dix River through Harrodsburg, ultimately serving as the main highway for settlers heading toward the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------While Harrodsburg holds the official historical crown as Kentucky’s first permanent town (founded in 1774). The geographic landmarks —Flat Lick, Hazel Patch, and Crab Orchard—were well-known, highly utilized hubs for the famous "Long Hunters" and explorers a full decade before Harrodsburg or Boonesborough were officially built. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Historians and pioneer enthusiasts often debate this exact point: if "first town" was judged by where frontier activity, geographic naming, and temporary camps actually concentrated in the 1760s, the cradle of Kentucky civilization would look very different. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The historical timeline explains why these three spots were active in the 1760s but did not evolve into formal towns until later: 1. Flat Lick (The Convergence Point)The 1760s Reality: Long Hunters used this prominent salt lick as a primary base camp. It naturally drew massive herds of buffalo and game, making it the perfect hunting hub. Daniel Boone was actively camping here by 1769.Why it didn't become the "first town": Flat Lick served as a critical geographic fork in the road rather than a residential settlement. It was where the Warrior's Path, Boone’s Trace, and the Wilderness Road eventually split or converged. Pioneers viewed it as a resting checkpoint rather than a place to lay down permanent roots and build cabins; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Hazel Patch (The Famous Fork)The 1760s Reality: Named by early hunter Henry Skaggs because of its abundance of hazelnut trees, it was a prime location for hunters to harvest food and game.Why it didn't become the "first town": Hazel Patch is historically famous as the "big split" on the trail. It was the exact spot where pioneers had to choose between taking Boone's Trace north toward Boonesborough or taking Skaggs' Trace west toward Crab Orchard. Because it was a high-traffic transit zone, it remained a wilderness landmark until Wood's Blockhouse was finally constructed there in 1793. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. Crab Orchard (The Wild Apple Haven)The 1760s Reality: Long Hunters first visited this site in 1764 and named it "The Wild Crab Apple" due to the massive natural grove of trees.Why it didn't become the "first town": Crab Orchard eventually became a massive, bustling frontier station where pioneers would heavily arm themselves and cluster together in large groups to safely traverse the dangerous wilderness trails. However, formal town settlement didn't solidify here until the mid-1770s to 1780s. It later found massive fame in the 1800s as a major mineral springs resort town. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Summary of the Debate ; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The reason James Harrod gets the official credit for Harrodsburg in 1774 is strictly a legal and architectural technicality: he was the first to systematically layout designated half-acre lots, clear land for agriculture, and construct a permanent fortified grid town. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 1755, a Virginia hunting party consisting of Mathias "Tice" Harman, James Skaggs Sr., and Henry Skaggs (along with other frontiersmen) built a large log hunting lodge at Blockhouse Bottom. This exact structure served as the foundation for what later became Harman’s Station, recognized as the first permanent Anglo-American settlement in Eastern Kentucky ????????
