Traveling the Appalachian Trail
Follow the footsteps of American pioneers
Along the Appalachian Ridge pioneers braved the Kentucky wilderness in what became the first great gateway to the west. James Clark burned the first trail in 1813 journaling the region’s virgin forest, mountain streams and waterfalls dispersed with infinite prairies filled with grazing herds of Bison. Later Daniel Boone blazed the trail from the northeast seeking a new frontier winding down the mountains to a narrow corridor called the Cumberland Gap , a pathway of hope for nearly 300,000 Americans. On a trail of tears and hardships, men, women and children, many barefoot in the middle of the winter, cut their way through dense forests and climbed rocky terrain to claim their new home in Kentucky .
Today you can enjoy the same pristine forests American ancestors discovered but escape to the luxuries of the 21 st century inside the spacious state lodges in Southeastern Kentucky . A network of interstates move you quickly to highway 25E traveling through the gap. The highway follows the same historic trail carved by Indians and early settlers and in 1996 the Cumberland Gap Tunnel was completed allowing the state to restore the gap area to the 1860 era.
The Pine Mountain State Resort Park is a convenient hub for exploring the Cumberland region. Resting on the mountain tops of the Kentucky Ridge State Park , the resort offers 30 lodge rooms overlooking a cascade of mountains draped with hemlocks, hardwoods and an understory of mountain laurel, red azalea and wild blueberries. Nestled inside these magical forests, twenty country cottages provide families with a full kitchen and separate bedrooms. Dream away the business calendar on 12 miles of self guided trails or enjoy a wealth of recreational opportunities with naturalist programs, an amphitheater and a rec room chocked full of video games. Leave the kids in good hands while you steal away a day of golf at the Wasioto Winds course, an 18-hole links-style course ranked by “Golf Digest” magazine in 2002 as #4 in the “Best New Affordable Courses.”
Traveling 40 miles northwest the Cumberland Falls State Resort offers trails for every skill level from a ¼ mile to nearly 11 miles in length. Hike inside an umbrella of hardwoods laced with wildflowers alongside a rippling river or follow a trail of sandstone bluffs for spectacular views of four waterfalls. Nature lovers, young and old, soft or hardcore adventurers join the fun canoeing, kayaking, rafting, or cruising on a riverboat down the Cumberland River . Start your journey at the visitor’s center and feel the spray of a 68-foot wall of water as Cumberland Falls pounds the river and splashes a misty rainbow against the sun’s piercing rays. Schedule your trip around the full moon and witness a rare moonbow, an arc of white light above the river.
Head 50 miles south to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park where seventy miles of trails dice their way through 20,000-acres of forests layered with springtime blooms and a blaze of color in the fall. Hike or drive to Pinnacle Overlook where Kentucky , Tennessee and Virginia come together in a panoramic vista of the Southern Appalachian Mountains filled with cascading mountains and valley hamlets. Enter the underground world of Gap Cave with lanterns in hand and follow the park ranger for a close look at exquisite cave sculptures and creatures of the night including bats, salamanders and cave crickets.
Amy Wilson, Biology major at Lincoln Memorial University , tells the story of how private parties inside the cave rooms were a common practice in the early 20 th century. “People would do ballroom dancing to bands in the balcony,” says Amy pointing to stairs carved in the rock and a ledge style stage. “They escaped the hot summers in the cave caverns to cool off.”
Before you leave the Bluegrass state check out the bluegreen waters of Rockcastle River near London , Kentucky . A popular canoeing and camping trail, running parallel along the 500-mile long Sheltowee Trace, leisurely paddle down light rapids or head for the whitewaters on the Lower Rockcastle. Do a day trip ranging from four to nine hours or take a 5 day, 60 mile canoe/camping trip with hiking and cave explorations. Fifty foot bluffs scale the river banks providing a playground for otters with miles of muddy slides spilling into the refreshing waters below.
Follow the footsteps of American pioneers on wildflower trails in the shadows of hemlock forests serenaded by a lullaby of mountain streams. Feel the passion and hardships American ancestors endured in building a new land inside historical museums and settlements.
State Parks and Resorts
Kentucky offers a network of 52 state parks, 17 featuring lodges with the comforts of home inside the state’s raw wilderness, 32 campgrounds for those who want to get personal with nature but close to modern conveniences. There are no admittance fees to the parks and the lodges offer reasonable rates, many under $100 a night with buffet or restaurant style dining. The parks hold championship golf, marinas, multi-use trails, tennis courts, swimming pools and educational/entertainment programs.
State parks www.kystateparks.com , 1-800-255-PARK
Kentucky Tourism http://www.kentuckytourism.com/
Pine Mountain State Resort Park www.pinemountainpark.com , 1-800-325-1712
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park , 1-800-325-0063
Sheltowee Trace Outfitters www.ky-rafting.com , 1-800-541-RAFT
Rockcastle Adventures Canoe Livery, March through November, 606-864-9407
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park www.nps.gov/cuga
Cultural Attractions
Nearby towns of Berea , Corbin, Barbourville, Middlesborough and Whitesburg offer endless cultural attractions rich in music, museums and native crafts. Get your fill of southern hospitality with heaping helpings of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and fried green tomatoes.
Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trails www.kaht.com
Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission, www.corbinkytourism.com , 606-528-8860
Bell County Tourism Commission, www.mountaingateway.com , 800-988-1075
Cumberland Tourist & Convention Commission, www.kingdomcome.org , 606-589-5812
Renfro Valley Entertainment Center www.renfrovalley.com , 800-765-7464
Avenue Café & Antiques, Middlesborough, 606-248-3958
