Thursday, February 23, 2012
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Attractions   »   Hiking   »   Cumberland Gap National Historical Park    
Walking and hiking enthusiasts take note!!!! Cumberland Gap National Historical Park’s 80 miles of hiking trails provide myriad opportunities for an hour long jaunt, an all day adventure or an overnight excursion into the park’s backcountry. And whether categorized as easy, moderate or strenuous, all trails acquaint visitors with the park’s rich history and outstanding beauty.
 
The Sugar Run Trail, located on the north side of Cumberland Mountain, ranks high amongst favorites of both visitors and park staff. The moderately rated trail meanders through stately groves of hemlock and rhododendron thickets.  One hears the ripples of Sugar Run Creek; air is saturated with the scent of rich, moist soil. Gently move a log or two and one might discover a red or dusky salamander. One way distance to its intersection with the Ridge Trail is 2.5 miles.
 
The recently restored Wilderness Road trail is a powerful experience, as visitors walk in the footsteps of long hunter Daniel Boone, frontiersman Simon Kenton, physician-explorer Dr. Thomas Walker and the almost 300,000 pioneers who made their way to the promised land of Kentucky. Visitors can access the trail from the Daniel Boone parking area, located on North Cumberland Drive, which leads into the town of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. As visitors begin their personal journeys to this historic passageway, they walk through an open air pavilion in which exhibits chronicle the Gap as the first doorway to the west. Visitors are greeted by life size sculptures of the animals and people who journeyed through the Gap; footprints of these early travelers are imprinted in the concrete near the trailhead. The trail crosses a wooden footbridge crossing Gap Creek, which flows from Gap Cave. Shortly before reaching the Cumberland Gap itself, the trail becomes rather steep. Heavy breathing and aching thigh muscles makes the walker appreciate the hardships experienced by the early pioneers. From the Gap, one has a commanding view into Kentucky. Dr. Thomas Walker, in his April 13th, 1750 journal entry, wrote: “This Gap may be seen at a considerable distance, and there is no other, that I know of, except one about two miles to the North of it, which does not appear to be so low as the other.” One way mileage from the Daniel Boone parking area to the Gap is almost one mile.
 
Hikers yearning for a challenge will thrill with the eight mile round trip leading to White Rocks and Sand Cave. The trail begins at Civil Park, located on the east end of the park. Hikers gain two thousand feet during the first two miles of trekking. The trail makes it way through hardwood forest, with oaks, hickories and beech making a grand appearance. Along the way, keen eyes might catch a glimpse of a sharp-shinned or Coopers hawk stationed in a tree, surveying its domain. Chickadees and perhaps ruby and golden crowned kinglets will be delightful companions throughout the entire hike. White Rocks tower 3500 feet above Powell Valley; hikers truly gain the status of “king of the mountain” when standing at the top of this sandstone uprising. In July, hikers can feast on succulent blueberries which are abundant near the White Rocks Overlook.
 
Sand Cave is a mile to the west of the White Rocks Overlook and is a definite must. Though called a cave, it is better characterized as a rock shelter. At least seven different colors of sand swirl together in the “cave.” A real treat for the backcountry hiker is the waterfall which cascades over the lip of this rock shelter. Shrieks of excitement certainly emanate from those hardy enough to stand under the cold, mountain water.
 
So start planning your “walk about” now. Rangers will passionately share favorite hikes and hot spot destinations.
 
 
Remember to take along water and wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
 
 
Visitor Center:
*Fitness Trail - 2 mile loop trail, easy to moderate.
*Thomas Walker Trail to Thomas Walker parking area - 0.9 mile, easy to moderate.
 (First 0.3 mile is paved and follows beside Pinnacle road.)
 
Thomas Walker Parking Area:
*Thomas Walker Trail to visitor center- 0.9 mile, easy to moderate.
*Object Lesson Road Trail - 0.4 mile, easy, to Wilderness Road Trail - 0.2 mile, easy , where you intersect with the Tri-State Trail. Along this trail to Tri-State Marker - 0.6 mile, moderate. Return by way of Tri-State Trail and Wilderness Road Trail - 0.9 mile, moderate.
*Wilderness Road Trail to Saddle of Gap - 1.1 mile, moderate.
*Object Lesson Road Trail - 0.4 mile, easy, to Wilderness Road Trail - 0.2 mile, easy, to Saddle of Gap where you intersect with Harlan Road Trail - 0.3 mile left on Harlan Road Trail to Ft. McCook, right on Pinnacle Trail to Pinnacle - 0.8 mile, strenuous.
 
Ft. McCook Parking Area:
*Up 46 steps to Ft. McCook earthworks and cannon.
*Harlan Road Trail to Saddle of the Gap - 0.3 mile, moderately strenuous.
*Pinnacle Trail to Pinnacle overlook - 0.8 mile, strenuous.
*Harlan Road Trail to highway KY 988 - 1.6 mile, strenuous.
 
Pinnacle Overlook:
*Overlook Trail from either end of parking area - 200 yards, easy.
*Ft. Lyons – short walk to earthen works and cannon; easy to moderate.
*Ridge Trail runs the length of park to White Rocks; approximately 19 miles, moderate.
 
Iron Furnace Parking Area:
*Tennessee Road - 0.3 mile to Wilderness Road Trail. Left to Saddle of the Gap- 0.3 mile, where you  intersect with Tri-State Trail. Along this Trail to Tri-State marker - 0.6 mile, moderate.
*Tennessee Road, 0.3 mile to Wilderness Road Trail right to Daniel Boone Parking Area - 0.6 mile, easy to moderate.
 
Daniel Boone Parking Area:
*Wilderness Road Trail to Saddle of the Gap - 0.9 mile, easy to moderate, to Tri-State Trail, right to Tri-State marker - 0.6 mile, moderate.
*Wilderness Road Trail - 0.6 mile to Tennessee Road Trail, left to Iron Furnace - 0.3 mile, moderate.
*Boone Trail to Wilderness campground road - 1.6 mile, easy tomoderate.
 
Sugar Run Picnic Area:
*Sugar Run Trail to Ridge Trail - 2.6 miles, strenuous.
 
Wilderness Road Campground:
*Greenleaf Nature Trail - 0.7 mile loop, easy to moderate.
*Greenleaf Nature Trail to Honey Tree Spur Trail - 1.1 mile, easy to strenuous.
*Gibson Gap Trail to Ridge Trail - 5 mile, strenuous.
*Lewis Hollow Trail to Skylight Cave – 1.0 mile, moderate to strenuous.
 
Wilderness Campground Picnic Area:
*Lewis Hollow connector Trail - 0.2 mile to Lewis Hollow Trail - 0.8 mile to Skylight Cave, strenuous.
 
Handicapped Accessible:
*Thomas Walker Trail from Visitor Center to under 25 E bridge- paved - 0.4 mile.
*Pinnacle Overlook Trail from right end of Pinnacle parking area - paved - 200 yards.
*Cemetery Road – Bartlett Park picnic area - park in picnic area. Walk road by maintenance building follow gravel road to railroad trestle - 0.5 mile.
 
 
 
For more information about park trails contact
 Cumberland Gap National Historical Park , P O Box 1848, Middlesboro, KY 40965
 (606) 248-2817, extension 1075 or www.nps.gov/cuga
 
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