The Kentucky Wildlands is an undiscovered hidden gem of the South. From crystal clear lakes and wild elk to vibrant fall foliage and star-studded skies, here are six reasons to put The Kentucky Wildlands on your list. Image: John L Rucker | The Kentucky Wildlands
The Kentucky Wildlands is a wide-open playground waiting to be explored. Spanning 14,000 square miles of beautiful wilderness across 41 counties of eastern and southern Kentucky, it’s largely “undiscovered” — in the true essence of the overused word. An easy drive from major cities in Kentucky, the Midwest, and the Southeast, a visit to these hidden gems is like unearthing a magical natural wonderland void of crowds and development.
PinFrom pristine watering holes to scenic vistas to mind-blowing natural phenomena, The Kentucky Wildlands has something for every flavor of wanderlust. Image: Lisa Hunter | The Kentucky Wildlands
Ancient forests, waterfalls galore, and crystal-clear lakes offer outdoor lovers innumerable ways to play — from hiking and biking to sailing and scuba diving. While coal mining defined eastern and southern Kentucky for generations, a major shift has happened in recent years to invest in sustainable eco-tourism and protect the area’s extraordinary natural assets. Here are a few of the many reasons you should head to The Kentucky Wildlands this fall and beyond.
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Weird & Noteworthy Natural Phenomena
The Kentucky Wildlands is home to the resplendent Red River Gorge (“The Red” to locals!). This canyon system boasts more than 600 miles of hiking trails, world-class rock climbing, 100 natural sandstone arches, dozens of waterfalls, and giant natural bridges.
PinThe magnificent natural bridge is only the beginning of the treasures you can explore on foot in this park. Image: Red River Gorge
It’s also home to “The Grand Canyon of the South,” a 1,000-foot-deep gorge carved through the heart of Pine Mountain, and it’s the only place in Kentucky with class-five rapids for some truly thrilling rafting.
Cumberland Falls (called “Niagara of the South”) is a picturesque waterfall along The Sheltowee Trace Trail. It has the Western Hemisphere’s only regularly occurring moonbow, a rare white lunar rainbow that appears during or at the end of a full moon. In fact, it’s one of only two places in the world where moonbows occur regularly.
PinBeautiful Cumberland Falls is fun to visit year-round, but fall takes the cake. Image: G. Fuson | The Kentucky Wildlands
“Leaf Peeping” Without The Crowds
Fall colors sweep across The Kentucky Wildlands from late September throughout October. The best part? The crowds are slim, so you can stop, walk, and snap photos at your leisure. If you love expansive vistas that show off every possible color of autumn, head to the overlooks at Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Natural Bridge State Resort Park, Red River Gorge, Cumberland Gap, and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
PinAt Natural Bridge State Resort Park, hike the scenic trail or ride the skylift to the natural bridge. There’s truly no better place to see the changing leaves than on the ride down the skylift! Image: Dustin Robinson | The Kentucky Wildlands
If you prefer that up-close-and-personal leaf peeping, hike through The Daniel Boone National Forest: 708,000 acres of federally protected forest land filled with oak, poplar, maple, and beech trees.
PinHikes through Rockcastle Narrows have pay-off views like this! Image: Dustin Robinson | The Kentucky WildlandsPinA map of The Kentucky Wildlands with predicted timing for fall colors | Image: The Kentucky Wildlands
Lake Life: House Boats and Scuba Diving
The Kentucky Wildlands is home to many lakes you’ll want to explore. Lake Cumberland is known as the houseboat capital of the world … and you can rent one from the largest fleet of houseboats in the country! The cute town of Monticello nearby has eateries and shops to peruse after a day on the water.
PinCave Run Lake and nearby small town Morehead, KY, are great places to sail, dine, and relax. Image: Ben Childers | The Kentucky Wildlands
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Laurel River Lake is one of the state’s cleanest, deepest, and clearest lakes … so much so that scuba diving is a popular pastime to see underwater rock formations. On Cave Run Lake, sailboats dot the horizon. No matter the lake, bass fishing, boating, and kayaking are plentiful.
PinCave Run Lake’s clear shores make for so much fun in the sun. Image: David Moore | The Kentucky Wildlands
Wild Elk Roam Freely
Nestled in the hills of Breathitt County, Southfork Elk View Recreational Area is a unique place to enjoy some mind-blowing natural beauty. Free-roaming horses and majestic wild elk pepper the landscape. There are also hiking trails, ATV excursions, and horseback rides to fill your day.
PinKentucky is home to the largest Elk population east of the Mississippi River. Image: The Kentucky Wildlands
Adventure Parks & Quirky Lodgings
When it’s time to rest your sleepy heads, The Kentucky Wildlands has a myriad of places to book. Covered wagons, dome glamping, yurts, treehouses, and houseboats are ready for the more adventure-prone. For the amenity-driven, rent a cozy mountainside cabin or explore one of the region’s nine gorgeous state resort parks, where you can take advantage of park amenities and planned activities all year long.
PinSlide into The Kentucky Wildlands at The Tradewinds Treehouse! Image: Red River Gorgeous
Music’s In The Air
The Kentucky Wildlands is home to over a dozen music legends, from Loretta Lynn to Chris Stapleton to Dwight Yoakam. A rich tradition of bluegrass and country music can be explored via the Country Music Highway, a stretch of U.S. 23 from Ashland to the Virginia border.
The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Mt Vernon also has lots of information and exhibits on more than 50 famous Kentucky artists. If you’re in the mood for some live music and a cold beer, check out the lineups at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, Paramount Arts Center, or Billie Jean Osborne’s Kentucky Opry at Mountain Arts Center.
Unmatched Night Skies & Moonbows
Most of The Kentucky Wildlands is untouched wilderness with very little development and a new focus on astrotourism. A large part of the region is a Class Three on the Bortle Scale, which means a totally dark sky sans light pollution. Star gazing into the Milky Way reveals more complex views of star clusters visible to the naked eye!
PinA night-time visit to Cumberland Falls during peak conditions can reward you with a glimpse of the rare moonbow. Image: The Kentucky Wildlands
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800+ Waterfalls To Chase
The Kentucky Wildlands has more than 800 magical waterfalls. You’ll find spilling waterfalls everywhere in McCreary County, including Yahoo Falls (the state’s tallest) and Cumberland Falls (the state’s most famous). For a more tranquil scene, carved rock overhangs create translucent grottos in places like Grayson Lake and Slaughter Falls.
PinGrayson Lake Grotto is a popular oasis for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. It gives us that “this can’t be in Kentucky” sensation that so many places in The Wildlands do! Image: John L Rucker | The Kentucky WildlandsNo matter your first reason for visiting The Kentucky Wildlands, your days of exploring are sure to uncover even more reasons to return.
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Zoe is a StyleBlueprint freelance writer, Charlotte native, Washington & Lee graduate, and Nashville transplant since 2012. She teaches Pilates, helps manage recording artists, and likes to "research" Germantown's food scene.
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