Kentucky

Kentucky is best known for it's rolling green grass hills that gave birth to Bluegrass music and bourbon distilling. The limestone karst topography that underlies the hills and knobs of this unique landscape hold a bigger secret found in Mammoth Caves National Park, the world's longest subterranean cave system. With a little over 400 miles currently surveyed, Mammoth Caves is one of the easiest caves systems to explore as the park features over 14 miles of established trails.

Top Spots in and near Kentucky

Slade, Kentucky
Hike the Indian Staircase Loop and Cloudsplitter

5.0

10 mi

Starting at the Bison Way Trailhead #210. You'll take this until you come to the intersection of the Sheltowee Trace Trail #100. Go left. You're going to turn right on the unmarked trail just past the sign that says stay on trail. This is quite the incline. Keeping going until you get to the base...
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Pineville, Kentucky
Explore the Lookout from Chained Rock

5.0

Located just north of the Cumberland Gap, Chained Rock is a local landform made unique by a long slung chain that comes with a tall tale of it's creation. According to legend the rock pinnacle overlooking the Cumberland River valley struck fear into the minds of young children, which was eased wi...
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Berea, Kentucky
Hike the Pinnacles in Berea

4.9

6.59 mi / 1014 ft gain

This is a trip with multiple sites to visit over the course of a day. Visiting all five would equal around 5 miles, or you can choose to only go to one, as there are some slightly strenuous hills. The most visited is the Main Lookout, and the West Pinnacle offers a little rock climbing. Between ...
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Slade, Kentucky
Hike to Natural Bridge and Battleship Rock

3.8

2 mi / 400 ft gain

This popular hike begins near the state park gift shop and has options to continue to other trails at multiple points. The first .75 miles, starting at about 800 feet, is the hike up to the Natural Bridge. This portion of the hike contains basically all of the increase in elevation. As you hike u...
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Stanton, Kentucky
Hike to Courthouse Rock and Double Arch

5.0

6.1 mi

Start at the trailhead located just past the Gray's Arch picnic area. Follow Auxier Ridge Trail #204 (white diamonds). You will pass a trail junction at 0.9 miles, but continue on Auxier Ridge. At the following fork in the trail keep right.Along the trail, you will catch views from the ridge of R...
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Stanton, Kentucky
Hike the Auxier Ridge Trail, KY

5.0

4 mi / 1300 ft gain

This can be done as a quick hike, or as an overnighter so you can catch both sunset and sunrise. Park at the Auxier Ridge Trailhead and take the Auxier Ridge Trail (#204). Do NOT take the branch on the left for the Courthouse Rock Trail (#202), which you will see after about 1 mile. In about 2...
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Stanton, Kentucky
Hike to Gray's Arch

5.0

3.3 mi

The trail approaches the arch through a ravine, passing by cliffs, dense forest, and a stream (Kings Branch) en route.
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Slade, Kentucky
Camp at Miguel's Pizza

4.0

The Red River Gorge is known for the best rock climbing in the east. A man named Miguel opened a pizzeria in the gorge, and soon began letting climbers camp behind the restaurant for a mere $2/night. Today, the tradition has continued, and dozens of climbers call Miguel's Pizza their climbing hom...
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Olive Hill, Kentucky
Hike to Lick Falls

5.0

3 mi

The Grayson Lake State Park has two trails – the Lick Falls Loop Trail, and the 0.8 mile Beech-Hemlock Forest Trail. Lick Falls is best done after a rain, to make sure the falls are flowing. A trail map of the park can be found here.
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Williamsburg, Kentucky
Eagle Falls, Cumberland Falls SRP

4.8

1.89 mi / 699 ft gain

Rated easy to moderate, this hike does have lots of stairs. Rated easy to moderate, this hike does have lots of stairs. Along the way to Eagle Falls you will pass one of the best views of Cumberland Falls. Part of the lower trail may at times be muddy or inaccessible due to water levels.
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West Point, Kentucky
Hike to Tioga Falls

4.7

1.9 mi / 354 ft gain

Recently the trail to Tioga Falls has re-opened even though they are still doing trail restoration. This is short little 1.9 mile out and back trail is perfect for the family and has one of the best waterfalls if you live anywhere near Louisville, Kentucky. Now while there is about 350 feet of el...
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Wilmore, Kentucky
Hike to the Cave at Asbury Trails

4.0

1 mi / 430 ft gain

The Asbury University trail system is located just south of Wilmore, KY along the lush emerald banks of the Kentucky River. Leisurely looping through the luscious limestone landmasses of the Kentucky bluegrass region, the trails at Asbury offer visitors an opportunity to obtain up-close understan...
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Henderson, Kentucky
Hike the Wilderness Lake Trail

3.0

1 mi / 0 ft gain

This well kept trail is one of seven trails at John James Audubon State Park. A great short hike for the family starts at roughly 600 ft with minimal elevation change. The trail is surrounded by hardwoods and moss for the first half mile then the forest opens up to a small lake/wetlands area. The...
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Brownsville, Kentucky
Hike the Cedar Sink Trail

5.0

1.6 mi / 333 ft gain

Starting at the parking lot off of National Park Boundary Road, you will follow the marked sign on the path until you hit a set of metal stairs heading downward. Take the stairs to the bottom and take the first left on the trail to the observation deck that overlooks the Cedar Spring.A map of the...
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Forest Road, Kentucky
Hike to Dog Slaughter Falls

4.0

2.2 mi / 195 ft gain

Getting There When headed towards Cumberland Falls State Resort Park on Kentucky-90, watch for a gravel forest service road on the right (FS-195). The Dog Slaughter Falls trail has two trail-heads along this road. The first one is about 0.8 miles down the gravel road, but I'm going to suggest th...
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Gillmore, Kentucky
Hike the Creation Falls and Rock Bridge Loop

4.8

1.38 mi / 285 ft gain

From the Slade, KY exit take KY15 toward Campton to KY715 to Rock Bridge Rd. Park at the Rock Bridge picnic area and take the trailhead closest to the entrance. The trailhead will quickly descend surrounding you with lush vegetation. A rockshelter can be found on the right hand side of the tra...
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