This 2-Hour Drive Through Kentucky Is The Best Way To See This Year's Fall Colors
By Andrea Limke|Published October 17, 2018
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
Fall in Kentucky is simply splendid and now that the cooler temperatures have arrived, it’s time to start enjoying the colorful foliage that makes this season so special. As a naturally beautiful state, there are many places to take an afternoon drive to see these colors firsthand, but there is one area of our state that truly shows off this time of year. Located in southeastern Kentucky, Pine Mountain State Resort Park and the roads around it are bursting with mature forests, epic overlooks, and mountain views that are painted with color in the fall. That’s why this 2-hour drive through this region is the absolute best way to see this year’s fall colors.
Pine Mountain State Resort Park, located in the southeastern corner of Kentucky, was actually the first state park in our beautiful state. If you've ever been there, then you can easily understand why this land has long been a favorite. It's a wonderful place to experience any time of year, but in the fall this mountain absolutely comes alive and you can witness it just by driving around the park. To get started, the map below shows you the highlights of the park, but it's also a good idea to stop by the lodge for more information.
The foliage is just starting to change in this region of Kentucky, so you still have time to witness it at peak color in late October through the beginning of November. You can easily spend an hour or more slowly driving through the park and the other scenic roads in the area.
Once you see the vibrant color and scenery, you'll likely want to make a few stops to really take it all in. There are plenty of hiking trails to check out, especially if you're staying overnight at the park or if you live nearby.
And don't forget to stop by an overlook or two. On a clear day, you'll be able to see for miles and any direction you look will be blanketed with a rainbow of fall color. If you'd like to plan a longer trip to the park, begin your planning with our previous article here.
After some time in the park, take the scenic hour drive to Pine Mountain Settlement School. You can take a look at exact directions here, but you'll be treated to plenty of views like the ones on the road below.
Pine Mountain Settlement School is a National Historic Landmark and was founded in 1913. It's now a cultural center and the property is absolutely incredible. Be sure to check out the chapel on the property, shown below. You can learn about this little church in our previous article here.
From here, you can either head home or continue to drive around for more overlooks and scenery. Definitely consider heading back to the park to stay overnight, as the lodge and other accommodations are open year round.
If you do return to the park, visit Mountain View Restaurant for a warm meal and cup of coffee. This restaurant has even more sweeping views of the mountains and in the fall, those views are bright and brilliant and some of the best you can experience in Kentucky.
A drive around Pine Mountain State Resort Park and through the mountainous area nearby is the perfect way to experience the brilliance of fall in Kentucky. Have you spent time on Pine Mountain in the fall? Is it on your bucket list? It’s not too late to experience it this year!
To get your drive started, Pine Mountain State Resort Park is located at 1050 State Park Rd., Pineville, KY 40977. For more information on the park, visit its website here.
And for information on when the leaves will be at their peak color in Kentucky, check out our previous article here.
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