Take This Easy Hikes Road Trip In Kentucky And Try 5 Short Trails In One Weekend
By Andrea Limke|Published May 27, 2021
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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.
You could spend a lifetime hiking around the great state of Kentucky, but unfortunately, most of us only have a free weekend here and there. In those two free days, you want to pack as much outdoor adventure in as possible and see a beautiful variety of Kentucky natural wonders. You can always choose to hit up one, day-long trail on this adventure or you can take a road trip to some easy hikes in Kentucky and fit in several in one weekend. On this weekend getaway, you’ll start in the Red River Gorge area and end up in Corbin. You get to take some scenic roads in between and you’ll enjoy a bit of everything, from waterfalls to natural bridges. Take a look at the map and directions, change it up a bit if you need to, and hit the road!
You can begin this trip near Corbin or in Red River Gorge, but we are going to assume you decide to kick things off in Eastern Kentucky. Chimney Top Rock (also called simply, Chimney Rock) is a popular hike in the area thanks to its amazing, sweeping views. You will get a true sense of the vastness of Red River Gorge and the trail is quick at just half a mile. As with all of these hikes, be extremely cautious, especially around the edges of the trail.
The Rock Bridge Trail is another popular one in the area, likely because you get to see both a waterfall and a natural bridge. The fairly easy mile-long hike takes you down into the woods where you'll find the scenic Creation Falls and its sandy bank. Just beyond that is Rock Bridge, an equally scenic spot. This hike is great for kids, especially since there are no massive drop offs like in many hikes in the Gorge.
You can't explore Red River Gorge without a visit to the Natural Bridge. The hike to reach the bridge can be strenuous (it's a climb!), so for this road trip, we recommend you hop on the Natural Bridge Skylift. You can purchase tickets to ride up and back down, or you can ride up and hike back down if you really want to see more of the area. The lift takes you to the top of the bridge, but make sure you venture underneath it for this amazing view.
If you happen to have some extra time, this hidden gem hike in Kentucky is worth a visit. It's outside of London, which is on the way from Red River Gorge to the Corbin area. The trail is only about a mile long, but it can be tricky with rustic landscape and a sometimes hard-to-follow path. But look at this scenery! It's totally worth it.
The easiest hike with the biggest payoff belongs to the short walk to Cumberland Falls. Just steps from the parking lot, you can view Kentucky's largest waterfall in all its glory. There are many overlooks in this area or you can hop on another trail within Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and view it from other angles.
One of those trails that you can and should take is the Eagle Falls Trail. This is actually the longest hike of the weekend at about a mile and a half, but it also comes with big payoffs. View Cumberland Falls from up above and also witness Eagle Falls, a beautiful place to wrap up an adventurous weekend of easy hikes in Kentucky.
These quick and easy hikes in Kentucky are ideal for a weekend adventure and you’ll be able to see and do so much in a short period of time. Choose to stay in the Gorge area overnight or drive to Corbin and stay there, but either way, you’ll have a blast exploring the natural beauty of Kentucky. Does this sound like a weekend road trip you’d want to take? Let us know in the comments and be sure to share your adventure with us if you take it!
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