The Whittleton Trail In Natural Bridge State Resort Park Is A Short-And-Sweet Streamside Hike In Kentucky
By Sarah McCosham|Published February 14, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Throw a rock in Kentucky, and chances are you’ll hit a rock formation. Kentucky is full of amazing rock formations that capture the imaginations of all who experience them out on the trails. Natural Bridge State Resort Park is a treasure trove of fascinating formations and scenic trails; these two things combine along The Whittleton Trail, a short-and-sweet streamside hike in Kentucky.
Kentucky's Natural Bridge State Resort Park is a study in Bluegrass topography; its 2,500 acres are home to some of the state's most iconic and commanding rock formations and native species.
Within the park, the Whittleton Trail presents outdoor enthusiasts with the unique opportunity to wander streamside, taking in some of the most marvelous features of the region. This trail was developed by the U.S. Forest Service and begins on the state park at Whittleton Campground as a connector between the trails in the Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
In fact, because Whittleton Trail is deep within the wilds of a national forest *and* adjacent to a stream, the landscape is verdant and lush -- almost rainforest-like!
Ferns, lilies, rhododendron, mountain laurel, and beautiful wildflowers dot the trails of the 2,300 Kentucky State Park, making for an absolutely rapturous hiking experience for nature lovers.
Come prepared to get your feet wet and probably a bit muddy. Hikers are advised to park near the check-in-station and walk to the end of the left fork of the road. It follows a small stream known as Whittleton Branch for most of its length and ends along KY 15 at the entrance to the Tunnel Ridge Road.
One of the largest arches in the area, Whittleton is a cave-like formation that's almost perfectly symmetrical; and, if it's rained recently, even boasts a trickling waterfall!
At just around two miles round-trip, this trail is considered moderately difficult due mainly to the terrain; however, families and beginners have tackled it with success.
