10 Picturesque Trails In Kentucky That Are Perfect For Winter Hiking
Winter in Kentucky is coming. The days are shorter. The air is brisk. Your morning begins with scraping frost off of your windshield. There’s nothing we can do to stop the inevitable arrival of winter, but just because the temperature drops doesn’t mean you should stay cooped up indoors until the first signs of spring. If you are looking for some things to do in KY these 10 winter hikes in Kentucky are perfect for a chilly winter day. They’re all under two miles and have mostly easy terrain to help you keep your footing during snowy or icy days.
This 0.9-mile out-and-back trail in Red River Gorge will lead you to the impressive Princess Arch. You can explore both underneath and on top of the arch, but be careful if there is snow or ice on the ground.
Red River Gorge Geological Area, Robbie Ridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380, USA
Coming in at about a mile, this short hike will take you through some of the beautiful wooded areas of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Parts of the trail go along Honker Lake.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211, USA
3. Natural Bridge Trail, Carter Caves State Resort Park
The natural bridge in Carter Caves State Resort Park is unique in that it's the only natural bridge in Kentucky to support a paved highway. This 0.5-mile trail will take you to this geological wonder, which looks absolutely magical when blanketed in snow.
Carter Caves State Resort Park, 344 Caveland Dr, Olive Hill, KY 41164, USA
The High Point Loop is an easy 0.5-mile hike, which will show you some of the most beautiful parts of Bernheim Forest in Clermont. Almost directly across the street from the trailhead for the High Point Loop is the Canopy Walk, which is a short boardwalk that is elevated 75 feet off of the forest floor, making for some unreal views. Be sure to tack this little detour onto your hike.
Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA
Take this 0.7-mile trail to see the small but impressive natural arches known as the Angel Windows. The trail begins at the Parched Corn Overlook and then leads you along a wooded ridge. You will see the Angel Windows at the end of the trail.
Angel Windows Trailhead - Red River Gorge, Sky Bridge Rd, Pine Ridge, KY 41360, USA
6. Sloan's Crossing Pond Trail, Mammoth Cave National Park
This 0.4-mile loop in Mammoth Cave National Park near Park City winds along a scenic lake. It remains mostly level, making it a great hike to take kids on.
Sloan's Crossing Pond Trailhead, Smiths Grove, KY 42171, USA
7. Cumberland Falls Trail, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
This 0.5-mile hike is the most popular way to view Cumberland Falls, which is an amazing sight to see if there is snow on the ground. The trail is mostly paved and has some steps, so be sure you check to see how slick they are before going down them.
Raven Rock is one of the natural gems of Kingdom Come State Park. The 0.5-mile trail takes you to a rock exposure that extends 290 feet into the air at a 45-degree angle. Obviously, do not try to scramble up it, especially if it's coated in ice or snow.
Kingdom Come State Park, 502 Park Rd, Cumberland, KY 40823, USA
Right across the border on the Virginia side of the Breaks Interstate Park, this trail gets an honorable mention. This trail is about 1.5 miles and has some stunning overlooks as it traverses along the cliffs. The last 0.5 miles can be a bit rocky, so be sure to watch your footing if you are hiking while the ground is slick.
Jefferson National Forest, Virginia 24134, USA
10. Boone Bottoms Trail, The Parklands of Floyds Fork
The Parklands of Floyds Fork is a massive system of four different parks in eastern Jefferson County. There are plenty of short hikes throughout the Parklands, but this particular hike is located in Turkey Run Park. This 1.2-mile trail starts at the historic Ben Stout House and will take you through a large reforestation area where more than 30,000 new trees were planted.
Boone Bottoms Trail, Stout Rd, Louisville, KY 40291, USA
Some of the best hikes in the US are in Kentucky. Sure, we may be a bit biased because we love our home state, but these featured trails sure do stand out as some of the most beautiful around. Have you hiked any of these 10 trails before?
There are plenty more short trails that are great for a quick winter hike all throughout Kentucky, so add your favorite one in the comments.
Address: Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA
Address: Jefferson National Forest, Virginia 24134, USA
Address: Carter Caves State Resort Park, 344 Caveland Dr, Olive Hill, KY 41164, USA
Address: Cumberland Falls, Kentucky, USA
Address: Boone Bottoms Trail, Stout Rd, Louisville, KY 40291, USA
Address: Red River Gorge Geological Area, Robbie Ridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380, USA
Address: Kingdom Come State Park, 502 Park Rd, Cumberland, KY 40823, USA
Address: Sloan's Crossing Pond Trailhead, Smiths Grove, KY 42171, USA
Address: Angel Windows Trailhead - Red River Gorge, Sky Bridge Rd, Pine Ridge, KY 41360, USA
Address: Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Even more winter hikes and things to do in Kentucky
November 19, 2022
Chris Muras
Can you hike Red River Gorge in winter?
Yes, Red River Gorge is open for hiking in the winter. In fact, winter is one of the prime times to enjoy a brisk hike in the Red River Gorge because there are fewer people on the trails. It’s also such a quiet pristine landscape in the winter. The scenic views take on a whole new magical air when the snow falls.
Can you do the Appalachian Trail in winter?
The Appalachian Trail is open for hiking in the winter and many through-hikers get stuck in some very wintery conditions along the route. If you enjoy a short day hike or a week-long hike along the Appalachian Trail winter can be a nice time to do so. Of course, it takes a different level of gear preparation if you plan on a winter overnight camp and hike.
All of these scenic trails and state parks offer amazing hiking year-round. But there is something special about the quiet and solitude of a winter hike in Kentucky. With rich dense forests, frozen waterfalls, interesting rock formations, and winter wildlife that only comes out when the snow falls a hike at this time of year is simply magical.
Address: Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA
Address: Jefferson National Forest, Virginia 24134, USA
Address: Carter Caves State Resort Park, 344 Caveland Dr, Olive Hill, KY 41164, USA
Address: Cumberland Falls, Kentucky, USA
Address: Boone Bottoms Trail, Stout Rd, Louisville, KY 40291, USA
Address: Red River Gorge Geological Area, Robbie Ridge Rd, Stanton, KY 40380, USA
Address: Kingdom Come State Park, 502 Park Rd, Cumberland, KY 40823, USA
Address: Sloan's Crossing Pond Trailhead, Smiths Grove, KY 42171, USA
Address: Angel Windows Trailhead - Red River Gorge, Sky Bridge Rd, Pine Ridge, KY 41360, USA
Address: Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211, USA
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. I have lived elsewhere twice, but keep coming back. I'm a video editor and freelance writer who enjoys watching people wearing University of Louisville uniforms excel at sports, scaling the faces of large rocks, and hanging out with my border collie/laborador/cattle dog mutt thingy that I have.
