(This article first appeared in the July print edition of the Hendersonian)
They call it the “Niagara of the South” for a reason. Cumberland Falls, with a expansive 125-foot drop into a gorge littered with boulders and a soundtrack of roaring water, is both dramatic and soothing in its sights and sounds.
And if you happen to catch it during a full moon, you might get to see a moonbow, which is a very, very rare phenomenon in the Western Hemisphere. Some say a clear winter night is best for viewing.
Cumberland Falls State Park is located 19 miles from Corbin, Ky., and offers rooms in the rustic DuPont Lodge (constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps) and woodland cottages, a campground with 50 sites and a grocery, water adventures (canoeing, kayaking and paddle boarding), fishing, swimming and hiking.
With 17 miles of trails, there’s lots of hiking opportunities for all skill levels. The Moonbow Trail connects with the trail system in the nearby Daniel Boone National Forest.
In fact, the renowned 343-mile Sheltowee Trace Trail that runs from the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee to Rowan County in northern Kentucky runs right by Cumberland Falls and is a popular challenge for thru-hikers. (It also cuts through Red River Gorge.)
Cumberland Falls is a good base of operations for a weekend (or longer vacation.)
In the park itself, the top things to do (according to Kentucky State Parks) include:
• Viewing the epic Cumberland Falls, of course
• Touring the Pinnacle Knob 1937 Fire Tower
• Hiking Eagle Falls Trail
• Mining for fossils and gemstones
• Horseback riding through the forest with guided trail rides offered
Bird watching is also a popular pursuit. Many species of warblers migrate in the spring, and you can certainly hear the Pileated Woodpecker and Wood Thrush and see common Kentucky species like Carolina Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and more from the lodge patio.
Information: parks.Ky.Gov, (606) 528-4121.
FUN FACT: Sheltowee Trace Trail is named after Daniel Boone, who was given the name Sheltowee (meaning “big turtle”) by the Shawnee tribe. The trail marker is a turtle.
Others things to do in the area:
Sanders Cafe & Museum, Corbin
Colonel Sanders’ original restaurant in Corbin, the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken, has been restored and you can see how it appeared in the 1940s when travelers on the then-busy U.S. 25 stopped by for food and lodging.
Enjoy museum exhibits of the Colonel’s artifacts and memorabilia, see a model motel room and the kitchen where the Colonel Harland David Sanders perfected his secret recipe and learn his story while you indulge in some KFC.
Sanders Cafe & Museum is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at 688 U.S. 25 West in Corbin and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Information: www.sanderscafe.com
FUN FACT: Corbin is located in three Kentucky counties: Laurel, Knox and Whitley counties.
Big South Fork Scenic Railroad
Just down the road in McCreary County is the community of Stearns, which has a rich history in the coal mining and logging industries.
Railroading was a key part of both, and the Big South Fork Scenic Railroad excursion train takes passengers on a picturesque 45-minute trip to the abandoned Blue Heron Mining Camp (Mine 18), now an outdoor museum, where you can learn much more about a mining community in east Kentucky through the interpretation of the National Park Service. Information: nps.gov.
Back in Stearns across from the railroad depot, McCreary County Museum offers a deep dive into the history of the Stearns Coal & Lumber Company and the company-built town. At one time, more than 2,200 lived and worked in the company’s 18 coal and lumber camps.
FUN FACT: Reserve a train fare in advance and the Whistle Stop Cafe in the depot will make you a “Coal Miner’s Lunch” for the ride.
Big South Fork River and Recreation Area
Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries.
The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide range of outdoor recreational activities. That includes whitewater paddling (from beginner to expert so be sure to choose your course carefully), rock climbing (also ranging in skill level), horseback riding (212 miles of trails), camping (including backcountry) and hiking (350 miles of trails).
For information about horseback riding facilities: www.bandycreekstablesbsf.com.
For hiking information: https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/tripitineraries.htm
FUN FACT: Big South Fork NRRA, straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border and is the home to many waterfalls. There are visitor centers in Oneida and Crossville, Tenn.