9 beautiful stops along the new Kentucky Wildlands Waterfall Trail

Choosing them was no easy feat. The team from the Wildlands—a regional tourism initiative—worked with local experts to evaluate the region’s falls on criteria such as parking, accessibility, and hiking level.

They also wanted to ensure that the trail traversed the entire region. “A lot of locals know where these waterfalls are,” says Wildlands Director Tammie Nazario. “We wanted to make them easy for our visitors to find.”

Ready to chase some Kentucky waterfalls? Here’s a 4-day road trip that leads to 9 of the trail’s prettiest.

Begin at a picturesque cascade that rushes from Indian Creek into Lake Cumberland. On any summer day, you’ll find the cove below the falls full of every variety of watercraft—this place is one of several that considers itself the houseboating capital of the world—making 76 one of the trail’s more popular spots. You don’t need your own ark to enjoy the scene.

Park in the lot beside Indian Creek and follow the steps to the falls. The trail to the right of the picnic area offers the best views.

From there, it’s about 30 miles east to Monticello and Mill Springs Park. A steep, paved trail winds along the banks of Lake Cumberland to a restored 19th-century grist mill that overlooks a set of falls that surge from numerous springs.

Afterward, tuck into smoked brisket and pulled-pork sandwiches, potato salad, and apple cobbler with ice cream. Dunagan’s Grocery and Supply, open since 1930, once served as the Mill Springs post office.

End the day with a gorgeous, 0.5-mile out-and-back hike. This horsetail falls, billed as Kentucky’s tallest, spills 113 feet from an enormous rock house in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.

The massive sandstone outcrops found throughout the region sheltered the region’s first residents 12,000 years ago. For added adventure, continue another 0.8 mile beyond the falls to Yahoo Arch, another remarkable sandstone formation.

Settle in for the next 2 nights at the Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort. For a unique glamping experience, bunk in one of the resort’s 6 Conestoga covered wagons, complete with a comfortable king bed, a set of bunk beds, and electricity (wagon rates start at $164 and include a bundle of firewood).

If the timing is right, view one of the Western Hemisphere’s most remarkable natural phenomena just 5 miles down the road: the Cumberland Falls moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Also called a lunar rainbow, this arc of white light forms when moonlight refracts through mist rising from the falls.

Whether you caught the moonbow or not, don’t miss seeing Kentucky’s most visited waterfall by day. Nicknamed the “Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls measures 68 feet tall and 125 feet wide.

Although a short trail from the parking area leads to several viewing platforms, Sheltowee Trace has multiple ways to get close, from mellow rafting rides and stand-up paddleboarding excursions to kayak trips.

It's a short drive over the Gatliff Bridge to the Eagle Falls trailhead, where you can embark on an undulating, 3-mile round-trip hike through the forest. This moderately strenuous trail follows a high ridge and rewards your efforts with views of both Cumberland and Eagle Falls, the latter of which spills off a sandstone ledge and into a pool below.

Break for lunch in nearby Corbin, the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Don’t miss the “Secret Recipe” garden at Sanders Park on Main Street, which has been planted with some of the 11 herbs and spices purportedly used in the Colonel’s famous chicken.

A bit farther down the road, the Sanders Café & Museum displays a kitschy repository of vintage KFC memorabilia; a KFC is attached to the building. For an elevated meal, head to The Wrigley, a taproom and eatery where chef-owner Kristin Smith turns ingredients sourced from local farmers into hearty Appalachian fare.

On your way out of town, pick up provisions for dinner and relax back at camp. Each covered wagon has a picnic table and a charcoal grill, and there’s a communal firepit for s’mores making.

Get an early start; the hike through Daniel Boone National Forest is just over 5 miles round-trip. The path follows Pounder Branch Creek on a section of the 319-mile Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail that includes numerous side streams and smaller cascades. After a bit of rock hopping, the trail ends at a 40-foot horsetail that plummets over huge sandstone boulders.

Hop onto SR 192 for the 25-minute drive to London, where you can sit for a spell over lunch at Local Honey, a chic café that serves made-from-scratch Southern comfort food with a bit of Cajun flair.

Afterward, continue east to the Flat Lick Falls Scenic and Recreation Area, where a paved, 0.5-mile trail provides easy access to a lovely 33-foot cascade. Take a few moments to enjoy the falls from the observation deck before following a dirt side trail to a deep pool at the waterfall’s base, perfect for a quick dip.

It's about 40 miles north to the Cliffview Lodge, an invitingly rustic retreat with 16 cozy rooms that makes an excellent home base for exploring the Red River Gorge Geological Area. Rates start at $170 plus cleaning fees; AAA discount available. For dinner, the nearby Red River Rockhouse is a farm-to-fork café with grass-fed burgers and a good selection of local beers on tap.

Better known as “the Red,” the 29,000-acre Red River Gorge is a massive canyon system and National Natural Landmark, home to more than 100 natural stone arches, miles of hiking trails, and 2 of the trail’s waterfalls. It’s also a major hub for climbers who come to scale its towering sandstone cliffs.

The most recent rainfall will determine if this 40-foot waterfall is more of a shower or a cascade. It spills over a rock ledge into a pool with a massive cave behind it. The unmarked 3-mile out-and-back trail to the falls traces Copperas Creek through the lush, forested landscape, making it simple to follow. With several stream crossings en route, you may want to pack an extra pair of socks.

For a respite from hiking, paddle a kayak through the subterranean landscape of a 19th-century limestone mine with the folks at Gorge Underground. Or hop aboard the Skylift for a scenic ride through the treetops to Natural Bridge State Resort Park, an enormous sandstone arch that has stood for millennia.

For lunch, try Miguel’s Pizza in Slade, where artist-owner Miguel Ventura has fed hungry climbers and hikers since 1984. Grab a seat at a picnic table and enjoy pizzas made with Miguel’s house-made dough and tangy tomato sauce. Numerous topping options include artichokes, anchovies, pulled pork, brisket, kalamata olives, and sweet potato.

From Miguel’s, Rock Bridge Trail is about an 11- to 13-mile drive, depending on the route. The mellow, 1.5-mile loop follows Swift Camp Creek through a verdant swath of forest and passes several sandstone walls, ledges, and shelters.

At the falls, a flat, sandy beach area surrounds a shallow pool that invites wading on a warm day. Nearby, Rock Bridge Arch is the only natural stone arch in the gorge that spans a stream.

Afterward, toast your adventures at Sky Bridge Station, a casual eatery housed in a hand-hewn log cabin. Though the restaurant’s Epic Journey Burger is probably the menu’s star, you can’t go wrong with their gourmet hot dogs, loaded hummus, or huge quesadillas. Live music and ice-cold local beers and ciders on draft round out the fun. Call ahead for hours.

New York–based journalist Gina DeCaprio Vercesi writes about food, drink, and travel with an emphasis on history and conservation.