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SIZE: 700 x 362 PIXELS | |
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TOUR NOTES: Contact Cumberland Tourism to arrange itinerary This tour loops together Upland and Valley routes along Pine Mountain, with a southern spur to Black Mountain, Kentucky's highest point, and a northern spur to Lilly Cornett Woods, an old-growth forest. The Upland Road is the Little Shepherd Trail and the Valley Road is US 119, or the Kingdom Come Scenic Parkway. The Little Shepherd Trail (Kentucky Highway 1679) clings to the southern edge of Pine Mountain's crest from the intersection at US 421 above Harlan to US 119 south of Whitesburg. This 35-mile serpetine route twists though numerous refreshing overlooks and massive, spine-like rock out-croppings, termed "Hogbacks." Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel bloom profusely in craggy exposures. This rugged route is not for the faint of heart and a 4x4 vehicle is recommended. (Current paved sections are: US 421 to KY 2010, and KY 160 to Creech Overlook, in Kingdom Come State Park). Mountain Bikers who could tolerate a little gravel could find this route a nice 2-day bike trip. Originally called the Rhododendron Trail in the 1930's, Kingdom Come Scenic Parkway derives its name from the valley in which US 119 courses its route. Early settlers entering present-day Kentucky from the east and south saw the landscape of the Lord's Prayer in this remarkably linear valley. The valley also memorializes the literary works of Kentucky author, John Fox Jr., with two designated highways: The Little Shepherd Trail from Harlan to Whitesburg and Trail of the Lonesome Pine is KY-VA Highway 160 from Cumberland to Big Stone Gap. "...Pine
Mountain looms in the distance....Over part of the timbered, craggy
ridge extends the Trail of the Lonesome Pine. The northern flank of
the mountain, blanketed with dense stands of timber, hems in the country
as far the eye can see. The road, beginning its winding ascent of the
mountain, follows a shelf below high overhangs of limestone. During
the climb small mountain cabins are seen clinging to sloping side far
below, looking like doll houses in the distance...." ".…The
lake of dull red behind the jagged lines of rose and crimson that streaked
the east began to glow and look angry. A sheen of fiery vapor shot upward
and spread swiftly over the miracle of mist that had been wrought in
the night. An ocean of it and, white and thick as snowdust, it filled
valley, chasm, and ravine with mystery and silence up to the dark jutting
points and dark waving lines of range after range that looked like breakers,
surged up by some strange new law from an under-sea of foam; motionless,
it swept down the valleys, poured swift torrents through high gaps in
the hills and one long noiseless cataract over a lesser range - all
silent, all motionless, like a great white sea stilled in the fury of
a storm. Morning after morning, the boy had looked upon such glory,
calmly watching the mist part, like the waters, for the land, and the
day break, with one phrase, "Let there be light," ever in
his mind - for Chad knew his bible. And, most often, in soft splendor,
trailing cloud-mist, and yellow light leaping from crest to crest, and
in the singing of birds and the shining of leaves and dew - there was
light."
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| ALL CONTENT ON SITE
COPYRIGHTED BY: SOUTHEAST EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AND BOYD LANDERSON SHEARER JR site last updated: |
