Hiking is a great way to relieve stress. There are thousands of County Parks, State Parks, and National Parks to explore. Hiking is also a great way to spend time with your family and friends. On this page I will list resources to help you plan your hikes as well as dining & lodging options. Enjoy exploring this page.
Kentucky
Kentucky is a state with a lot of undeveloped land. It also is a state with a lot of hiking opportunities. Natural Bridge is a state park I hike several times a year. I would rate it as an easy to moderate hike. The trails can cover half-mile to seven and a half-miles depending on which one you choose to hike. Dogs are only allowed on the Whittleton Trail (managed by U.S. Forest Service) due to the park’s Nature Preserve status. The other trails available to hike are the Hood’s Branch Trail, Rock Garden Trail, Lakeside Trail, and the Mill Creek Lake Trail.
Down the road from Natural Bridge is the Red River Gorge Geological area. The Red River Gorge is a canyon system on the Red River in east-central Kentucky. Geologically, it is part of the Pottsville Escarpment. The gorge lies within the Daniel Boone National Forest. It has an area of approximately 29,000 acres. Climbers from all over the globe go there to climb. It also offers several hiking trails, which are more strenuous than Natural Bridge. Kentucky State Parks have a lot to offer.
North Carolina
One of my favorite places on the East Coast of the United States is Grandfather Mountain. It is located 2 miles North of Linville NC and can be accessed off of the Blue Ridge Parkway mile post 305.
“According to Blue Ridge Heritage, Geologists believe that Grandfather Mountain was formed about 300 million years ago, some of the rock formations on Grandfather Mountain are even older than the mountain itself, dating back 1.1 billion years. The original Cherokee name for the mountain was “Tanawha,” meaning “a fabulous eagle.” It was named “Grandfather” by pioneers who recognized the face of an old man in one of the cliffs. “
To Be Continued …