Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is located in southeastern Kentucky. The main feature of the park is Cumberland Falls waterfall. The falls are approximately 68 ft tall and 125 ft wide. Because of the size of the Cumberland Falls, it is often called “the Niagara of the South”.
Viewing the Falls
There is a main parking lot near the visitor’s center with a short trail following along the river to the falls and beyond. There are several overlooks on this trail that allow for an up-close view of the falls.
Hiking
There are many trails within this park, but we just had time for one: Eagle Falls trail. For the limited time we had in the park, this was a great choice.
Eagle Falls Trail
- Quick Facts
- Length: Approx. 2.5 miles (with overlooks and spurs included)
- Trailhead: Across the Cumberland River from the main parking area for the falls and visitor center – Small parking area off Highway 90.
- Link to State Park website
I really enjoyed our Eagle Falls Trail hike. Although it was a shorter hike, it had some elevation gain/loss and great features like overlooks for Cumberland Falls, seeing Eagle Falls up close, caves/overhangs, and small creeks to keep it interesting. It was very crowded and parking at the trailhead was limited. We were lucky to find an open spot when we arrived.
For a list of all trails on the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park website, click here.
Other Activities
This park has a variety of activities from horseback riding to mining for gems. A big claim to fame for the park is its reliable moonbow (or a lunar rainbow). The moonbow can be seen for several days when there is a full moon and clear skies. The park’s website includes Anticipated moonbow dates.
We didn’t partake in any of these activities ourselves, but additional information about them (as well as moonbow dates) can be found on the main page of the park’s website here.
Lodging
This park has a lodge, cabins, and campground available for an overnight stay. I originally hoped to camp here, but the campground was already full at the time I was planning the trip. Instead, we camped at the Corbin/Laurel Lake KOA about half an hour away. It wasn’t a bad drive to the park from there.