Key themes of a trip to Bell County include Cumberland Gap, historic sites and trails through mountain landscapes. Cumberland Gap is a dry notch in Cumberland Mountain, formed when Yellow Creek cut through the rising mountain. An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 European-American settlers traveled west along the Wilderness Road through the Gap.
Cumberland Gap and History
The Gap Cave Tour covers a 1.5-mile hike, three cave levels and 183 steps. Reservations must be made by 12 p.m. on the day before the requested tour date. The reservation deadline is therefore an important part of planning. The Cumberland Gap Tunnel is about 0.9 miles long and is located on Highway 25E within Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
Hensley Settlement is a preserved early 20th-century Appalachian community on Cumberland Mountain in Kentucky. Tours include several buildings, including cabins, a blacksmith shop and a barn. The Bell County Historical Society Museum preserves historic documents, photographs and artifacts from the Cumberland Gap area. Together, these offer different ways to explore history: a preserved community, its buildings, and a collection of objects and records.
Chained Rock was secured to the adjacent rock face in the summer of 1933 and is associated with a local tragedy legend. The rock links a specific date to a local story passed down over time, while tours of Hensley Settlement focus on a community and its buildings.
Mountain Trails and Scenery
Pine Mountain State Resort Park became one of Kentucky’s first four state parks in 1926 and has 12 miles of self-guided trails. The Hemlock Garden Trail passes through a wooded gorge with old hemlocks that are over 300 years old and 3 to 4 feet thick. Large sandstone boulders lie along a forest stream. The Honeymoon Falls Trail follows a mountain stream through rhododendron stands and old-growth forest communities. Honeymoon Falls is a 25-foot waterfall and the largest waterfall in the park.
The Chain Rock Trail offers panoramic views of Pineville, Highway 25E and the surrounding mountain scenery. The Clear Creek Hollow Trail has a different character: it follows a disused railroad bed and is used by hikers, walkers, runners, mountain bikers and anglers. The trails described offer a range of experiences—from a wooded gorge and stream to panoramic views and a former railroad bed now used by different groups.
River and Regional Cuisine
The Cumberland River offers opportunities for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Pineville’s Narrows is a water gap where the Cumberland River winds through Pine Mountain along Highway 119. River activities and the distinctive shape of the Narrows offer two different perspectives on the water: using it for activities and viewing its course through the mountains.
The restaurant and Mountain Top Tavern at Pine Mountain State Resort Park use locally sourced meat and produce when available. Seasonal availability remains part of the offering.
Discover more destinations: Middlesboro, Woodford County, Taylor County, Mccracken County, Nelson, Muhlenberg, Scott, Boone County.
For the main travel overview: Kentucky.
