Things to do / Travel Guide
At Central Kentucky and Tennessee scenic overlooks you will be able to contemplate the stunning natural beauty of our planet and obtain lofty perspectives that only wide-sweeping vistas and panoramic views provide.
Central Kentucky's Berea Forest
Berea Forest belongs to Berea College located (perhaps redundantly) in Berea, Kentucky. For lovely views of central Kentucky's rolling hills and scenic farmland, the forest's Indian Fort Mountain offers plenty of trails leading to cliffy outcroppings perfect for contemplating and scrutinizing the surrounding landscape.
Scenic Overlooks of Waterfalls in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
There is truly nothing as serene and satisfying as gazing up on a frothy curtain of falling water. Here are several superb sites where you can stand and satiate your eyes:
- If you've seen Niagara Falls, then you'll appreciate the “Niagara of the South.” Cumberland Falls, in Kentucky's Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, is a 68-foot high, 125-foot wide sheet of white mist. Numerous trails within the park offer breathtaking views, and the DuPont Lodge has floor to ceiling window views of the gorge.
- For a glorious glimpse of the 130-foot Burgess Falls, one of Tennessee's most beautiful, hike three-quarters of a mile along the Scenic Riverside Trail in Burgess Falls State Natural Area near Sparta.
- Take care not to fall at the Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park's numerous waterfall overlooks. Fall Creek Falls Overlook looks over Fall Creek Falls, a startling 256-foot plume of plunging water, and Millikan's Overlook, Swinging Bridge Overlook, and Buzzard's Roost also have breathtaking waterfall views.
Daniel Boone National Forest Scenic Overlooks
Occupying a staggering 700,000+ acres along the Cumberland Plateau, Daniel Boone National Forest straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee state line and is home to some of Central Kentucky and Tennessee's finest scenic overlooks. Most of Daniel Boone's overlooks don't come free though, as you'll sacrifice sweat and old-fashioned hard work before the forest deigns to disclose its splendor. Here are a couple of cliff notes to help summarize the best outcrops and viewing bluffs in the forest:
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, located near Stearns, Kentucky, offers many overlooks of the rocky gorge and cascading whitewater river. A challenging six-mile hike along Honey Creek Loop will earn you both a workout and rewarding views of rock shelters, waterfalls, and dramatic bluffs. The Fall Branch Trail (2.8 miles) takes you to Angel Falls Overlook for an elevated bird's eye perusal of rushing rapids and craggy cliffs.
Lookout Mountain Scenic Overlooks
For fabulous panoramas (that don't require strenuous climbing to get to), take Lookout Mountain's Incline Railway on Broad Street, the steepest passenger railway in the world. As you scale the mile-long 72.7% grade, take a look around for beautiful views of Chattanooga and the Great Smoky Mountains. Atop Lookout Mountain, Point Park offers great views of Chattanooga and the surrounding areas, and on a clear day Rock City Gardens (Georgia side) offers its breathtaking “See 7 States View” that makes you feel as if you can actually see seven states. Two other spots in Chattanooga will give you great lookouts; the Sculpture Garden, near Bluff View Art District, sits on a bluff just above the Tennessee River, and you can look out at Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga's downtown skyline from Coolidge Park.
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