Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Kentucky / Eastern Kentucky Mountains

Pine Mountain Trail, Birch Knob Section

Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail (Breaks Interstate Park near Elkhorn City to US 23 at Pound Gap)

The Birch Knob section is the northernmost finished stretch of the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail, about 28 miles along the crest of Pine Mountain from Breaks Interstate Park to US 23 at Pound Gap, according to the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. The state describes “rock outlooks” and a viewing platform, and SummitPost says “there are arches, windows, cliffs, and great views.”

It joins the Highland section at US 23, making 44 continuous miles of ridge trail.

The hike

Hiking Project describes the Birch Knob section as “the northernmost section that follows the ridge of Pine Mountain,” 26.7 miles point to point from Breaks Interstate Park to US 23 near Pikeville, with elevations from about 930 to 3,070 feet and roughly 4,350 feet of climbing. It rates it difficult, with grades up to about 24 percent, and notes an overlook near Elkhorn City.

The section takes its name from Birch Knob, which SummitPost puts at 3,149 feet on the Kentucky-Virginia line, the high point of both Pike County, Kentucky, and Dickenson County, Virginia. SummitPost says the knob is about 16 trail miles from Elkhorn City and 12.2 from Pound Gap and US 23, and that the summit tower stands on Jefferson National Forest land. The state’s description places the viewing platform between Elkhorn and US 23.

The Pike County Historical Society names more landmarks along the way: the Raven’s Nest staircase caves, and Tucker Gap, Osborne Gap, Grassy Gap, and Blowing Rock Gap. It notes that part of the trail follows an old county road that once crossed into Virginia.

The state says the Birch Knob section has one shelter, part of a plan for shelters roughly every 14 miles along the full route, according to iktsite.org. The Highland section to the south has two more. When finished, the Pine Mountain Trail is planned to run about 120 miles from Breaks Interstate Park to Cumberland Gap; see our Cumberland Gap Ridge Trail page for the southern end of that line.

Wikipedia lists the trail’s hazards as steep grades, severe weather, black bears, venomous snakes, insects, and limited water sources.

Tips

Camping

Camping on the Pine Mountain Trail is at designated sites, and overnight camping isn’t allowed inside state nature preserves, according to Wikipedia’s summary of the trail rules. The state describes the trail’s shelters as “simple, open wood structures with bunks and a table,” holding up to 12 people. SummitPost mentions camping at Mullins Pond, on County Road 611 near Birch Knob on the Virginia side.

Inside Intel: We didn’t find camper accounts recommending a particular campsite on the Birch Knob section. Ask the Pine Mountain Trail Conference or the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves for current shelter and campsite locations before you go.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Fuel for 28 miles of ridge:

The Birch Knob section climbs thousands of feet with little water along the way, so light, calorie-dense dinners earn their place. See the meals testers like.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.