Trails / Kentucky / Eastern Kentucky Mountains

Pine Mountain Trail, Highland Section

Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail, Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (Pound Gap at US 23 to US 119)

The Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail follows the long, narrow crest of Pine Mountain in far eastern Kentucky. When it’s finished, the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves says, it will run about 120 miles from Breaks Interstate Park to Cumberland Gap. The Highland section, 16 miles from US 23 at Pound Gap to US 119, is what the state calls “the highest portion” of the trail, with rock overlooks, two shelters, and a side trip to Bad Branch Falls.

Sierra magazine titled its account “A Hiker Revels in an Appalachia Trail Without the Crowds.”

The hike

Backpacker’s 2020 trip starts at Pound Gap and counts 18.8 miles to the US 119 trailhead. Twin Cliffs overlook comes at mile 2.2. At mile 6.9 is Adena Springs, which Backpacker describes as sheltered tent sites in rhododendron with spring water nearby; Sierra calls it one of the trail’s two shelters, with a sleeping loft and a roofed picnic table.

The middle of the ridge holds the strangest rocks. Backpacker places Mars Rock at mile 10.5, and Sierra describes its “unearthly terrain of pitted sandstone.” The High Rock overlook follows at mile 10.7. At about mile 11.6, a detour of roughly 2 miles leads to Bad Branch Falls, a 60-foot cascade, according to Backpacker. The state says the falls are reached by the High Rock Loop Trail in Bad Branch State Nature Preserve. Sierra notes that Bad Branch is a designated Kentucky wild river.

The eastern miles pass the Lemon Squeezer, a narrow gap between boulders (mile 14.4 in Backpacker’s count), and an overlook Backpacker calls Americorp Cliff (mile 17). Sierra also mentions Eagle Arch and Baker’s Rock. Backpacker’s trip ends past Flamingo Shelter at the US 119 trailhead.

Sierra says the Highland section reaches about 3,200 feet and recommends April and May for wildflowers and October and November for fall color, warning that summer can be hot and buggy with little water. Backpacker notes the region’s elk herd, which it puts at roughly 10,000 animals descended from reintroductions between 1997 and 2002.

The Highland section connects at US 23 to the 28-mile Birch Knob section, which runs to Breaks Interstate Park and has one shelter, according to the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. West of US 119, the route follows the Little Shepherd Trail, a lightly traveled paved road, about 14 miles to Kingdom Come State Park, which the state says offers primitive camping and water.

Tips

Start with full bottles. Sierra says water sources are “sparse,” with the most reliable near Adena Springs.
Arrange a shuttle. Sierra mentions a Pine Mountain Trail Conference shuttle between the Pound Gap and Letcher Gap trailheads.
Sign in. Backpacker says self-registration is requested; Wikipedia mentions sign-in stations.
Foot traffic only. Wikipedia says the trail between US 23 and US 119 is hikers only.
Watch for bears and snakes. Wikipedia lists black bears, venomous snakes, steep grades, and severe weather among the hazards.
Go in spring or fall for wildflowers or color, and for water.

Camping

Camp only at designated sites; overnight camping isn’t allowed inside state nature preserves, according to Wikipedia’s summary of the trail rules, and the trail passes through Bad Branch State Nature Preserve. The Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves describes the shelters as “simple, open wood structures with bunks and a table,” holding up to 12 people. No permit was found in the sources.

Inside Intel: Backpacker uses Adena Springs as its overnight stop, describing tent sites sheltered by rhododendron with spring water close by, at mile 6.9 from Pound Gap. Sierra adds that Adena Springs is about halfway from either end and has the most reliable water on the section.

Trail facts

Distance: 16 miles (state); 18.8 miles in Backpacker’s route
Route type: Point-to-point
Difficulty: Strenuous
High point: About 3,200 feet (Sierra)
Campsites: Adena Springs and Flamingo shelters; designated sites only
Water: Sparse; springs near Adena Springs and before Flamingo; treat
Permits: None found; self-registration
Trailheads: Pound Gap (US 23) and US 119
Managing agency: Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves
Last verified: October 7, 2026

The Lowdown

Tucked into the rhododendron at Adena Springs:

If the shelter is full on Pine Mountain, you'll want your own roof on the ridge. See the tents testers like.

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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.