Cumberland Falls

Friday morning, we headed to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and parked at the visitor center.  It was just a short walk on the paved trail to the lower overlook for Cumberland Falls, the Niagara of Kentucky.

The waterfall is known as one of the best places to see a moonbow, but it's not the only one in the Western Hemisphere as the park claims.  With the heavy water and lots of spray, we did see a nice rainbow.

After some pictures, we got on the Moonbow Trail, which is also segment 27 of Sheltowee Trace Trail.

Just past the beach, we climbed out on the rocks for a distant view of Cumberland Falls.

Eagle Falls was visible across the river.

There were nice views of the river here too.

A little past here, we found a nice patch of summer wildflowers.

Lots of morning glories, including a white one.

There were some Virginia buttonweed.

And a big patch of flowering spurge.

A little further on the trail, we saw some common self-heal.

The Moonbow Trail was very rock and steep.

It went under shelter caves and through giant boulders.

After about 2.5 miles, the trail left the park and entered Daniel Boone National Forest.  Where the trail reached Dog Slaughter Creek, Moonbow Trail continued across a footbridge.

We turned right on Dog Slaughter Falls Trail (#441) and it was just a short ways to Dog Slaughter Falls.

It's a real nice waterfall and the base area was rocky with lots of places to climb around on the rocks.

I even managed to climb behind the falls.

We had lunch here and then started hiking back.  Near the start, we made a stop for another view of the falls.

There were nice views of the river here too.

Back at the visitor center, we got Alex an ice cream cone for being brave and visiting Dog Slaughter Falls.  No idea where the name came from.  Then we parked on the other side of the river.  Dogs aren't allow so we took turns.  As I was starting to hike, there was a heavy rain and I waited it out in the Gorge Overlook shelter.

After the rain stopped, I followed the trail down to Cumberland River then rock hopped up to Eagle Creek.  Eagle Falls was just upstream.

There is a huge shelter cave next to the waterfall.  Some other people waited out the rain under here.  I climbed up to see the falls from the side.

I made a loop on the way back and passed some cascades above the waterfall.

The trail was rocky and steep was it got away from the creek.

After we both finished our hike, we left the park.

For dinner, we stopped at G&E Burgers back in Williamsburg.  The food and drinks were really good with nice outdoor seating to dine with Alex.