Cumberland Gap: Wilderness Road Hike to Gap Cave and Tri-State Peak

[@Bob808Knight]

You know what I love about your videos besides the beautiful scenery ..The fact that you take the time out to explain the history of the area you are hiking in.. most people wouldn't do that.

[@SmellNRoses]

Bob808Knight Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words. I know that not everyone cares about the history or the other nerdy facts that I often include in my videos, but to me they are a critical part of connecting with the places I visit. I’m glad when it comes through in the video as well. Thanks for your support, my friend!

[@Jordan-dr3wo]

I live in Middlesboro, so I hike these trails all the time. Nothing like them!

[@SmellNRoses]

It is an awesome place. Thanks so much for checking out my video!

[@rebeccahanson9864]

When i was in 5th grade we went here. It was so much fun.

[@audramatney1148]

Luv those mountains great video

[@SmellNRoses]

It is an awesome park! Thanks so much for checking out my video!

[@joycefranklin8981]

I visited the Tri State Peak with my husband and two young sons in the 70's. It was in August. temp in the upper 90's and very humid. By the time we got to the Peak all we wanted was a cold drink of water! Last hike we ever took without a canteen! It didn't seem like it was that far but it seemed mostly up hill. Amazing experience though! Thanks for bringing back a great memory!

[@SmellNRoses]

Yes this hike is not very long in distance but it is mostly uphill. That last little bit from the Gap to the gazebo is particularly steep. All the history associated with this area is incredible though and well worth the effort to experience the place first hand. I'm glad my video brought back some nice memories for you. Thanks so much for watching and for your great comment. I appreciate it!

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Great video my friend! This is such a history soaked area that enabled settlers and pioneers to continue the expansion of the country we all know today. Gap cave looks pretty cool and I bet it would be an awesome tour in itself. Neat bit of history on the explosion of the garrison and the damage that it did. Enjoyed the video and thanks for teaching me some new stuff about the history of my area. Thanks for sharing!

[@SmellNRoses]

Thanks for watching, my friend! This was a really fun hike with some outstanding scenery and incredible history. I definitely want to go back and take the cave tour, it looks awesome.

[@Bajawildman]

Most beautiful area in the world!

[@SmellNRoses]

It is an awesome area. Thanks for checking out my vid!

[@SectionHikingTheAT]

What a nice hike! I may have to take a road trip soon. Thanks SR!

[@SmellNRoses]

I spent 3 full days in the park and barely scratched the surface of everything to see and do out there. It's a wonderful place and I highly recommend it. Incredible natural and human history all in one place. Thanks so much for watching!

[@VirginiaOutdoors64]

Great video. Really great history lesson along with your footage, I always love the way you give that type of info along the way. Very historic area for sure. Thanks for sharing...Happy Trails!...Chris

[@SmellNRoses]

Thanks so much, my friend. Man, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Cumberland Gap. It is a beautifully scenic area but at the same time its just overflowing with history, from Native American and early American frontier history, Civil War stuff, and on up through to early 20th century homesteads. Thanks so much for watching and I appreciate the positive feedback.

[@LarryVickery]

Thanks for sharing. I have long been fascinated with that era of history. Have read a number of books about it. D Boone lost family members to Indian attacks on this trail and other locales. The Civil War conflicts in the area are interesting. I missed reading anything about the great munitions explosion you can imagine that was something frightening to the locals not exactly a leave no trace practice lol. You probably know that the Cherokees in that part of the country were on the side of the south the various Indian tribes throughout American history always seemed to pick the losing side in conflicts between the whites. I hope to hike the trail that you showed us I think maybe I could hobble through this one.

[@SmellNRoses]

Thank you so much for watching and for your wonderful comments, my friend. Since you enjoy the outdoors and are interested in early American history, this is definitely a place for you to visit. Most of the more backcountry trails were pretty strenuous, as I would learn in the days following this hike, but the majority of the trails around the historical areas around the Gap were not bad at all. I didn't shoot video of everything but many of the Civil War era forts and earthworks sites that I visited were located at or near parking areas and the trails throughout the historical section were well graded. Tough to imagine what those early pioneer settlers went through on the long journey from Virginia or the Carolinas into Kentucky and Ohio via Cumberland Gap. The Native Americans, especially the Cherokee, did also suffer the consequences as well. I hope you get to visit this park sometime. I'm confident that you would enjoy it. I spent three full days there and feel that I barely scratched the surface, I hope to return in the future.

[@BluecollarBackcountry]

When you looked over the Kentucky side of the peak could you see the Kentucky Woodsman's house ? Hahaha I love hearing the history of those mountains and this was no exception. The munitions exploding for such a long time had to be amazing. I hope you do get to do the Gap cave tour one day. Thanks for taking us along 👍

[@SmellNRoses]

You can almost see Kentucky Woodsman's place, he's a couple of counties away LOL! He'll probably show up in one of my upcoming videos, stay tuned! I always enjoy a hike that combines awesome natural scenery with a lot of human history, and this place definitely overwhelms on the history side. That continuous explosion must have been pretty crazy. I really enjoyed my trip to this park and I do plan to return in the future, would love to bring my son next time. Would be a great learning experience for him. Thanks for watching, my friend!

[@AllenOxendine]

Thanks for sharing, cool history.. Hope you're having a good weekend.. Full View Like 24

[@SmellNRoses]

Thanks so much, my friend. Indeed this area is well steeped in history. It was cool to check it out.

[@LeeRalph100]

I think Bob808Knight said it perfectly. You know my thoughts on the beauty of your area, and the history involving it makes it even more meaningful. As we had discussed, I could see how the history could make itself known or felt in an area like this. I had to pause the video a couple times and just take in that I may be looking at the very trail my ancestors may have followed heading into Tennessee. Thank You so much for sharing this with us!!!

[@SmellNRoses]

I knew you would really like this one, my friend. The historical significance of the area was quite overwhelming. Thanks so much for checking it out!

[@HikeCamp]

Thanks, once again, for the interesting history and a very nice hike..

[@SmellNRoses]

I always enjoy a hike that combines natural scenic beauty and a lot of interesting human history. This one was just overwhelming on the history side. Thanks so much for watching, my friend!

[@robertg8875]

I thought the only way to the tri state market is a hike ! And only accessible way was the old road that went over it

[@SmellNRoses]

Yes that’s how I got up there, on foot. The old road is only part of the route, at the gap you take the other trail up the mountain to the tri state marker. Thanks for checking out my vid

[@robertg8875]

@@SmellNRoses what happened to cudjos caves

[@SmellNRoses]

What do you mean?

[@robertg8875]

@@SmellNRoses back in the day you could tour the caves are they no longer there since the road is closed?

[@SmellNRoses]

The caves are still there. I showed in this video, but it was closed as I was not on a tour. They still do the tours but its seasonal, was not offered at the time of year I was up there. The cave is roughly about a half mile, one way, walk from the nearest parking.

[@laffilmfest3759]

Thank U for the hike!!

[@SmellNRoses]

Thanks so much for checking it out!

[@burningsandsexploration3711]

Beautiful hike. I really enjoy hearing the history of the area. Well done.

[@SmellNRoses]

This is an awesome area. It's packed with both natural and human history all in one place. I highly recommend if you ever get over to this part of the country. Thanks for watching!!!

[@burningsandsexploration3711]

@@SmellNRoses Hopefully one day I will get there. I live in Nevada.

[@BluegrassBushcraft]

I really enjoyed this video. Lots of great history right there. Thanks for sharing and God bless.

[@SmellNRoses]

Thanks for watching, my friend! I was overwhelmed experiencing all the history connected to this place, and its also packed with natural beauty as well. If you have not been out there, I highly recommend this park.

[@JimHayesHiking]

I did a 8 mile loop from the Daniel Boone parking area back in February. When I came through the gap I went as far as the pyramid. Some really great hiking over in that area. Great video!

[@SmellNRoses]

I really enjoyed my visit to this park. I spent 3 full days there. This was my first hike of the trip. Really overwhelming how much natural scenic beauty and American history there is all combined in one place. I'll definitely be back to see more of this park. Thanks for watching, my friend!

[@bigal7561]

Great vid. Thanks for sharing. I very much enjoyed that

[@SmellNRoses]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching!!!

[@JasonOutdoors]

Great video. Always enjoy the historical facts along the way. That explosion story was awesome.

[@SmellNRoses]

I always enjoy when a hike combines a neat natural area with a lot of interesting history. This one was definitely more than normal, am awesome park. Thanks for watching!

[@kenfrankrone3349]

Is this trail where the old 2 lane highway across the mountain used to be before they built the tunnel? I remember a narrow 2 lane highway we use to take over the mountain when I was a kid back in the 70's.

[@SmellNRoses]

Yes there are some portions of this trail that follow the old highway route. They have done a really excellent job of removing almost any trace of the old road though. Thanks for checking out my video!

[@ShlisaShell]

Oh that is cool... I can the the air current in the cave. 3:20

[@SmellNRoses]

This was an awesome hike. I was overwhelmed by the important history of this area. Thanks for checking it out!

[@boardgameman6298]

Just moved to TN from CA and I'm planning on visiting this tomorrow if the wife agrees. Ha ha. I know the hike is uphill, is it straight up? Thanks for your video!

[@SmellNRoses]

Hey thanks for checking out my video. Yeah its a lot of uphill to get all the way to the Tri State marker but its not too bad. There are some steep sections but overall its a pleasant hike. I guess it kind of depends on your personal fitness level and all but I’d say most anyone could make. There are plenty of things to stop and see along the way too so plenty of excuses to take breaks if needed. Hope you make it out there. Its a beautiful place.

[@rquezon6508]

how long did it take you to get to the tri state peak? we are planning to go there end of the year.

[@SmellNRoses]

Thanks for checking out my video! Sadly I don’t recall the mileage or how long it took me to get up there, but its not a very long or difficult hike. There were a couple of steep sections but they didn’t last long. The trail is well maintained. It was really nice walk and I highly recommend it. Also don’t miss White Rocks and Sand Cave if you’re up for a more challenging hike. Sand Cave is spectacular! Enjoy your visit!

[@JeffMeadowsOutdoors]

Definitely a historic spot. Wonder how deep the cave goes if you were to take the tour? That being a former civil war location, I wonder too of they mined saltpeter in there to make powder.

[@SmellNRoses]

This place overwhelms with history. Everything from early Native American to the American pioneers, on up through the Civil War and early 20th Century homesteads...this park has all that and more. I'm not sure how deep the cave is or how long the tour is but I definitely plan to make a trip back to check it out. I was out there in the middle of the week and in late April the cave tours only ran on weekends. I can't say with certainly but I do believe I recall seeing an informational sign discussing some nearby saltpeter mines. There was also once a sawmill and an iron furnace near the cave. Thanks for watching, my friend. I appreciate it!

[@ckirchner851]

Very interesting! Hey, do you know about the PeakFinder App? Very helpful in identifying mountains as I hike. You can overlay on your phone’s camera also . Cheers.

[@SmellNRoses]

Thanks so much for watching! This is an awesome park, if you haven't been I highly recommend it! No I have not tried the PeakFinder app, don't think I've even heard of it. I'll have to check it out. I actually strongly resist any kind of gps or electronic assistance during my hikes. While I understand their potential benefits, I'm just a hardcore old school paper map and compass guy. I do use some online topographic maps during the planning stages of some my hikes. I downloaded a gps tracker onto my phone and tested it on a few hikes but I quit using it after realizing how much battery power it consumed and more importantly I noticed that it did not accurately report elevation changes.

[@ShlisaShell]

If you don't mind me asking, do you hike alone? May sound like a dumb question but someone may be with ya, but only out of sight from the camera. Just curious and I understand if you don't answer.

[@SmellNRoses]

Yes I generally hike alone. It's very rare that I will have someone else with me. I really enjoy the solitude and self reliance of solo hiking and camping, but it is fun to meet up with others as well, just hard to schedule.