{"id":20,"date":"2008-06-23T00:27:29","date_gmt":"2008-06-23T04:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/2007\/05\/11\/white-rocks-%e2%80%93-east-ridge-trail\/"},"modified":"2025-11-15T10:54:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-15T14:54:27","slug":"white-rocks-east-ridge-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/2008\/06\/23\/white-rocks-east-ridge-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"White Rocks and the Ridge Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"noaaWeatherIcon alignleft\" title=\"White Rocks\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/CUGA_Overwrap_2017_cover_th.jpg\" alt=\"White Rocks\" width=\"155px\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Hiker\" src=\"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/2006\/images\/index\/images\/outrageGIS-2006_16.gif\" alt=\"Hiker\" align=\"bottom\" \/> <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Hiker\" src=\"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/2006\/images\/index\/images\/outrageGIS-2006_22.gif\" alt=\"Hiker\" align=\"bottom\" \/> <strong>Cumberland Gap Map<\/strong><br \/>\nDistance:<strong> 16 Miles<\/strong> round-trip from trailhead<br \/>\nDifficulty: <strong>+++<br \/>\n<\/strong>Scenic Views:<strong> ++++<br \/>\n<\/strong>Elevation Relief:<strong> 1,800ft <\/strong>^^<br \/>\nOwnership: <strong>Cumberland Gap, <\/strong>NPS<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;q=36%C2%B0+33.45'+-84%C2%B0+47.75'&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;om=1&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=117261662258125593617.000001126c0d9361de8f4&amp;ll=36.66897,-83.562012&amp;spn=0.250044,0.334053&amp;z=12&amp;iwloc=addr\"> Google<\/a> to trailheads<\/p>\n<table class=\"SimpleButton\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a class=\"Button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/product\/cumberland-gap-national-park-trail-guide\/\">Cumberland Gap Trail Map: $12<br \/>\n<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a class=\"Button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/product\/cumberland-gap-national-park-trail-guide\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"GoImage\" src=\"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/store\/skin1\/images\/go.gif\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"algncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/pixel\/_data\/i\/galleries\/090509_CUGA_Hensley\/oldDay_1_0_06%20Cumberland%20Mountain-xs.jpg\" \/>White Rocks Overlook<\/p>\n<p>The White Rocks overlook to Martin&#8217;s Fork on the Ridge Trail is the &#8220;power-date&#8221; of overnight trips in Cumberland Gap. You have a massive ascent, a capital view, and great camp at Martin&#8217;s Fork rustic cabin. The stadium rockhouse Sand Cave helps cool your engines and spirit. Trees bent dog-legged by mountain top winds great you like old friends. You are on the Ridge Trail.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/gap\/white-rocks.html\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"image59\" src=\"http:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/06\/whiterocks-hike-rgb-web-lar.gif\" alt=\"whiterocks-hike-rgb-web-lar.gif\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><br \/>\n<strong>Plans for 2 day, 16 mile backpacking trip<\/strong> with camp at Martin&#8217;s Fork campground.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Start at Civic Park and hike 3.5 miles up Cumberland Mountain (1,800 vertical feet) to White Rocks. The hike is almost continually ascending, but you&#8217;ll find rests in a few switchbacks. You&#8217;ll catch glimpses of White Rocks high above the trees.<\/li>\n<li>White Rocks gives the biggest view you&#8217;ll have in Kentucky, save Kingdom Come or the Breaks. While most hikers stop at their first view, White Rocks is series of overlooks that rim an extensive outcropping of sandstone.<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"noaaWeatherIconRight alignright\" title=\"Rock Creek\" src=\"http:\/\/pixel.outragegis.com\/d\/13682-2\/aal.jpg\" alt=\"Rock Creek\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Travel west 4 miles, following the south side of Cumberland Mountain, to Martin&#8217;s Fork camp, which is nestled in a sheltered valley. You can reserve the cabin, which is a homestead structure moved to this location and has a hearth, 6 bunks, and many mice. Securing your food at night may be wise because of wandering bears, but is necessary to protect your food from marauding mice. The camp also has 5 primitive areas with picnic tables. One issue is securing firewood. The camp is surrounded by dense rhododendrons and has been so thoroughly culled through for firewood, it resembles a park.<\/li>\n<li>In the morning, enjoy a hearty cup of joe next to the mountain stream tumbling down the valley before the 4 mile hike through Bailes Meadows to visit Sand Cave. Since you have covered the this section the day before, you&#8217;ll have spied a couple scenic areas for photography.<\/li>\n<li>Sand Cave is about a 500ft descent from the Ridge Trail. The cave is really a resort-sized rockhouse with a football field of deep sand.<\/li>\n<li>Hike 2 miles to White Rocks on the north side of Cumberland Gap around and beneath the highest point. Finally hike 3 miles down the mountain to Civic Park.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Listen to descriptive audio about:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstfrontier.org\/tour\/1-Vistas%20into%20the%20Mountain%20Frontier\/1-02%20Up%20to%20the%20Pinnacle.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Daniel Boone &amp; the Pinnacle<\/strong><\/a>,<br \/>\n9 minutes.<\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstfrontier.org\/tour\/1-Vistas%20into%20the%20Mountain%20Frontier\/1-03%20Gap%20Cave.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Gap Cave &amp; Hensley Settlement<\/strong><\/a>,<br \/>\n8 minutes.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstfrontier.org\/tour\/1-Vistas%20into%20the%20Mountain%20Frontier\/1-04%20The%20Tunnel.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>The Tunnel<\/strong><\/a>,<br \/>\n4 minutes<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstfrontier.org\/tour\/1-Vistas%20into%20the%20Mountain%20Frontier\/1-05%20Crossing%20the%20Gap.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Crossing Cumberland Gap<\/strong><\/a>,<br \/>\n2 minutes<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstfrontier.org\/tour\/1-Vistas%20into%20the%20Mountain%20Frontier\/1-08%20Impact%20Crater.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Impact Crater in Middlesboro<\/strong><\/a>,<br \/>\n3 minutes<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong> <strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong> <strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong> <strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong> <strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><em>*NOTE: audio is part of free driving tour available at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.firstfrontier.org\">firstfrontier.org<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Interactive maps: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/gap\/3d\/\">3D <\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/gap\/\">2D<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/gap\/3d\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Visit the Cumberland Gap trail planner<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0for your next backcountry trip.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cumberland Gap Map Distance: 16 Miles round-trip from trailhead Difficulty: +++ Scenic Views: ++++ Elevation Relief: 1,800ft ^^ Ownership: Cumberland Gap, NPS Google to trailheads Cumberland Gap Trail Map: $12 White Rocks Overlook The White Rocks overlook to Martin&#8217;s Fork on the Ridge Trail is the &#8220;power-date&#8221; of overnight trips in Cumberland Gap. You have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,19],"tags":[14],"class_list":["post-20","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-hikes","category-cumberland-gap-hikes","tag-hiking-maps","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20406,"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20\/revisions\/20406"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outragegis.com\/trails\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}