Location: Approximately 35 miles southeast of where highway 80 intersects highway 27 at Somerset, KY. Somerset is approximately 75 miles south of Lexington, KY. From Somerset, go south on highway 27 through Burnside, and then another 14 miles to highway 90. Turn left on 90 and follow it for 12 miles to Cumberland Falls State Park.

Arriving at the park from the west (from highway 27), you cross over this bridge over the Cumberland River, which is just a short distance upstream from the falls.

This is a view of the Cumberland River from the bridge, looking upstream. In summer, the water gets kind of low and a lot of bedrock shows.

After crossing the bridge, you will find the park entrance on the left, as shown below.

In the photo is highway 90, which continues eastward toward I-75, and Corbin. Highway 90, going east, connects with highway 25W, and from that road, which goes north and south (old route), you can connect with I-75, or go into Corbin on 25 . Coming down from Lexington on I-75, you pass Corbin and get off on 25W, then follow that for 8 miles to the intersection with highway 90. Turn right (west) onto 90 and go 8 more miles to the park.

There are two ways to view the falls. The primary way is from the park side, the main visitor area, on the east side of the river. On the west side, there is a trail that goes up, and past the falls. This is also part of the park. The first photo was made from that trail. The trail continues past the falls to Eagle Falls. It goes down near Eagle Creek, and then over to the gorge. Visitors have to go down some metal stairs to reach the bottom level where they can go over to Eagle Falls to enjoy that one. From the bottom, they can step over to the river and see the falls from that perspective.

There is a very small parking area by highway 90, before you get to the bridge--when going eastfrom highway 27. Probably only 10 cars would fit there. A sign at the beginning of the trail indicates that Eagle Falls is 5 tenths of a mile. The trail goes up mostly, with some downward dips, then back up, until the final descent at the stairs. It isn't very difficult, but could be considered somewhat strenuous. People with heart and/or breathing problems should probably stay on the main park side. People in the 50s, in good health, could do it, going moderately. I was in the latter 50s the last time I went there. People with health problems, and people that have trouble with rugged walking should stay on the main park side.

Not far from the beginning of the trail, I walked out on rocks by the river and made some photos. In the upper right corner, you can see people standing on a wide bare rock area. There was plenty of water flowing that day.

Some of the trail goes by rock walls.

Not far from the beginning is a place to get an overview looking down on the falls. There is a sign there now warning not to get up on the big rock from where this photo was made. There is no guard rail. Parents need to keep an eye on their kids. This is a natural, rugged place, not a walk through the city park. Adults need to be mindful of where their kids are. They can fall off in places, or slide down a slope. It isn't really dangerous if people stay on the trail and keep their kids close. Errant kids can get into trouble. I guess they have been doing ok. Lots of kids go to the park, and plenty of them go up this trail.

The section shown at right is up high, about to the highest part I think.

Below is shown another section of trail before reaching the high part.

This is the highest part, from where the first photo on this page was made.

Same place, but facing south, toward the falls.

 This is Eagle Creek. After reaching the high place by the cliff, the trail continues, coming to the creek. I think it continues past the creek, but there is a turnoff that leads to some stairs down to the bottom. This photo was made near the top of Eagle Falls.

Before descending to the bottom of Eagle Falls, we walked upstream a little along Eagle Creek.

In 1998 I went out to the falls a few times and made slide pictures of rafters and kayakers. A local outfitter would take a group of people out there most days at 10am. They would gather at a sandy area below the falls for instructions, then head out down river. I don't know about the general routine, but one day I saw a bunch of them up near the falls, and made some photos. After playing around a bit, they headed downstream. Most people were in rafts, while some used inflatable kayaks.

Some of them got fairly close to the falls.

This shot was made on a different day, when the Cumberland was fairly muddy, after a lot of rain.

I would usually get there before the outfitter and his group, and walk the trail downriver to where there is a large rock out in the river. I would get out on the rock and wait, with my Minolta film camera, and a 70-210 zoom, a Vivitar Series 1.

One of those days I went out there to photograph rafters, a couple guys came downriver in real kayaks. They were Mike McQueen and Wilson Whitehead. I didn't know them, but Mike happened to get near me and I hailed him over. I asked him to sign a model release for me, and he did. Wilson later signed one for me, by mail, and I thank them both again for that. I eventually submitted some slides to a magazine for their consideration, but the editor didn't use any. So, I'll show some of them on this web page.

Mike McQueen was in the red/yellow kayak; and Wilson Whitehead paddled the blue one. It was an interesting show. I enjoyed it.

Looking downriver.

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