PHOTOS OF
THE PINE MOUNTAIN TRAIL
of KENTUCKY and VIRGINIA
The Pine Mountain Trail traverses beautiful forests and,
when on the ridge, offers magnificent vistas. Downed logs are occasionally
left on the trail to discourage ATV use, which is illegal. The trail has
been granted Kentucky State Park status -- the first linear park in the
state.
Stone stairs are provided on difficult inclines. These
start at the Coastal Gas Station on Route 23 at Pound Gap and were lovingly
constructed as a Boy Scout troop project. I suggest hikers purchase the
trail guide available from the Pine Mountain Trail Conference. In addition
to explicit trail info (such as where the trail continues on the other side
of a roadway), it also contains interesting historic and geologic info,
as well as checklists for flora and fauna of the area, artwork, poetry,
and much more.
The trail is well marked with yellow paint blazes and PMT
signs bearing the above logo, which to me can be interpreted vertically
as both a pine tree and a trail with switchbacks, and when turned horizontally,
resembles mountain peaks one after another -- all three of which are true
of this trail.