Kingdom Come State Park is located in Harlan County, the heart of Appalachia! Justin and I would argue that Kingdom Come State Park is one of the most underrated state parks in Kentucky. This park is truly beautiful and provides unmatched views of the Appalachian Mountains. We compared the views of the mountains at Kingdom Come State Park to the Grand Canyon. It is seriously that good! Rolling mountains as far as the eye can see.
The park was named after a popular novel by John Fox Jr. titled “The Little Shephard of Kingdom Come.” The park sits at an elevation of 2,700 feet and preserves 1,283 acres of wilderness. We visited the park during Summer and Fall. We highly recommend that you visit during peak fall (which is usually October) as the views are breathtaking! The fall foliage combined with the rolling mountains is truly a sight to see.
Things to Do:
There are so many things you can do in Kingdom Come State Park! These activities include camping, fishing, hiking, biking, horseshoes, mini golf, outdoor theater, pedal boating, and picnicking. Best of all, there is no fee to enter! You can grab a map of the park at the gift shop.
Our favorite things to do in the park include hiking and picnicking. There are 14 hiking trails located in the park that cover nearly 5 miles of the mountain. The trails are fairly short in length, so this is great for combining hikes to access more while you are there.
Our Favorite Hike
If you get the chance to visit the park, make sure you check out Log Rock trail as it will take you to a natural sandstone bridge that truly does look like a log! There are three different ways to access log rock. We recommend the trail from the gazebo as the gazebo is something to not be missed. If you are not looking for a hike but still want to view this natural wonder, there is a parking area located near the Shelterhouse area that will lead up steep steps to Log Rock. While checking out the sandstone bridge, make sure to walk down to the opening to the right of the bridge that leads to a stunning overlook. We always make a stop here to look over the mountains.
We also recommend stopping at the many overlooks that the park offers. There are 8 different overlooks. Our favorite is the 12 o’clock overlook! Take some time to drive around the park, check out some overlooks that don’t require much walking, and pick out the best picnic spot for yourself. We thoroughly enjoy bringing our own charcuterie board to snack on as we gaze over the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Check out those views from the overlook:
We hope this helps you plan your next trip to a Kentucky State Park! We hope you enjoy Kingdom Come State Park as much as we do. Appalachia has mountain views that will leave you breathless. If you have any lingering questions, please reach out via Instagram or comment below. As always, safe travels y’all! ~ Justin & Caitlin