Cumberland Gap National Historic Park: White Rocks Hike
Hike 8.2 miles on steep singletrack paths to rock overhangs where raptors soar, then onward to Sand Cave, a giant rock feature sculpted by wind and rain.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 9.3
Waypoints
WRL001
Location: 36.6527481079102, -83.4359130859375
Trail begins behind shelter @ Civic Park, then gently climbs up small, rocky drainage
WRL002
Location: 36.6576309204102, -83.4354095458984
Trail T-bones with old logging road; turn L
WRL004
Location: 36.662971496582, -83.4457168579102
Veer R; it’s a short but tedious scramble to the top
WRL005
Location: 36.6657485961914, -83.4465713500976
Swing R, heading E to a pair of big boulder overlooks
WRL006
Location: 36.6670608520508, -83.4431381225586
Red-tailed hawks and vultures surf the late-
afternoon thermals rising off the white cliffs; a surge of wooded mountain views span to the W, SW, and N; return to WPT 5 and turn R
WRL007
Location: 36.6674499511719, -83.4589080810547
Bear R
WRL008
Location: 36.6694488525391, -83.4580917358398
Sand Cave: This house-sized cave with an impressive archway and sandy fl oors (up to knee-deep) once provided shelter for Native Americans; backtrack to WPT 7, then head S
WRL009
Location: 36.6660499572754, -83.4611434936524
Turn L; begin traverse down wind-battered cl
WRL003
Location: 36.6610221862793, -83.4333038330078
Trail turns sharply L, the beginning of stiff switchbacks up to White Rocks
WRL010
Location: 36.6636009216309, -83.4535675048828
Stay straight to WPT 4, and backtrack to car