A snowbird's view from the park's dining room.

Tend to get cabin fever?  Do the doldrums of winter get you down?  Brush off the stay-inside blues and head to Pine Mountain State Resort Park on the weekend of January 13-15 for an early-season hiking adventure.

Winter is perhaps the best season for hiking in the Southern Appalachians.  Free of stifling humidity and summer crowds, the crisp air invigorates as leafless trees reveal stunning mountain views.  All you need is a sturdy pair of boots and the will to explore.

On this occasion, you can join multiple, Naturalist-guided expeditions to hike a total of 8 miles on three guided hikes in one weekend.  Gaze out across the Cumberland Mountains from Knobby Rock in the midst of the celebrated Blanton Forest, stand on the mountain peak where KY-TN-VA adjoin, feel the weight of history in the saddle of the Cumberland Gap Pass.  Investigate a Native American camp in a sandstone rockhouse, re-live the folk history of the legendary Chained Rock, and examine a natural arch on the vaulted south slope of Pine Mountain.

Evening programs will feature an introduction to the adventure sport of Geocaching, a GPS primer, Leave No Trace Concepts, and a Backpacking 101 session.

Winter at Herndon J. Evans Lodge.

It’s a nice add-on that the event is hosted at one of Kentucky’s premiere natural history parks featuring a full-service lodge complete with cozy guest rooms and a dining room with a specatular mountain view.  Rustic (but modern) log cabins with fireplaces are also available for those that prefer a more authentic winter mountains getaway experience. 

If you’re looking to escape winter malaise and are up for a bit of hiking, Hike the Highlands Winter Getaway may be just what the doctor ordered.  There may be no better opportunity this winter to blend travel, sightseeing, adventure, and a little exercise than a mid-january visit to Pine Mountain State Resort Park.

The park is offering special getaway packages for two that include accommodations, evening meals, a complimentary hiking stick, and admission to all hikes/programs.  The non-package registration fee for participation is $20 for adults, $10 for youths 13-17, and children 12 & under is free.  Pre-registration is required.  To register or make a reservation, phone the park’s Guest Services Desk at (800) 325-1712 and mention the Hike the Highlands Winter Getaway.

How do you get there?  From I-75 South or North, take exit 29 at Corbin onto US 25E, then travel south on 25E, approximately 34 miles to Pineville, KY.  Continuing on 25E south, the park entrances that are located about 1.5 miles south of Pineville.  Pine Mountain State Resort is located south of Pineville, KY on US 25E and 10 miles north of Middlesboro, KY.