Fall is Arriving - Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

The fall colors are beginning to put on a show in our area of the country. The dogwood and sumac leaves are sporting red foliage. Maples and other hardwoods are starting to change into their fall wardrobe. A tinge of yellow is dusting the woods behind our cottage. But we remain about a week or two away from vibrant hues in our valley. So we headed up to hill country this past weekend to witness some transformations underway at higher elevations. 

Our destination? Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, located where three states meet – Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. In 1775, Daniel Boone blazed a foot trail through a “gap” in the Cumberland Mountains. Modern folks now travel through the mountainside using a tunnel over a mile long, cruising along in comfortable automobiles. We arrived mid-afternoon and drove up the road to Pinnacle Overlook. 

Here’s the view we saw of the town of Harrogate, Tennessee. The campus of Lincoln Memorial University is found here, along with the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum (highly recommended to visit, if you ever travel this way). The valley shows very early signs of fall, while the hillside below the overlook is already ablaze. 

One of the great scenes from Pinnacle Overlook is the Tri-State Peak, located in the foreground. This westward perspective shows where three states meet – Tennessee to the left, Virginia in the foreground, and Kentucky to the right. 

A rich texture of early color meanders along the top ridgeline. Fern Lake and the Cumberland Mountain range are seen in the distance. 

And a rocky cliff on the Virginia side of the mountains hails the beginning of the 2012 fall foliage season in this area of the country! 

We’ll be venturing out while the colors are changing, so I may be a little bit scarce the next couple of weeks. I hope you are enjoying your outdoor vistas too!