Kentucky is home to 3 of the best drives to see fall foliage in the US, survey says
If you’ve been itching to get outdoors and enjoy the bursts of color that flare to life this time of year, you might want to do it soon.
Fall foliage in Kentucky is nearing its peak and is expected to do so by Oct. 30, according to the Smoky Mountains annual fall foliage prediction map, which sources its data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For leaf-peepers, the Bluegrass State offers some autumn vistas unmatched by many other parts of the country. A recent survey of 3,000 people by the Florida-based Gunther Volkswagen put together a list of the top 140 fall foliage drives, and three Kentucky byways made the cut.
Kentucky’s Red River Gorge Scenic Byway took the No. 6 spot, ranking just below a Colorado course that cuts through red rock canyons and golden cottonwood trees.
Of the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway, Gunther Volkswagen said the route features “a mesmerizing blend of deep canyons, towering sandstone arches and dense hardwood forests. During the fall season, the Gorge becomes a radiant spectacle, with dense canopies of oak, hickory and maple trees showcasing a dazzling array of reds, oranges and yellows.”
Here’s a look at the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway and the two other Kentucky routes that made the list for their brilliant fall foliage.
Driving the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway to see fall foliage
According to the National Scenic Byway Foundation, the route begins in Stanton in Powell County on State Highway 11 and heads east.
Drivers then make a loop, following the course of the Red River, using state highways 77, 715 and 402 before rejoining State Highway 11 again.
Finally, the route ends in Zachariah when State Highway 11 terminates in the village on the border of Lee and Wolfe counties.
The byway is approximately 45 miles long and only takes about an hour to drive, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Be sure to take your time with it and make some stops along the way. There’s plenty to see along the route, which passes through the Red River Gorge and Cumberland District of the Daniel Boone National Forest. You can stop at the Gladie Visitor Center along the way and learn more about the gorge. There’s also the Nada Tunnel and views of towering arches and the Red River.
If you plan to bring along a camper or RV for a longer stay in the area — and it’s larger than 12 feet wide or 13 feet tall — make sure you enter the gorge from the KY 715 end of the byway or from the north side of KY 77. Vehicles larger than that won’t be able to pass through the Nada Tunnel.
What other Kentucky byways made the list?
The Country Music Highway (U.S. 23) ranked 45th on Gunther Volkswagen’s list.
Running along the spine of Eastern Kentucky, U.S. 23 is hallowed ground for country music fans. The hills and hollers there have produced more country music artists per capita than any other region, according to Kentucky Tourism. Country music superstars like Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs and Billy Ray Cyrus can call the region this route cuts through home.
Finally, Kentucky’s Bluegrass Parkway ranked 104th on the list. Portions of the parkway pass through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and apart from the fall foliage, there’s plenty of outdoor adventure to be had.
The top five fall foliage freeways in the nation, according to Gunther Volkswagen, include the following:
Seneca Trail (U.S. Route 219), West Virginia
Falls Road (MD Route 25), Maryland
Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway, South Carolina
Rim Rock Drive, Colorado
Do you have a question about Kentucky’s outdoors for our service journalism team? Let us know via our Know Your Kentucky form below or email ask@herald-leader.com.
