- 2023 Inventory Closeout! Save On Remaining 2023 Units!
- Shop Now!
There are many things to love about hiking. It is a great way to immerse yourself in nature, improve your heart and lung health, strengthen your muscles, and improve your balance. It is also an excellent mood booster, as it can help you feel calmer and happier. Fortunately, you don’t need to travel thousands of miles from Paintsville, KY to get out into some beautiful nature – here are some of our favorite hiking trails in the area!
1. Red Jacket-Concord Trail
The best hiking trail in Paintsville for hikers looking for a challenge is the Red Jacket-Concord Trail at 429-401 Church St. This 8.1-mile loop trail features an elevation gain of 810 feet and two beautiful overlooks. The stunning scenic views of Flat Rock Overlook and Skull Rock Overlook are well worth the uphill trek. After that, you can enjoy the burn as you go downhill, meeting the Concord Connection Trail.
2. Dawkins Line Rail Trail
The Dawkins Line Rail Trail is also worth exploring. You should be in good shape to tackle it; this trail is 17.9 miles from one end to the other, making it ideal for biking and horseback riding. However, it is open to hikers, backpackers, dog walkers, and people interested in wildlife viewing. While it features 928 feet of elevation gain, most of the grade is gentle.
3. Skull Rock Trail
Skull Rock Trail is another excellent trail to hike. This trail is only 2.4 miles out and back, but it is a fairly challenging trail, increasing in elevation by 774 feet. You may be surprised by how steep the descent is when you get to the top of the hill. We recommend picking up a stick at the top of the ridge to help you navigate the downhill portion of the trail.
4. Kiwanis Trail
Finally, we recommend the Kiwanis Trail at Paintsville Lake State Park at 1551 KY 2275. This easy trail is 1.6 miles long and offers many scenic views of Paintsville Lake. We highly recommend keeping your eyes peeled as you hike. This is a great trail for birding and other wildlife viewing.
If that doesn’t provide enough of a challenge, the state park is still worth visiting. Some of the most popular activities you can enjoy here include fishing, boating, picnicking, and camping. Anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and channel catfish. However, there are other fish in this lake, too, including brown trout, crappie, spotted bass, and walleye.
While there are many trails in the Paintsville area, they are only accessible if you have a dependable vehicle. If your car displeases you, contact us today at Hutch CDJR to schedule a test drive for a new 2023 or 2024 model that can handle some serious off-roading!
Image via pixabay.com
Connect with us
