Moonbow View at Cumberland Falls
Williamsburg, KY
March 2-4, 2018
Trip Leaders: Lisa Forester and Cathy Shuler
Type of Trip: Hiking
Cost: $222
Cancellation Date and full payment: February 2, 2018
Adults Only
Maximum number: 8
Minimum number: 7
Wilderness Level: 2 (emergency help within one hour)
Difficulty: Moderate Level (up to 6.7 miles in hilly terrain)
Known as the "Niagara of the South," Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Williamsburg KY is named after the largest waterfall south of the Niagara. 125 ft. wide wall of water drops into a boulder-strewn gorge. With a full moon and clear night sky you can see the "moonbow," a (lunar rainbow) that appears in the base of the waterfall. A phenomenon not found anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere!
We will arrive on Friday night to witness this event. Then we will settle into our cozy cabins for the night. Each pine panel two-bedroom cottage has four queen beds, and two bathrooms. The cottages include a fully equipped kitchen with cookware, dinnerware and utensils, and have a fireplace and an outside grill. They also feature free Wi-Fi.
On Saturday we will hike the Cumberland Falls Number Two Trail, a 6.7 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located in the park that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is accessible year-round. We can take a short spur to the Pinnacle Knob fire tower, although we are not allowed to go in it.
DISTANCE: 6.7 miles; ELEVATION GAIN: 1381 feet; ROUTE TYPE: Loop
If we are up for more hiking before the evening, we can hike along the Cumberland River on the south side of the park, for an in and out of whatever distance we choose. The moonbow will also be able to be viewed on Saturday night, so we will stroll over there after dinner for another viewing opportunity!
After breakfast on Sunday, we will hike the Eagle Falls Trail, which is a 1.9 mile loop trail located in the park that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round.
DISTANCE: 1.9 miles; ELEVATION GAIN: 541 feet; ROUTE TYPE: Loop
We will then pack up and head back north! Estimated arrival back to Indy will be 5 pm.
The cost of the trip includes van transportation, 2 nights lodging, 1 dinner and 2 breakfast. Friday evening we will stop for dinner and depending on the time we choose to leave Sunday, we will stop for lunch which is self pay.
