Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Harlan, Kentucky

The majority of this trail is flat (the flattest in the park) with some shallow water/mud holes with solid bottoms. The terrain is small gravel-like rock mixed with softball-sized rocks. This drive is very picturesque, especially at the top, with a nice view from 2800 feet of elevation. You will fin...
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Little Shepherd is an unpaved route from Harlan KY to Cumberland KY. This route rides across a mountain ridge giving you wonderful views of the surrounding areas. There are multiple pull-offs that function as overlooks to take in the scenery. This trail is stock 4x4 capable, but keep an eye out for ...
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Trail 12 splits into two parts in the OHV area. It is divided by private land. For mapping purposes, this trail has been labeled "12a" and "12b". 12b is an easy drive and is a great way to navigate through the park. It runs between a private property boundary and the 4 Poles Overlook. There are some...
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Trail 29 is a longer trail running from east and west near the far west side of the Black Mountain ORV Adventure Area. The trail ends on the west side at a private property which is gated and labeled "FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY". Along the way, this trail travels through an area known as The Stadiu...
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Trail 25 is an enjoyable drive. This dirt trail has very few rocks and little elevation. It is fairly wide and away from the very edge of the mountain. There are some large, shallow water holes with solid bottoms. There are also a couple of nice unofficial overlooks with great views.
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This trail is just over 2 miles long and is a great opportunity to see the Black Mountain trails without getting too crazy. There are also a couple of small waterfalls to enjoy. The terrain is dirt with some small rocks and water puddles. The trail does have a few areas that could potentially wash o...
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Trail 12 splits into two parts in the OHV area. It is divided by private land. For mapping purposes, this trail has been labeled "12a" and "12b". 12a is an easy drive and is a great way to navigate through the park. There are some elevation changes and small rocks. In some areas, the trail is wide e...
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You can expect a nice easy cruise up the mountain. It is a fairly gradual grade increase with occasional sections of loose rocks along the way. During the fall it seemed as though the trail was consistently maintained. There are many places along the way to access other trails ranging from easy to d...
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Trail 20 is a dirt trail and just under 2.5 miles long. It's a very scenic drive that weaves along the mountain's edge. There are some mild elevation changes and it's a great way to easily navigate from the north end to the middle of the OHV area. There are a couple of small rocky areas, but the tra...
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Gabe's Branch Road travels between Kentucky State Highway 221 and Kentucky Route 2008. This trail is a gravel and rock road that is somewhat maintained. There are a few small ruts, but they are easy to traverse. This route can also be completed with 2WD high-clearance vehicles, and two vehicles may ...
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This is a very scenic mountain road, mostly all gravel, but it still has some rocky inclines and loose dirt. Enjoy the best view in Harlan County from Pyramid Rock if you dare to climb it. As always, be very cautious of the wildlife - several bears were seen on the way up.
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101 runs from the General Store / Parking Area to the south side of the park out to State Highway 510. This route would be a main trailhead to access many of the other park trails. This is a maintained trail of gravel, rock, mud, and dirt, but there can be some shallow mud holes, rutting, and some r...
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Trail 131A runs off of Kentucky State Highway 221 from Trail 131. It is made of rock and dirt. The rock road has a few minor ruts and washout spots. Several mudholes can be found along the trail. A few places have a lot of vegetation growth from the side of the road and can be tight to go through.
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This is a gravel/dirt road uphill to a large open field with roads. The property includes open range horses and cattle, and there are lots of side trails to adventure onto. The trail can be reached off Highway 221 in Pineville, Kentucky. There's a railroad crossing as well as old gas wells on the pr...
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Trail 131 runs off of Kentucky State Highway 221. It is made of rock and dirt. The rock road has a few minor ruts and washout spots. Several mudholes can be found along the trail. A few places have a lot of vegetation growth from the side of the road and can be tight to go through.
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Trail 109 is easy and maintained and has gravel, rock, and dirt surfaces. There are some mud holes, but they are not deep. There are a few small ledges, and the width is plenty wide to pass other vehicles. This trail goes between 101 and State Highway 221.
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This trail will take you through the woods under the canopy of the leaves. It was designed to get you off of the main trail 101 and give you a break from the dust and bumpy gravel road. This track is fairly easy and most likely can be done in 2wd. If you need a break from the hot sun, give this one ...
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Get ready for an easy track filled with breathtaking views. This track can be run by any 4x4 vehicle, side by side, ATV, or motorcycle. The beginning of this track starts after a short drive from the Leatherwood Off Road Park. Begin at the general store and drive via Highway 699 traveling west for 5...
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Depending on the rig, this trail can become relatively narrow and tight, making maneuvering technical. It runs through a thick area of pine trees and has a natural dirt surface. Several turns and curves make it attractive to see what you can do without putting it in reverse to make the corners in on...
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This is an easy trail that rides along the ridge line. Nothing to worry about on this one, aside from a few shallow mud crossings. There could be some small brushes that may cause small scratches on your vehicle. Other than that, this will dead end, and you can turn around easily and make your way b...
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The majority of this trail is flat (the flattest in the park) with some shallow water/mud holes with solid bottoms. The terrain is small gravel-like rock mixed with softball-sized rocks. This drive is very picturesque, especially at the top, with a nice view from 2800 feet of elevation. You will fin...
Learn more about 36

Trail 12 splits into two parts in the OHV area. It is divided by private land. For mapping purposes, this trail has been labeled "12a" and "12b". 12b is an easy drive and is a great way to navigate through the park. It runs between a private property boundary and the 4 Poles Overlook. There are some...
Learn more about 12b

Trail 29 is a longer trail running from east and west near the far west side of the Black Mountain ORV Adventure Area. The trail ends on the west side at a private property which is gated and labeled "FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY". Along the way, this trail travels through an area known as The Stadiu...
Learn more about 29

Trail 25 is an enjoyable drive. This dirt trail has very few rocks and little elevation. It is fairly wide and away from the very edge of the mountain. There are some large, shallow water holes with solid bottoms. There are also a couple of nice unofficial overlooks with great views.
Learn more about 25

The majority of this trail is flat (the flattest in the park) with some shallow water/mud holes with solid bottoms. The terrain is small gravel-like rock mixed with softball-sized rocks. This drive is very picturesque, especially at the top, with a nice view from 2800 feet of elevation. You will fin...
Learn more about 36

Trail 12 splits into two parts in the OHV area. It is divided by private land. For mapping purposes, this trail has been labeled "12a" and "12b". 12b is an easy drive and is a great way to navigate through the park. It runs between a private property boundary and the 4 Poles Overlook. There are some...
Learn more about 12b

Trail 29 is a longer trail running from east and west near the far west side of the Black Mountain ORV Adventure Area. The trail ends on the west side at a private property which is gated and labeled "FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES ONLY". Along the way, this trail travels through an area known as The Stadiu...
Learn more about 29

Trail 25 is an enjoyable drive. This dirt trail has very few rocks and little elevation. It is fairly wide and away from the very edge of the mountain. There are some large, shallow water holes with solid bottoms. There are also a couple of nice unofficial overlooks with great views.
Learn more about 25