Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park protects the Cumberland Gap, a natural pass through the Appalachian Mountains at the junction of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. The park was established to preserve the pass and surrounding landscapes and to interpret its role in westward migration during the 18th century.

The pass was used by Native American peoples for centuries and became a key route for European-American settlement after the 1770s when explorers and settlers, including parties associated with Daniel Boone, used the Wilderness Road to move westward. The park interprets these transportation and settlement histories and preserves cultural resources connected to that era.

The park encompasses ridge-top overlooks, trail systems and historic sites near the town of Middlesboro, Kentucky, and provides driving and hiking access to the pass and viewpoints across the three-state region.

• Historical significance: The park preserves the Cumberland Gap - a natural pass used historically as a migration and transportation route through the Appalachian Mountains and the Wilderness Road used by early American settlers.
• Best viewpoints: Tri-State Peak and Pinnacle Overlook are the most visited viewpoints for panoramic vistas across Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia; trails and a visitor center provide context and access.

What to See #

• Tri-State Peak: Marks the meeting point of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia and carries a survey monument and short walking trails with panoramic views of the surrounding ridges and valleys.
• Pinnacle Overlook: A high overlook on the Cumberland Mountain ridge that provides sweeping views over the Cumberland Gap and long-range scenic vistas across the three states.
• Hensley Settlement: A preserved 19th-century settlement within the park that demonstrates regional rural life and domestic structures from the post-colonial period.