Cumberland Gap National Park is truly a hikers park.  You could also say that it is a horse-riders park as well. Lots of the attractions require long hikes to get to.   This not only adds to the overall experience, it means that you will find very few people on the trail.  I hiked roughly 8 miles to the Sand Cave and White Rocks and didn't see a soul the entire time.  

Pinnacle Overlook Cumberland Gap National ParkPinnacle Overlook Cumberland Gap National Park If you read any reivews of the hikes in Cumberland Gap, you see the word 'strenuous' a lot.  This is by far the most accurate description.   The Ewing Trail, which is the one I used to get to the Sand Cave, seemed to endlessly climb.  

Click here for a detail of my hike.

Staring at the Ewing Trailhead, you take the trail up until you reach the Sand Cave.  It's roughly 4 miles in, and it is HUGE!  After a long initial hike, walking up to the back of the sand cave through all the soft sand was exhausting.

Sand Cave in Cumberland Gap National ParkSand Cave in Cumberland Gap National Park Sand Cave in Cumberland Gap National ParkSand Cave in Cumberland Gap National Park The cave is nearly an acre in size.   When I was planning the hike, I was worried that I would get to the cave and there would be a million people there, only because there were so many footprints in all the photos I saw.  In the end, it turned out that I didn't see anyone on any part of the trail.  There really isn't any weather in the cave, so the footprints could be 100 years old, and they'd still be there.  It makes me wonder what it was like to be the first person to stumble upon this huge cave before anyone set foot in it. 

There are lots of awesome patterns and textures on the ceiling of the cave.

Sand Cave Cumberland Gap National ParkSand Cave Cumberland Gap National Park

Sand Cave Cumberland Gap National ParkSand Cave Cumberland Gap National Park Sand Cave Cumberland Gap National ParkSand Cave Cumberland Gap National Park The layers of time are really evident here in the cave.  There are pebbles that are on the ceiling of the cave that you can see have fallen down into the sand at some point or another.  The drops of water that fall afterward make the pebbles sit on little spires of sand.

Sand Cave Cumberland Gap National ParkSand Cave Cumberland Gap National Park There is a nice little trickle of a waterfall at the cave's entrance.   After I got done in the cave, I cooled off a little by standing under the water.  I also filled my water bottle here and didn't get sick so that's good.

Sand Cave Cumberland Gap National ParkSand Cave Cumberland Gap National Park

After this I was off to White Rocks.  You take the ridge trail to get up there, so it's pretty easy going until you make the scramble up to the top of the rocks.

I startled some huge vultures when I got there, which in turn startled me!  It's peaceful to see them flying around at eye level.

White Rocks Cumberland Gap National ParkWhite Rocks Cumberland Gap National Park White Rocks Cumberland Gap National ParkWhite Rocks Cumberland Gap National Park

In the photo above, you can see a puddle to the right.  This puddle has a BUNCH of tadpoles in it.  Now, I'm no professional amphibian, but I have to say that a puddle in a rock outcropping is a high-risk place to lay eggs.  But it seems that the puddle holds enough water to not go dry in between rainfalls.

White Rocks Cumberland Gap National ParkWhite Rocks Cumberland Gap National Park a White Rocks Cumberland Gap National ParkWhite Rocks Cumberland Gap National Park

After eating a sandwich and enjoying the sunshine for a while, my tired feet and I made our way down the mountain to the car.  I then drove to the Pinnacle Overlook near the Cumberland Gap Visitor Center.  En route, I shot a few photos of White Rocks from the Wilderness Road.

White Rocks Cumberland Gap National ParkWhite Rocks Cumberland Gap National Park White Rocks Cumberland Gap National ParkWhite Rocks Cumberland Gap National Park

When I got the Pinnacle Overlook, I was blessed with a really nice sunset and some nice conversation with some redneck high schoolers from Kentucky(but let's be honest, everyone from Kentucky is a redneck).  After the sunset, we were all walking back to the car when me and one of the kids both walked on either side of a copperhead snake!  The head of the snake was probably 6 inches from my ankle, and the craziest part is the fact that the kid I was walking with stepped on the snake's tail!  I feel like I cheated an almost certain death!

Pinnacle overlook sunset cumberland gap national parkPinnacle overlook sunset cumberland gap national park

Pinnacle overlook sunset cumberland gap national parkPinnacle overlook sunset cumberland gap national park Then, after a little driving and a night in the car, I shot some nice foggy scenes just north of Abingdon.

Foggy Scenes abingdon virginiaFoggy Scenes abingdon virginia Foggy Scenes abingdon virginiaFoggy Scenes abingdon virginia Foggy Scenes abingdon virginiaFoggy Scenes abingdon virginia Foggy Scenes abingdon virginiaFoggy Scenes abingdon virginia Foggy Scenes abingdon virginiaFoggy Scenes abingdon virginia Foggy Scenes abingdon virginiaFoggy Scenes abingdon virginia

I leave you with the below image, which I took while I was metering for a photo.  The camera moved a bit when I snapped the photo and made what I think is a nice abstract image(not my specialty for sure).  Either way, thanks for looking:)

Etherial