Cumberland Falls was the second state resort park I visited in Kentucky. Just as Natural Bridge State Park (also located in Eastern Kentucky) is known for one specific feature, Cumberland Falls State Park’s spotlight feature is a known for its impressive waterfall. It’s not the biggest in the United States and certainly not the most spectacular one that I’ve ever seen, but there’s one thing about Cumberland Falls that is absolutely awesome: It is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where a moonbow appears on a predictable basis. When the moon is full and the sky is clear, a rainbow of sorts appears above the waterfalls in the dark of the night. Though moonbows may be spotted periodically in other places on occasion, the only other place in the world where a moonbow regularly appears is Victoria Falls on Africa’s Zambezi River, between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The famous waterfall at this Kentucky state park is easily accessible to reach and view along a paved path, but it is only one of a handful of worthy features in the park. Eagle Falls, which is 44 feet high, can be reached via a 1.5-mile trail. There are several miles of pathways throughout the park, though many of them include several stone steps traversing hills, which can be a bit treacherous if they become wet or icy. One of the advantages of visiting Cumberland Falls State Park, though, is the fact that most people come to check out the main waterfall, so if you choose to venture elsewhere, you can embrace nature almost completely on your own.
