Hey Guys!
After a busy day exploring Cumberland Falls State Park, Historic Rugby, and the surrounding area, we started our final morning much more slowly.
With a cup of coffee in hand and breakfast on the front porch, we spent some time enjoying the peaceful woodland views surrounding our cabin.
The quiet sounds of nature and cool morning air made it hard to believe our weekend getaway was already coming to an end.
Before heading home, we wanted to make one last visit to Cumberland Falls. Seeing the falls in the morning light offered a completely different experience from the day before and was the perfect way to wrap up our trip.
Read reviews for Cumberland Falls State Park Resort here
We also planned to hike to Dog Slaughter Falls, a hidden waterfall located not far from Cumberland Falls, but our plans didn’t quite go as expected.
One Last Visit to Cumberland Falls
Before heading to the falls, we decided to explore the area near the falls.
Down the road from the lodge, we came across a historic overlook.
The overlook featured beautiful curved stone walls and a staircase leading to a quiet viewing area overlooking the surrounding forest.
With the last of the fall colors still hanging on the trees, it was a peaceful spot to enjoy one final look at the Kentucky landscape before heading home.
As we were enjoying the scenery, we noticed a gentleman set up nearby selling jars of his local honey.
So, we stopped to chat for a few minutes and decided to purchase a couple of jars to take home with us.
The view across the road from the historic overlook.
After leaving the overlook, we made our way back to Cumberland Falls for one final visit before heading home. 
As we approached the overlook, we were greeted by an unexpected sight. The mist rising from the powerful waterfall was catching the morning sunlight, creating a beautiful rainbow near the base of the falls.
Known as the ‘Niagara of the South,’ the 125-foot curtain of water falling into a boulder-strewn gorge is dramatic day or night.
We spent a few minutes taking in the views, listening to the roar of the water, and snapping a few more photos before continuing our walk to another nearby overlook of the falls.
Located just a short distance from the main viewing area, this overlook offers a different perspective of the falls and the river gorge below.
Overlook #2 gives visitors a broader look at the surrounding landscape and is well worth the extra few minutes of walking.
Here you will get the best views of the waterfall and gorge area.
After this overlook, we continued the path to the next overlook.
There are a total of four overlooks along the trail, each one offering a slightly different view of the falls and the river gorge below.
As we made our way past Overlook #2, we noticed a staircase descending toward the river and led to a very large beach area along the water’s edge.
Even though we decided not to take the stairs down to the water, it looked like a great spot to relax, enjoy the scenery, and experience the falls from a completely different perspective.
Near this overlook, we spotted a tablet that had been erected in appreciation of T. Coleman Dupont and his family for gifting this land to the state of Kentucky for all to enjoy.
After this overlook, we began the walk back to our car.
On our walk back, we passed signs that told about the first hotel that was built here called, the Cumberland Falls Hotel.
Built in 1875, the inn was a two story, wooden structure with 40 rooms on each floor. Logs were floated from a sawmill upstream for its construction.
In 1902, the hotel was purchased by Henry Brunson and renamed the Brunson Inn. He and his family ran the inn until 1931 when Cumberland Falls became a state park.
The hotel then became known as the Moonbow Inn and operated under that name until 1949 when it was destroyed by fire. No attempts were made to rebuild the hotel.
As we made our way back toward the visitor center area, we passed the park’s snack bar. We considered purchasing a cup of coffee, but ultimately decided against it.
After leaving here, we headed to our next stop.
Attempting the Dog Slaughter Falls Hike
Located just a short drive from the park, Dog Slaughter Falls had been on our list of places to visit during the weekend.
After arriving to the trailhead, we set off down the wooded trail eager to see the waterfall for ourselves.
Tip: This trail is located down a very remote road and there was no one else around so be cautious of your surroundings.
The hike started off well, winding through a beautiful forest filled with towering trees and the sounds of a nearby creek.
The trail was peaceful and offered a completely different experience from the overlooks at Cumberland Falls.
Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that the area had experienced significant storm damage.
Fallen trees were scattered throughout the forest, and as we continued hiking, more and more downed trees blocked the trail.
We carefully navigated around several obstacles, but after about 20 minutes of hiking, the damage became too extensive to continue safely.
So, we made the decision to turn around and head back to our car.
Although we never made it to Dog Slaughter Falls, the experience served as a good reminder that trail conditions can change dramatically after severe weather.
If you’re planning to visit, I would recommend checking recent trail reports or local park information before making this hike.
While we were disappointed not to reach the waterfall, the scenic forest and peaceful walk still made for an enjoyable adventure.
Read reviews for this trail here
Tip: You can also hike to Dog Slaughter Falls from Cumberland Falls but it will be 7 miles round trip. Click here to read a very detailed blog post about this hike & Click here to read about 9 waterfalls near Cumberland Falls
From here, we headed to our next and final stop before heading home.
Hiking the Falls Creek Trail
Since we were already in the area, we decided to check out another nearby hike located behind the Sheltowee Trace Adventures Resort.
The trail offered a peaceful walk through the forest and gave us one last opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of southeastern Kentucky.
After our unsuccessful attempt to reach Dog Slaughter Falls, it was nice to explore a trail that was accessible and allowed us to spend a little more time outdoors.
The Falls Creek Trail is a 1.5 mile loop that winds through the forest and passes several waterfalls, rock houses, and unique sunken creek.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to explore the entire trail, but we enjoyed stretching our legs and spending more time outdoors before beginning the drive home.
Heading back to our car
The resort offered some really cool accommodations like these covered wagons and these cute little cabins.
Click here for more accommodations in this area
I personally wouldn’t recommend this hike unless you are staying at the resort.
Click here for 6 hikes near this resort
After our hike, we decided to have lunch at a nearby picnic table located at the resort.
Stopping for Coffee in Burnside, Kentucky
With our hiking adventures behind us, it was finally time to begin the drive home.
About one hour after starting our drive, we made one last stop in Burnside, KY at a cute little coffee shop called, Gather Coffee Lounge.
The cozy coffee shop was the perfect place to relax after a busy weekend of exploring.
Since we had been up and going all morning, a coffee break sounded like a good idea and we really enjoy trying out local coffee shops.
They offered a wide variety of drinks and it was hard to decide because they all sounded so good!
I ultimately decided on the pistachio honey latte….I can’t remember what my hubby ordered but we both really enjoyed the coffee!
Check out their Facebook page here
Final Thoughts
We really enjoyed our weekend at Cumberland Falls and exploring some of the surrounding areas.
Of course, seeing the moonbow was the highlight of the trip, but we also enjoyed discovering a few places that weren’t originally on our itinerary.
If you’re looking for an easy weekend getaway, this area has a lot to offer.
Between the waterfalls, scenic overlooks, hiking trails, Historic Rugby, and the beautiful fall scenery, there was plenty to keep us busy.
I would definitely recommend Cumberland Falls and the surrounding area if you’re looking for a fun weekend road trip in Kentucky!
Click the below links to read about our other visits to Cumberland Falls.
The Perfect Fall Weekend Road Trip to Cumberland Falls State Park and Rugby, Tennessee
Cumberland Falls State Park & Big South Fork National Recreation Area – Day 1 – Oct 2024
Cumberland Falls State Park & Big South Fork National Recreation Area – Day 2 – Oct 2024
Click here to see links to all of my blog posts