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| Cumberland Gap National
Historical Park and the National Park Service are part of a nationwide
program known as Leave No Trace (LNT), which promotes minimum impact ethics
and techniques in the outdoors.
We want your Cumberland Gap experience to be enjoyable – and safe. To ensure your well-being and that of the park's resources, please read these simple guidelines and follow them during your visit. |
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| Basic Guidelines | • | Prepare well: If unsure of your route, check with a ranger before starting your trip. Take adequate equipment, food, water, and clothing suitable for weather conditions and terrain. Temperatures are usually 10-15 degrees cooler on the mountain. |
| • | Garbage: Pack it in, pack it out, including all litter and food scraps. Please help us by picking up litter as you encounter it. | |
| • | Sanitation: Use established latrines if provided. Use a cat-hole if there are no established latrines. Dispose of all human waste and wash water at least two hundred (200) feet away from water sources. | |
| • | Drinking Water: For day
hikes, take enough water for the entire trip. Treated water is available
at Hensley Settlement. Untreated water is found at Martin's Fork and may
be available in drainage at other backcountry campsites.
Do everything you can to protect water sources from contamination. Boil and chemically treat all drinking water. |
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| • | Fires: Keep fires small. Build fires only in establilshed fire rings. Use only dead wood that is down. | |
| • | Smoking: Smoke only where safe – around a fire or in a clear area. Carry out butts. | |
| • | Alcohol: Alcoholic beverages are allowed only in camp. | |
| • | Pets: Pets must be on leashes at all times. During summer months, please do not leave pets unattended in vehicles – it can kill your pet. | |
| • | Observe good trail etiquette. | |
| Hiking, Horses, and Bicycles | • | No permits are needed for day hikes; all hikers are, however, expected to observe minimum-impact hiking and camping rules. |
| • | Hypothermia: Hypothermia can be a problem for the improperly dressed hiker, even in summer because of lower temperatures caused by rain and wind. Autumn and winter temperatures demand warmer dress. As a rule of thumb, air temperature drops 3½ to 5 degrees for every 1,000 feet in elevation (The Visitor Center is at about 1,000 feet, the Pinnacle is at about 2,400 feet, and Hensley Settlement is at about 3,400 feet). | |
| • | Horses are permitted on certain trails in the park. A brochure is available at the Visitor Center identifying these trails. | |
| • | Bicycles are permitted only on paved roads and designated trails. Bikers must observe traffic regulations. Bikers must ride single file and as close as possible to roadway edges. Bikers must yield to pedestrians on off-road trails. | |
| Warning! | • | Please do not leave children unattended. |
| • | Watch your footing to prevent falls from rocks and cliffs. | |
| • | Do not feed wild animals! Doing so creates a dependence on man, upsets feeding habits, and creates situations that may result in injury. | |
| • | Snakes: Two species of poisonous snakes are found at Cumberland Gap – the Timber Rattlesnake and the Copperhead. Avoid them and they will not harm you. they have an important role in the natural ecosystem. Do not kill them. | |
| • | Treat our natural heritage with respect. Leave plants, rocks, and historical artifacts as you find them. |
