Journey to Harlan County, Kentucky — an isolated region in the southeastern part of the state near the Virginia border — for ATV thrills at the Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park. Ride on trails cut out of old coal and timbering land, comprising over 6,000 acres and more than 200 miles of rutted, pockmarked roads. The trails are littered with boulders and dense foliage that opens to the landscape oddity of grassy domes, a characteristic peculiar to clear-cut land — and beloved by ATVers.
Riders come from all over to take in the beauty of majestic Black Mountain, the highest peak in Kentucky, plus Kingdom Come State Park, Pine Mountain and Blanton Forest, a pristine jewel of an old-growth forest — and to take on the challenge of the rugged Appalachian Mountains. The park’s mountainous terrain is made for derring-do with elevations up to 3,300 feet high.
Marked and rated trails include beginner, intermediate and extreme, and levels one through five 4x4 trails and obstacles. Open daily, the park has primitive campsites and two trailheads and is a quick drive from rental cabins, RV hookups and other amenities. A permit is required for riding, and there is a small charge for maps and parking.