Fall Drive Series: Monticello to Leatherwood Ford

Enjoy fall leaf peeping from the road and from the trail.

Some of the best fall outings don’t require a long drive. From Monticello, head out Highway 167, pass the Daniel Boone National Forest entrance, and continue toward Big South Fork and Leatherwood Ford. It’s about 27 miles from Wayne County, and the tree-lined roads make the drive part of the outing. In fall, it’s an especially peaceful way to spend a few hours on an empty weekend day.

At Leatherwood Ford, we hiked the Angel Falls Rapid Trail along the river to a stretch of enormous boulders near the rapids. It's incredible to see this scenery so close to home because it is such a contrast to the smooth peaceful waters of Lake Cumberland. The trail is an easy walk, and the rocks make a striking spot for photos. They’re also fun to explore with some careful climbing, almost like a natural parkour course.

Angel Falls is a Class IV rapid, so the water is dangerous. Enjoy it from a safe distance, stay off wet or unstable rocks, and don’t wade or swim near the rapids. nps.gov

Leatherwood Ford has other hikes to choose from, too. The Angel Falls Rapid Trail is about 2 miles one way; the Angel Falls Overlook Trail is 2.8 miles one way; the Grand Gap Loop is 6.8 miles; and the O&W Trail is 2.3 miles one way toward the historic O&W Bridge. If you’d like a longer outing, those trails offer more ways to explore the river and surrounding areas.

You can return to Monticello the same way you came or make a different drive home through McCreary County adding only about 20 minutes to your return trip. Either way, this is an easy fall outing close to Wayne County, with a peaceful road trip and a memorable place to stretch your legs. We did pack snacks; there's really no opportunity for food or gas between Monticello and Leatherwood Ford. There are great restrooms on site. There is very very little phone service, so plan accordingly.

As of a couple of weeks ago, the Farmer's Almanac had peak leaf color tracked for area around November 10th. While it historically may arrive a few days earlier than that, it still leaves you plenty of time to get out and enjoy Wayne County's beautiful backroads!

Trail distances and the rapid rating are from the National Park Service. The East Rim and Sunset Overlook trails are nearby, but begin at the East Rim Trailhead rather than Leatherwood Ford. home.nps.gov