McCreary County

McCreary County combines impressive natural scenery with the history of coal mining. The county lies where Daniel Boone National Forest, Big South Fork National River, and Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail meet. Sandstone gorges, numerous cascading waterfalls, and marked trails give the region its distinctive character. When choosing a vacation rental or holiday home, it is therefore particularly useful to consider whether you want to focus your trip more on nature experiences, historic sites, or active days.

Sandstone, Waterfalls, and Trails

In the Natural Arch Scenic Area, hiking trails lead to overlooks of a large sandstone arch. Another notable natural destination is Yahoo Falls in the northern part of Big South Fork: there, the water drops 113 feet from the rim into the pool below. The waterfall area has picnic facilities and overlooks of the Big South Fork river gorge.

If you would like to add another trail, consider the Yahoo Arch Trail. It leads from the Yahoo Falls Loop to Yahoo Arch; the round trip adds 1.6 miles. Overall, McCreary County has hundreds of miles of marked trails. In Stearns, you will also find a starting point for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, paddling, camping, and exploring the county's history. Historic Stearns serves as an official trail town starting point.

Experience Mining History Up Close

Blue Heron, also known as Mine 18, was an abandoned coal-mining town and part of the former operations of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company. Mining operated there from 1937 through December 1962. Each ghost structure in Blue Heron contains an audio program in which former residents share memories and impressions of life in the community. The Blue Heron Loop is a moderate 6.5-mile hike that combines history, geology, and scenery.

At the McCreary County Museum, you can gain further insight into the culture and way of life of residents over the years. The museum is located in the former administrative building of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company, which was built in 1907. The Barthell Coal Mining Camp was founded in 1902 and adds another chapter to the region's mining history among the historic destinations.

Outings at Different Paces

The Big South Fork Scenic Railway operates on the historic Kentucky & Tennessee Railway. Its round trip includes a 45-minute ride to Blue Heron, a 1.5-hour stay there, and a 45-minute return journey to the depot. This offers a different way to experience history than spending a day on the trails. The free-flowing Big South Fork also offers technically challenging whitewater sections as well as scenic stretches of calm water. The multi-use horseback riding trails run through Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.

Stearns Golf Course is also part of the town's history. It was originally established in the 1920s as part of the historic Stearns coal town and is open during the 2026 golf season. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore weigh active days on the trails, historic sightseeing, a train ride, or a round of golf without limiting the trip to just one type of experience.

More Destinations for Orientation

For further travel planning, you can also consider Whitley City as well as Rowan, Union County, Hart County, Morgan County, Grant County, Simpson County, and Pulaski.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kentucky.