Trail Description:
At the time the land was purchased by the United States, the railroad town of Alpine was just completing its migration from the railroad below the highway. An old farmhouse stood in what is now the Alpine Recreation Area. After being purchased by the Federal government, the farmhouse was rented out for a number of years. The Civilian Conservation Corps replaced the old chimney on the house in the late 1930�s. That chimney, next to the picnic shelter, is all that remains of the past home. The present shelter was built by the Job Corps in the late 1960�s, and the recreation area was constructed by workers of the Accelerated Projects Works Program. The merry-go-round, slides, and swings are all that remain of the original construction. Exploring the woods nearby you will find evidence of old closed-up coal mines.
Hiking the
Alpine Trail No. 520:
The trail traverses a dirt pathway to the southwest before intersecting a dirt road near the old Alpine pumphouse. There the trail turns more westerly down the old roadway to the old railroad grade. The trail then meanders along the railroad grade southeast for .25 mile to Forest Road #5088, where it turns northeast along the road back, returning to the beginning of the trail.
Specific Hiking and Trail Information for the Alpine Trail No. 520
Location of the Alpine Trail No. 520: On Stearns District
Fee Area: No
Best Seasons: April to October
Length of Trail: 2 miles or less
Estimated Difficulty (Forest Service Estimate): Easy
Travel Information
Trailhead Directions: Take US 27 south for 7 miles from Burnside (16 miles from Somerset).
For more information on this hike
National Forest: Daniel Boone National Forest
Local Office: Daniel Boone National Forest
Address:
3320 Highway 27 North
Whitley City, KY, 42653
606-376-5323
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