Black Mountain

Black Mountain reaches 1,263 meters (4,145 feet), making it the tallest point in Kentucky, crowned by a metal lookout tower for fire observation. The upper slopes grow a northern hardwood forest with deciduous trees rarely found elsewhere in this region.

The area around the peak developed through coal mining in the early 20th century, when companies scoured the Appalachians for mineral wealth. In 1998, plans for mountaintop removal sparked public protests and debates over the future of the landscape.

The summit sits close to Lynch, a settlement built by coal miners who once worked in some of the largest operations across the country. Travelers notice the tight connection between the peak and the families who spent generations in the mines below.

Route 160 crosses the summit, linking Lynch in Kentucky with Appalachia in Virginia, past a radar facility operated by aviation authorities. Hikers should watch for changing weather conditions at higher elevations, which can shift quickly.

The higher elevations shelter plants like red elderberry and hobblebush, which normally grow much farther north. This northern forest forms an island of cooler vegetation in the middle of the warmer Appalachians.