A museum focused on the coal industry, a reservoir in steep, lushly vegetated mountain country, and routes to explore by water or on foot: Pike County offers a wide range of discoveries. In Pikeville, museums and cultural sites tell stories of the past and present; at Fishtrap Lake and along the river routes, the landscape and water shape your options. You can focus your trip on culture, nature, or activity.
History in Exhibitions and at Dils Cemetery
The Big Sandy Heritage Museum presents historical exhibits about Pikeville’s coal industry. Other exhibits focus on the development of local education: artifacts, photographs, and videos make the subject tangible from different perspectives. A timeline of American Civil War events in Pikeville adds another historical chapter to these themes.
The Pike County Heritage Hall tells the county’s story through display cases and old photographs. Its themes range from Native American prehistory to agriculture, industry, and trade, as well as politics and coal mining. This brings both individual aspects of everyday life and broader developments into focus.
Dils Cemetery is also connected to the Hatfield-McCoy Feud: it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud Historic District and is described as the first integrated cemetery in eastern Kentucky. Those buried there include Randolph McCoy, Sarah McCoy, Roseanna McCoy, Sam McCoy, and Martha McCoy. The Dils/York House offers a different way to experience local culture, with historical exhibits, educational programs on regional history, and interactive art.
The Appalachian Center for the Arts in downtown Pikeville offers theater, music, and visual arts; community cultural programs are also part of its profile. The Appalachian Wireless Arena, also in the heart of downtown, is a cultural, educational, and entertainment center as well as an event and conference venue.
Mountain Country, a Lake, and Seasonal Boat Rentals
Fishtrap Lake is a 1,130-acre reservoir in Pike County, Kentucky. Steep, lushly vegetated mountain country surrounds the water. The lake is considered a refuge for native wildlife, especially deer. Boat ramps are available at the dam and in the Grapevine and Lick Creek recreation areas; the Grapevine Campground at Fishtrap Lake has 36 campsites.
At Laurel Lake in Breaks Interstate Park, pedal boats, kayaks, and canoes are available for seasonal rentals by the hour or half-hour. This differs from the boat ramps at Fishtrap Lake: here, boats are rented for a limited time, while those ramps are places to launch your own boat. The park pairs the water with another natural setting: forests, cliffs, and the Russell Fork River attract dozens of bird species.
Trails and River Routes at Your Own Pace
At Breaks Interstate Park, hiking trails range from routes for beginners to those suited to more experienced hikers. The Canyon Rim Zipline offers another perspective on the gorge: it runs along the steep cliffs of the Russell Fork River Gorge, traveling from one overlook to another.
The trail lengths at Bob Amos Park offer a useful guide. The Real McCoy Trail starts there and is 4.5 miles long in total. The Bob Amos Trails include five routes ranging from 0.25 to 4.7 miles; the Real McCoy Trail is therefore close to the upper end of that range. There is also a 3.0-mile multi-use trail that begins and ends at the running track. The track itself has seven lanes and is suitable for walking and running.
On the Levisa Fork, the Hatfield-McCoy River Trail section features gentle rapids and flowing riffles. It is suitable for canoes, kayaks, and small one-person pontoon boats; the trail system is recognized as a Kentucky Blue Water Trail. A two-hour kayak trip on the trail passes the Pikeville Cut-Thru Project. The man-made channel was created by relocating a mountain and a river. The waterway on the trip is rated Class 1 and is suitable for beginners and families.
Regional History on the Road and at the Market
The Hatfield & McCoy Feud Historic Driving Tour is a self-guided journey through the rugged, scenic mountains of Kentucky and West Virginia. The annual Hatfield-McCoy Festival also helps visitors better understand the feud and the region’s history. The two offerings approach the subject in different ways: the tour travels through the mountain landscape, while the festival explains the historical context.
Local offerings also include products from the Pikeville Farmers Market: Appalachia-proud fruits and vegetables, baked goods, jams, honey, preserved foods, and herbal teas. Together with exhibits on the history of coal, education, and the county, this selection showcases different facets of regional culture and everyday life.
Discover more destinations: Pikeville, Jenkins, Canada, Clark County, Thomas County, Ohio County, Madison County, Marion County.
For the main travel overview: Kentucky.
