| Pine Mountain | |
|---|---|
 US 23 in Kentucky with Pine Mountain in the background | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,273 ft (998 m) [1] |
| Prominence | 1,160 ft (350 m) [2] |
| Coordinates | 37°03′05″N82°52′25″W / 37.05139°N 82.87361°W [3] |
| Geography | |
| Parent range | Cumberland Mountains |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Pine Mountain is a ridge in the Appalachian Mountains of the Southeastern United States, running through the states of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. It extends about 125 miles from near Pioneer in Tennessee, to a location near Elkhorn City in Kentucky. Birch Knob, the highest point, is 3,273 feet (998 m) above sea level and is located on the Kentucky-Virginia border. It has long been a barrier to transportation, as the Cumberland River at Pineville, Kentucky is one of only two waterways that pass through the entire ridge. The other is Clear Fork near Jellico, Tennessee.
Natural areas located on the mountain includes Pine Mountain State Resort Park and Kingdom Come State Park, Breaks Interstate Park, Kiwanis Raven Rock Park, Kentenia State Forest, Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail, the Little Shepherd Trail, Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve, Bad Branch State Nature Preserve, and several others owned and managed by the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves.
Wildlife is abundant on Pine Mountain. The land is claimed to be the "Black Bear Capital of Kentucky." [4] Black bears, elk, rattlesnakes, and deer are found on Pine Mountain.
