Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station

06/13/2026

Come discover beautiful Letcher County, and make sure to reference the Letcher County Tourism page to find great places to visit.

Discover Letcher County, Kentucky

At Letcher County Tourism, we are passionate about promoting the natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and unique entertainment opportunities found throughout our mountain region.

We love showcasing all that makes our corner of Eastern Kentucky special and encouraging visitors to experience Letcher County beyond the ordinary — discovering hidden gems both on and off the beaten path.

From the breathtaking views atop Pine Mountain, the scenic adventure of Little Shepherd Trail, the beauty of Bad Branch Falls, to the old-growth forest of Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station, our county is full of unforgettable experiences waiting to be explored.

Whether you are visiting for the first time or have called these mountains home for generations, Letcher County has something special to offer everyone.

Our mission is simple: to help the world discover everything Letcher County has to offer.

Have an upcoming event, local attraction, business, or hidden treasure we should showcase? Let us know — we would love to help share your story!

06/03/2026

That sensor was probably thinking: "𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦!" 🐻

Landslide monitoring station: Lilley Cornett Woods Upper
Station integrity: Good.
Data collection: Active.
Ability to withstand bear snuggles: Unexpectedly excellent.

https://kgs.uky.edu/slope-monitoring/stations.php?id=z6-31901

Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station KY NSF EPSCoR

05/31/2026

It was great to have Andrew and Jeff Halcomb from North Carolina return for another hike! Last year, we hiked the short trail, and today, we hiked the long trail.

They are two of only a handful of people to hike BOTH of our old growth trails with me!
-LCW Manager

05/15/2026

Save the Date for the William H. Martin Appalachian Research Symposium at Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station.

04/30/2026

Members of the Southern Indiana Hiking Club stopped by for a hike today, finishing up their visit in our area and seeing the Pine Mountain State Park!

04/28/2026

The staff at Lilley Cornett Woods had a lot of fun on both of the wildflower hikes Saturday morning!

The kind folks at Pine Mountain Settlement School, Kentucky Natural Lands Trust and EKU Division of Natural Areas invested a lot of time and passion into this three day event, and it was a lot of fun! Please visit the pages linked above so that you can be aware of future events!

In this photo, one of the groups posed for a picture after the hike. There was an additional group on another part of the property as well, and everyone had a great time!

04/11/2026

We saw plenty of beautiful wildflowers this morning on our "short" trail, including a large Jack-in-the-pulpit!

03/29/2026

The hiking club from Alice Llyod College stopped by Saturday and spent several hours in the old growth!

The forest is turning green as spring moves in, and there are many wildflowers beginning to pop out! 🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹 🏵