KRS 148.874: Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail -- Boundaries -- Connecting or side paths

-- Support facilities -- Limit to nonmotorized uses -- Cemeteries and burial

grounds.

(1) There is hereby designated a linear state park, the boundaries of which shall be

determined by the department in accordance with this section known as the Pine

Mountain State Scenic Trail, a trail of approximately one hundred twenty (120)

miles in length, located exclusively within the boundaries of Kentucky beginning

along the border of Ke ntucky and Virginia at or near Breaks Interstate Park, and

extending generally south-southwest along the crest of Pine Mountain to the vicinity

of Pine Mountain State Resort Park and continuing south to the Cumberland Gap

National Park on the vicinity ther eof. Insofar as practicable, the boundaries of the

trail from the Breaks Interstate Park to Bad Branch State Nature Preserve shall be a

one thousand (1,000) foot corridor, the center of which shall be the crest of Pine

Mountain, to the extent that the corr idor does not encroach upon the territory of the

Commonwealth of Virginia. Insofar as practicable, the boundaries of the trail from

the Bad Branch State Nature Preserve to the Pine Mountain State Resort Park shall

be a corridor one hundred (100) to two hun dred fifty (250) feet along the level top

of Pine Mountain. The route of the trail from Pine Mountain State Resort Park to

Cumberland Gap National Park shall be a corridor no wider than two hundred fifty

(250) feet to be determined by the department. Notwi thstanding these boundary

limitations, the department may through negotiations with the land owner acquire

additional land outside the boundary limitations. The trail shall be depicted on the

"Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail Map," which shall be on file a nd available for

public inspection in the office of the commissioner of the department. The trail map

shall delineate those portions of the trail that are owned or leased by the

Commonwealth or on which the Commonwealth has obtained an easement and

shall be updated periodically solely for the purpose of reflecting additions to those

specific areas.

(2) The department may designate connecting or side paths which shall provide

additional points of public access to the trail or access to points of interest, an d

which shall be of the same scenic nature as the trail, except that connecting or side

paths shall not be acquired through eminent domain.

(3) Because of its extended length, the department may supplement the trail by support

facilities located on certain designated parts of the trail or outside the trail. These

support facilities may include, as the department deems necessary and feasible,

primitive shelters, fireplaces, safe water supplies, and other related public -use

facilities that shall meet departme nt standards. No open wood fires shall be

permitted on the trail except in areas with support facilities specifically designated

for that purpose.

(4) The trail shall be a state scenic trail, so chosen because of its unique location. It

shall be limited to foot use and other nonmotorized uses as permitted on segments

where deemed appropriate by the department, and as set forth in KRS 148.878.

(5) The department shall, no later than June 30, 2003, determine the boundaries of the

trail. In determining the bou ndaries of the trail the department shall not encroach

upon any privately owned dwelling, or areas designated for residential structures

and their surrounding properties, but shall route the trail around a privately owned

dwelling or areas designated for a residential structure.

(6) The department shall not acquire through eminent domain any cemetery or its

surrounding property which is designated as a cemetery or burial ground on July 15,

2002.