GREEN TRAIL

The Green Trail connects Olive Hill to the beautiful trail system at Carter Caves State Resort Park. It begins at the Depot Trailhead, Tygart Street, downtown Olive Hill. This trail utilizes mostly asphalt road to the state property line near the park.

Once on Route 1025 and on Prater & James Chapel Roads, travelers can enjoy lush, green rolling hills. On James Chapel Road, there is a wide shoulder that can be used as a trail, alternate to asphalt. There is an old one-room schoolhouse on the right soon after turning onto James Chapel. At the end of James Chapel Road, the trail user will move onto a dirt trail at the state property line, at the 8.3 mil marker. This begins a connector trail, marked “GREEN”, which is approximately one mile long and takes the trail user to the Carter Caves Kiser Hollow Trail.

The park has interesting and beautiful points of geologic interests such as caves and natural arches, and 15 miles of multi-use (Non-Motorized) trails, plus another 15 miles of foot trails all within the park property & surrounding state forest. Additional trail information can be obtained at the lodge, including directions for leaving the park to connect with Sand Ridge – a trail that involves a high ppoint with breathtaking views (warning: not for those with fear of heights), which drops the travelers right into Carter City close to the entrance of Lazy Gait Horse Camp. 

DIFFICULTY: The Green Trail is primarily “easy” with short sections of “moderate” due to steep grade. Surface is smooth asphalt except for one short (approx. ½ mi.) section of rugged gravel all the way to the state property line. Once inside the state property, trails are packed soil with some sections of narrow, rocky travel, which warrant a rating of “difficult”.