The Dark Side

The Dark Side: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this viewpoint: Open, good conditions · Very crowded · Approach road bad · Closed / not accessible.

Best time to visit The Dark Side

Season: October to February for cool, clear air; July to September for mist and greenery.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach The Dark Side — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 37.67828, -83.73735. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near The Dark Side

• Red River Gorge Zipline · viewpoint · Wolfe · ~9 km · Must-see
• Natural Bridge State Resort Park · park · Powell · ~13 km · Must-see
• Kentucky Reptile Zoo · sanctuary · Powell · ~16 km · Must-see
• Clifty Wilderness · sanctuary · Menifee · ~28 km · Must-see
• Daniel Boone National Forest · sanctuary · Jackson · ~45 km · Must-see
• Olympia State Forest · sanctuary · Bath · ~51 km · Must-see
• Cave Run Lake · cave · Rowan · ~59 km · Must-see
• Buckhorn Lake · lake · Leslie · ~63 km · Must-see
• Bluegrass Heritage Museum · museum · Clark · ~65 km · Must-see
• Kentucky River Museum · museum · Madison · ~65 km · Must-see
• Wilgreen Lake · lake · Madison · ~67 km · Must-see
• Great Saltpetre Cave Preserve · cave · Rockcastle · ~67 km · Must-see
• The Bright Side · viewpoint · Lee · ~0 km
• Solar Collector · viewpoint · Lee · ~0 km
• Gold Coast · viewpoint · Lee · ~0 km
• The Crossroads · viewpoint · Lee · ~1 km
• Far Side · viewpoint · Lee · ~1 km
• The Walk-in · viewpoint · Lee · ~3 km

See everything within a day’s drive of The Dark Side

Other hill stations & viewpoints near The Dark Side

• Red River Gorge Zipline · viewpoint · Wolfe · ~9 km · Must-see
• Big Lovely Mountain · viewpoint · Knott · ~76 km · Must-see
• Sugarloaf Mountain · viewpoint · Rowan · ~79 km · Must-see
• Stuffley Knob · viewpoint · Johnson · ~91 km · Must-see
• Pine Mountain · viewpoint · Harlan · ~119 km · Must-see
• Pine Mountain · viewpoint · Letcher · ~127 km · Must-see
• Halls Butt · viewpoint · Letcher · ~136 km · Must-see
• Pine Mountain · viewpoint · Bell · ~141 km · Must-see
• Black Mountain · viewpoint · Harlan · ~141 km · Must-see
• Green River Knob · viewpoint · Casey · ~142 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Kentucky

Frequently asked