By Jeremy Patton
Buzzard Rock is located in McCreary County, Kentucky.
Heading south on US-27, north of Whitley City, turn right onto Wildborg Loop. Turn right onto Tom Roberts Road. Bear left at the sign that says “Big Creek Road” (this may be the point where the pavement turns to gravel, but I cannot remember). Drive until you find a gravel parking area on your right. If you reach the dead end at Big Creek Boat Ramp, you have gone too far.
The parking area and trail are not marked, ensuring that fewer people will visit Buzzard Rock than well-known overlooks. When I first heard about this rocky prominence, I used satellite images from Google Maps to locate what I believed to be the trailhead.
Officials have piled a mound of dirt at the back of the parking area in a futile attempt to prevent rednecks from driving their off-road vehicles onto the trail. The mound obscures the trail, but once you walk behind it, it is well defined. The less than one-mile trek to Buzzard Rock is moderately challenging because it climbs a mountain ridge.
The outcrop juts out quite far, providing a panorama of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and surrounding forest. The spacious overlook reminds me of Chained Rock in Pineville.
When Shane, Angie and I visited on October 25, 2015, the Autumn leaves were in vivid color. This is now one of my favorite overlooks and I look forward to returning every season of the year.
Added 10/28/15 – Updated 8/1/26