Wilderness Road

The Wilderness Road was a historic trail in the United States that connected southwestern Virginia to central Kentucky. Daniel Boone and his men blazed this trail in 1775, leading to the settlement of Boonesborough. The road was later extended to Louisville, at the falls of the Ohio River.1

This trail was a crucial part of the early road system that facilitated westward expansion. Settlers often followed Native American trails, which were then improved into crude roads. The Wilderness Road, in particular, was a significant route for pioneers moving into Kentucky, originating from Richmond, Virginia, and passing through the Cumberland Gap.2