Introduction: Welcome to the BEST Kentucky State Parks
I’ve travelled around Kentucky visiting the natural beauty of the Bluegrass State my whole life. I can literally say my family is from the holler. This isn’t just another list of pretty places, this is THE guide to the best Kentucky State Parks for the outdoor enthusiast. Saddle up your horse (or just use your car, whichever) and pack your bags because this article will have you itching to get outside.
Let's dive in.
Table of contents
- Introduction: Welcome to the BEST Kentucky State Parks
- Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
- Natural Bridge State Resort Park
- Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
- Carter Caves State Resort Park
- Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
- Fort Boonesborough State Park
- Lake Barkley State Resort Park
- BONUS: Mammoth Caves National Park
- Wrapping up
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
Sometimes called the ‘Niagara of the South’ Cumberland Falls State Park is home to the breathtaking 68 foot Cumberland Falls, hence the name. You come here and you’ll have the opportunity to see something only found in this exact spot in North America - a ‘Moonbow’. I hear you, ‘what the heck is that?’ Well my friend it’s a rainbow you can only see at night. But also don’t sleep on the daylight hours. The Cumberland River will not forgive you if you don’t at least try some paddle sports. You’ll have a fantastic time!
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
Carved over time immemorial, Natural Bridge is adjacent to Kentucky’s expansive Red River Gorge complex, and located in the HUGE Daniel Boone National Forest. It’s a massive sandstone arch that you can either hike up to or take a sky lift. Either way the view is phenomenal. But the natural bridge part is but one iota of the area that is considered the ‘red’. Travel down 11 and you’ll find a climber’s paradise. Places like the Pendergrass-Murray Recreational Preserve (PMRP) and Muir Valley are some of the best climbing in the country, not to mention hiking. You can truly get lost in this area. Check out Miguel’s for a quick pizza stop.
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to Lake Cumberland in the summer. I'm apparently not the only one. It's been voted best lake in the country. This is completely different than Cumberland Falls. With 50,000 acres of water, you can really get lost here. Bring your boat, rent a jetski, take up wake boarding, or just drop a line and catch a Striped Bass in one of the best fishing spots in Kentucky. There are many spots on the lake for cliff jumping if you need to get your blood pumping. If you like water, well, I don’t think it gets much better than this, making Cumberland one of the best state parks in Kentucky.
Carter Caves State Resort Park
It’s time to leave the above ground world for some underground adventuring. The Carter Caves systems are some of the most well known in Kentucky. There are 20 caves in the park but only 4 that are really open to the public - Bat Cave, Saltpeter Cave, X Cave, and Cascade Cave. All are distinct. Squeeze through the tight passages of X Cave if you dare or discover the vastness that is the Cathedral Room of Cascade Cave. Some of 'em even have guided tours. You aren’t afraid of the dark are you?
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Big Bone Lick is an interesting name to say the least, but it’s a really fascinating place, perhaps more for its historical significance. Don’t get me wrong, any outdoor lover will still find plenty to do here though. it aint on the our list of best Kentucky State Parks for nothing! This is the land where the mammoths and mastodons once roamed. I don’t care what epoch you are from, that’s just friggin’ cool! Considered the ‘Birthplace of American Paleontology’ Big Bone Lick is scoured with Ice Age fossils from ages long lost. If you aren’t so much into fossils you can still enjoy hiking, swimming, and even sneak a visit to the salty natural springs, from which the park’s name comes from.
Fort Boonesborough State Park
When you are in Kentucky, you have to remember that this is the land of Daniel Boone. He established Fort Booneborough way back in the late 1700’s, just as the nation was expanding west. This park gives you a chance to live the frontier life as he did. The fort is a reconstructed version of what Daniel Boone and folk had lived, complete with cabins, blockhouses, and furnishings. Want to learn how to be a metalsmith? A resident artisan will show you how. This is an outdoor museum that you don’t want to pass up.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park
This park is all about big water, big fish, and big fun. Like most lakes in Kentucky, it has all the essentials—paddling through branching coves, power sports, and, of course, fishing. There are alot of lakes in Kentucky so why does this one make the list? Well my friend, it’s because it is connected to the much wider area known as the Land Between the Lakes (LBL). Located between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake you’ll find some of the most diverse outdoor adventuring in the state. If you want to hike, camp, see wild bison, horseback ride, do some off-roading in an ATV, or just experience the lakes, then you've found the right place. I even watched the solar eclipse here one year!
BONUS: Mammoth Caves National Park
Okay, okay, okay. No, this isn’t a state park, but gosh darn it, I can’t talk about Kentucky without mentioning Mammoth Cave. If you want to go deep—and I mean REALLY deep—into Kentucky’s cave culture, this place is it. It’s the world’s longest cave system, with over 400 miles of underground passages. This is Kentucky adventuring at its finest. You can take guided tours or explore on your own, get muddy or keep clean. If the word cave freaks you out, then stay above ground and kayak the Green River, which cuts through the park, or do some backcountry camping to experience the park’s dark sky initiatives. Mammoth cave has so much to offer that I couldn’t leave it out.
Wrapping up
This list should give you a good idea of what the Kentucky State Parks have to offer an avid outdoor enthusiast. Kentucky is chalk full of places for nature lovers to explore so don’t limit yourself to just these spots. And if you want some very unique and adventurous swag to take along your trip, HomeTown Riot has you covered. Check out our Kentucky State Park collection to find your next favorite place.
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