Kentucky
Kentucky is best known for it's rolling green grass hills that gave birth to Bluegrass music and bourbon distilling. The limestone karst topography that underlies the hills and knobs of this unique landscape hold a bigger secret found in Mammoth Caves National Park, the world's longest subterranean cave system. With a little over 400 miles currently surveyed, Mammoth Caves is one of the easiest caves systems to explore as the park features over 14 miles of established trails.
Top Spots in and near Kentucky
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Parkers Lake, Kentucky
Hike to Natural Arch in Daniel Boone National Forest
1 mi / 300 ft gainNatural Arch is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest near the border of Tennessee and Kentucky. Once you get inside of the park there are many picnic tables and other areas to eat and sit and paths to walk on. The main attraction of the park however is the 100 foot wide arch that spans ove...Read more -
Williamsburg, Kentucky
Pinnacle Knob Fire Tower
3.91.46 mi / 105 ft gainThe trial-head for this hike had a very small parking area but there is some extra parking on down the road where you can park then walk to the start. The trail starts relatively flat with a small incline. As you go on it climbs slowly until you reach the steps that start the accent. There are ab...Read more -
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Visit Lost River Cave
4.51.1 mi / 110 ft gainIn the last 200 years, Lost River Cave has been used as a site for mills, a camp for Civil War soldiers, and a nightclub. Its history goes back many years before that—thousands in fact. Prehistoric nomadic Native American tribes used the cave for shelter and water as they hunted this valley. The ...Read more -
Brandenburg, Kentucky
Fly Fish Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area
4.0First of all, it should be said that Otter Creek ORA is a great property offering far more than just fishing. There are campgrounds, hiking/horse trails, picnic areas, disc golf and more. Although this adventure focuses on the fishing opportunities at Otter Creek, it's worth checking out no matt...Read more -
Frankfort, Kentucky
Hike through Cove Spring Park
5.01.5 mi / 249 ft gainAt first glance, Cove Spring Park looks like any normal city park. In reality, it is a waterfall filled, 240 acres nature preserve hiding in plain site of Kentucky's capital city. The property is filled with wetlands, streams, springs, waterfalls, and historic structures that make this a great ge...Read more -
Cadiz, Kentucky
Kayak Energy Lake
Before going to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area I had heard numerous people explain how peaceful and beautiful the area was, and how empty the lake was dependent on the season. These rave reviews called for a road trip and a 5 day stay in August, which fittingly happened in an...Read more -
Grand Rivers, Kentucky
Backpack the North - South National Scenic Trail
59 mi / 3362 ft gainFor 59 miles, the North-South National Scenic Trail winds up and down wooded hollows as you make your way along the length of Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. A National Recreational Trail, the North-South has a great mix of coastal views of Kentucky Lake (one of the largest artif...Read more -
Arlington, Kentucky
Explore Columbus-Belmont State Park
2 mi / 134 ft gainColumbus-Belmont State Park is a stop along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway that combines pivotal Civil War history with dramatic cliffs overlooking the Mississippi River. The park is also a stop along the Trail of Tears National Historical Trail and the Civil War Heritage Trail. The ...Read more -
Newport, Kentucky
Photograph the Cincinnati Skyline
4.0Cross over to Newport, Kentucky to capture this outstanding cityscape view! There are several points along the Ohio River that the skyline can be captured, but I enjoy photographing with one of the several bridges in the foreground and the Cincinnati famous Great American Building as the main fo...Read more -
McCreary County, Kentucky
Photograph Cumberland Falls
5.0The Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is home to several waterfalls, with the Cumberland Falls being the largest, most prominent, and most well known. It is also called the Niagara of the South due to its size and volume of water flow. It is famous for being the only place in the Western Hemisph...Read more -
London, Kentucky
Explore Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
4.0This park is small but has about 8.5 miles of hiking trails. I hiked section of the Wilderness Trail and section of the Boone Trace trail. Visited the Defeated Camp Burial Grounds and spent a good amount of time in the pioneer museum looking at all the artifacts. Also visited Mc Hargues Mill whic...Read more -
Paducah, Kentucky
Bike or Run the Greenway Trail
7.6 mi / 111 ft gainThe Clyde F. Boyles Greenway Trail is open to non-motorized traffic from dawn to dusk. Distance markers, shelters, and benches are located along the trail. The Greenway Trail links Perkins Creek Nature Preserve, Stuart Nelson Park, Noble Park, Schultz Park, and the Ohio River shoreline. The best ...Read more -
Louisville, Kentucky
William F. Miles Lakes: Coppiced Woods Trail
5.02.05 mi / 410 ft gainWilliam F. Miles Lakes: Coppiced Woods Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Louisville, Kentucky.Read more -
Smithland, Kentucky
Joy Falls (Mandy Falls)
Joy Falls (aka "Mandy Falls") is a great cascade and shelf that falls of about 10 feet await along the roadway a few miles from Mantle Rock Nature Preserve. Glades and barrens also provide for rare wildlife and countless wildflowers in the spring and summer. Spend an hour or five minutes enjoyin...Read more -
Wickliffe, Kentucky
Explore Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
0.4 mi / 13 ft gainA Native American village once occupied the site of Wickliffe Mounds, about A.D. 1100 to 1350. Here, the Mississippian culture built earthen mounds and permanent houses around a central plaza overlooking the Mississippi River. Visitors follow a self guided trail system to view the Ceremonial, Ch...Read more -
Williamstown, Kentucky
Explore the Ark Encounter
This built-to-scale ark is absolutely flooded with information and interactive exhibits for all ages. It was an awesome experience walking through and learning about the culture and technology of the time period, both pre-and post-flood. You can learn things such as how the ark was built, what fe...Read more
