Kentucky Parks

Kentucky has an excellent system of State Parks and Nature Preserves. There are also several National Parks and other national reserves located in the state.

KENTUCKY STATE PARKS

The Kentucky State Park Commission was created by the General Assembly in 1924 to create the State Park system. The parks provide recreation and preserve significant historical and natural areas. Kentucky has 49 State Parks and coöperatively operates one Interstate Park with Virginia. The State Resort Parks and Breaks Interstate Park include lodges and many parks have cottages and camping.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park
Ben Hawes State Park
Big Bone Lick State Park
Blue Licks Battlefield State Park
Boone Station State Historic Site
Breaks Interstate Park
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
Carr Creek State Park
Carter Caves State Resort Park
Columbus-Belmont State Park
Constitution Square State Historic Site
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
Dale Hollow Lake State Park
Dawkins Line Rail Trail
Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site
E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
Fort Boonesborough State Park
General Burnside State Park
General Butler State Resort Park
Grayson Lake State Park
Green River Lake State Park
Greenbo Lake State Park
Isaac Shelby Cemetery State Historic Site
Jefferson Davis Monument State Historic Site
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
John James Audubon State Park
Kenlake State Resort Park
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
Kentucky Horse Park
Kincaid Lake State Park
Kingdom Come State Park
Lake Barkley State Resort Park
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
Lake Malone State Park
Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
Lincoln Homestead State Park
Mineral Mound State Park
My Old Kentucky Home State Park
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
Nolin Lake State Park
Old Fort Harrod State Park
Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site
Paintsville Lake State Park
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site
Pine Mountain State Resort Park
Rough River Dam State Resort Park
Taylorsville Lake State Park
Waveland State Historic Site
White Hall State Historic Site
William Whitley House State Historic Site
Yatesville Lake State Park

STATE NATURE PRESERVES

Dedicated to preserving Kentucky's natural heritage, the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission was established by the General Assembly in 1976. Over sixty areas with a total of over 19,000 acres have been included in the system of state nature preserves. Most are open to the public for hiking.

Apple Valley Glade State Nature Preserve
Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve
Bad Branch State Nature Preserve
Bat Cave State Nature Preserve
Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve
Bissell Bluff State Natural Area
Blackacre State Nature Preserve
Blanton Forest State Nature Preserve
Blood River Seeps State Nature Preserve
Blue Licks State Nature Preserve
Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve
Bouteloua Barrens State Nature Preserve
Brigadoon State Nature Preserve
Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserve
Chaney Lake State Nature Preserve
Crooked Creek Barrens State Nature Preserve
Cumberland Falls State Nature Preserve
Cypress Creek State Nature Preserve
Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserve
Eastview Barrens State Nature Preserve
Flat Rock Glade State Nature Preserve
Floracliff State Nature Preserve
Frances Johnson Palk State Nature Preserve
Goodrum Cave State Nature Preserve
Hi Lewis Pine Barrens State Nature Preserve
James E. Bickford State Nature Preserve
Jesse Stuart State Nature Preserve
Jim Scudder State Nature Preserve
John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest State Nature Preserve
John James Audubon State Nature Preserve
Julian Savanna State Nature Preserve
Kingdom Come State Park Nature Preserve
Logan County Glade State Nature Preserve
Lower Howard's Creek Heritage Park and State Nature Preserve
Martin's Fork State Natural Area
Metropolis Lake State Nature Preserve
Natural Bridge State Park Nature Preserve
Newman's Bluff State Natural Area
Obion Creek State Natural Area
Pilot Knob State Nature Preserve
Pine Mountain State Park Nature Preserve
Pine Mountain Trail Nature Preserve
Quiet Trails State Nature Preserve
Raymond Athey Barrens State Nature Preserve
River Cliffs State Nature Preserve
Rockcress Hills State Nature Preserve
Short's Goldenrod State Nature Preserve
Six Mile Island State Nature Preserve
Springhouse Barrens State Nature Preserve
Stone Mountain State Nature Preserve
Terrapin Creek State Nature Preserve
Thompson Creek Glade State Nature Preserve
Three Ponds State Nature Preserve
Tom Dorman State Nature Preserve
Vernon-Douglas State Nature Preserve
Woodburn Glade State Natural Area

STATE FORESTS

The Kentucky Division of Forestry manages the state forests. Some are open to the public for hiking, fishing, hunting and primitive camping.

Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest
Green River State Forest
Kentenia State Forest
Kentucky Ridge State Forest
Pennyrile State Forest
Tygarts State Forest

NATIONAL PARKS, RECREATION AREAS, AND WILDLIFE REFUGES

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Mammoth Cave National Park
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Red River Gorge National Geological Area
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge

OTHER PARKS AND RESERVES

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Daniel Boone National Forest
Lilley Cornett Woods
Nature Conservancy (several preserves)

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© 2024 David C. Elbon