Kentucky State Parks

[The Old School JPS]

I think that Kentucky's state parks are very underappreciated. There are some fantastic things to see in them, and they are pretty inexpensive. They are also a quick and easy weekend getaway, for adults and/or children.

Which state parks have you visited? Do you have a favorite? Any recommendations for the best times or places for a visit to one?

[kateyes]

Kentucky Lake. Family reunion weekend after Memorial Day--very few people are there. Area is starting to attract more businesses. Patti's Settlement is awesome. Bring an appetite or split an entree.

Dale Hollow is nice also-more for recreation and camping.

[UKcat]

Kingdom Come State Park, near Harlan. It is absolutely breath-taking any season. Watch out for the bears though!

[cumberlandredskin]

Kingdom Come State Park, near Harlan. It is absolutely breath-taking any season. Watch out for the bears though!

It's actually in Cumberland on top of the mountain. That's were I spent many Summer days when I was young. They have upgraded it very much since my childhood days. In the last few years they have the added attraction of black bears. From what I'm told you can see a bear pretty regulary. Little Shephard Trail adjoins the park and it is a great scenic drive through Pine Mountain. I think most if not all of it is now paved.

[Matt Dillon]

Since I only live about 20 mi. away, I'll put in a plug for Cumberland Falls State Park. There's lots to do: swimming, horseback riding, tennis etc. Then, of course, there's the moonbow. If I'm not mistaken, the only other place in the world that has a moonbow is Victoria Falls in Africa.

[trublu]

Matt, you are right about the moonbow. Of course, it will only appear if the conditions are right. A friend of mine manages the park now. She is a great lady. There is also a trail to Eagle Falls which is a beautiful place, but you have to hike a way to get there. And, you must keep an eye out for snakes in the summer season.
I had never visited Mammoth Cave until I moved to Bowling Green. Even though it is a national park, I highly recommend it. There are several state park caves around the area too. The temperature stays around 50-55 degrees year round in the caves. So, dress accordingly.

[boomdaddy]

Isn't Mammoth Cave going to be controlled by international interests? Wasn't it run by the state and then handed over to the feds? Is it going to be controlled by some hinky organization like the UN or some international organization? Or am I just hearing a bunch of bad rumors?

[jpay]

In my neck of the woods. Fishing, Hiking, theater, Crafts, Caving and on and on. Great parks. Finest in the Nation.

[UKcat]

It's actually in Cumberland on top of the mountain. That's were I spent many Summer days when I was young. They have upgraded it very much since my childhood days. In the last few years they have the added attraction of black bears. From what I'm told you can see a bear pretty regulary. Little Shephard Trail adjoins the park and it is a great scenic drive through Pine Mountain. I think most if not all of it is now paved.
I have only been there one time, for a weekend trip. We spent the day on the trails and then spent the night in Harlan. Not exactly a happening place on a Saturday night for a stranger with nothing to do, but the park scenery is beautiful. We did not get to spend as much time on the trails as I would have liked and we plan to go back some time this summer or fall, maybe.

[CATHYnKY]

I have been to about 10 of them. We go to either Ky Dam Vlg or Lk Barkley every fall. We started making it a point to visit a park, other than the annual fall trip, a few years ago. Makes an affordable one or two night trip and you get to see different parts of the state. Great mini family trip if you have kids. I highly recommend if you live in KY to visit some of them.

[CATHYnKY]

In my neck of the woods. Fishing, Hiking, theater, Crafts, Caving and on and on. Great parks. Finest in the Nation.

One of them I haven't been to. Sounds like a great place to take my young grandsons.

[trublu]

Isn't Mammoth Cave going to be controlled by international interests? Wasn't it run by the state and then handed over to the feds? Is it going to be controlled by some hinky organization like the UN or some international organization? Or am I just hearing a bunch of bad rumors?
I don't know at what point Mammoth Cave became a national park, but I haven't heard anything about the international interest. It sort of disturbs me though, considering that it is part of the New Madrid fault line.

[surveyor]

Isn't Mammoth Cave going to be controlled by international interests? Wasn't it run by the state and then handed over to the feds? Is it going to be controlled by some hinky organization like the UN or some international organization? Or am I just hearing a bunch of bad rumors?

I don't know at what point Mammoth Cave became a national park, but I haven't heard anything about the international interest. It sort of disturbs me though, considering that it is part of the New Madrid fault line.

Mammoth Cave was under private ownership until the institution of the National Park System. Mammoth Cave NP officially became part of that system in 1940 or 41?
It eventually became a World Heritage site in the `80s and an international biosphere reserve in the late 80's or early 90's.

[jpay]

One of them I haven't been to. Sounds like a great place to take my young grandsons. Both are great parks, Carter Caves has some wonderful Cave tours that your grands would love.

[boomdaddy]

Mammoth Cave was under private ownership until the institution of the National Park System. Mammoth Cave NP officially became part of that system in 1940 or 41?
It eventually became a World Heritage site in the `80s and an international biosphere reserve in the late 80's or early 90's.

The tag "international" is what scares me. It gives the governing power to those outside our country. I do not understand why anyone would want this to happen?

[surveyor]

The tag "international" is what scares me. It gives the governing power to those outside our country. I do not understand why anyone would want this to happen?

There's no governing power associated with the designation, AFAK.

http://usparks.about.com/library/weekly/aa032498.htm

All the National Parks that have this designation remain in the jurisdiction of the countries in which they reside.
It essentially provides for mutual cooperation and sharing of concepts that go toward maintaining the natural state of such parks.

[Wildcat Larry]

I took many a trip to Natural Bridge when I was a kid. That trail up to the bridge was a nice little hike for a kid and the view from the top was tremendous, even if it did stress out my mother because we always were too close to the side. :shrug1:

[The Old School JPS]

I'd love to hear more about Carter Caves. I'm thinking about taking my family there for a weekend as soon as it gets warm. My daughter is 3. I wonder if I should wait until she's older for Carter Caves, or if there's enough to do (safely) with her at that age that she would enjoy it.

[BrassowFan]

It's been at least 20 years since I've been there but Jenny Wiley State Park was nice at the time. I never hear anyone mention it and have no idea if it's still as nice.