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Maintained by the Kentucky Department of Parks, Kentucky's system of 52 state parks has been referred to as "the nation's finest" and experiences more repeat business annually than those of any other U.S. State.[1] The state's diverse geography provides a variety of environments to experience. From mountain lakes to expansive caves to forests teeming with wildlife, park-goers have their choice of attractions, and they are all within a day's drive of each other.
Unless otherwise specified, data in the following lists are taken from Kentucky State Parks by Bill Bailey.[1]
[edit] State recreational parks
Kentucky's 24 "rec parks" span the state from Columbus to Pikeville. Each features outdoor camping areas with a variety of outdoor activities.[2]
| Park |
Location |
Area |
| Ben Hawes State Park |
Owensboro |
297 acres |
| Big Bone Lick State Park |
Boone County[3] |
Park: 512 acres
Lake: 7.5 acres |
| Carr Creek State Park |
Perry County[2] |
Lake: 750 acres[2] |
| Columbus-Belmont State Park |
Hickman County[3] |
156 acres |
| E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park |
Louisville |
370 acres |
| Fishtrap Lake State Park |
Pikeville[2] |
|
| Fort Boonesborough State Park |
Richmond |
153 acres |
| General Burnside State Park |
Pulaski County[3] |
430 acres |
| Grayson Lake State Park |
Carter County[3] |
Park: 1,200 acres
Lake: 1,512 acres |
| Green River Lake State Park |
Taylor County[3] |
Park: 1,331 acres
Lake: 8,200 acres |
| John James Audubon State Park |
Henderson County[3] |
Park: 692 acres
Lakes: 28 acres & 9 acres |
| Kincaid Lake State Park |
Pendleton County[3] |
Park: 850 acres
Lake: 183 acres |
| Kingdom Come State Park |
Harlan County |
Park: 1,027 acres
Lake: 3 acres |
| Lake Malone State Park |
Muhlenberg County[3] |
Park: 338 acres
Lake: 788 acres |
| Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park |
Laurel County[3] |
896 acres |
| Lincoln Homestead State Park |
Washington County[3] |
120 acres |
| Mineral Mound State Park |
Eddyville[2] |
|
| My Old Kentucky Home State Park |
Bardstown |
285 acres |
| Nolin Lake State Park |
|
|
| Old Fort Harrod State Park |
Harrodsburg |
15 acres |
| Paintsville Lake State Park |
Johnson County[3] |
Park: 1,700 acres
Lake: 1,139 acres |
| Pine Mountain Trail State Park |
|
Under construction[4] |
| Taylorsville Lake State Park |
Spencer County[3] |
Park: 1,625 acres
Lake: 3,050 acres |
| Yatesville Lake State Park |
Lawrence County[3] |
Lake: 2,300 acres[3] |
[edit] State resort parks
Kentucky offers more state resort parks than any other state. Each features a lodge complete with dining room and Wi-Fi wireless Internet access.[5]
| Park |
Location |
Area |
| Barren River Lake State Resort Park |
Barren County[3] |
Park: 2,187 acres
Lake: 10,000 acres |
| Benham-Lynch State Resort Park |
Benham[5] |
|
| Blue Licks Battlefield State Park |
Robertson County[3] |
148 acres |
| Breaks Interstate Park |
Pike County, Kentucky; Dickenson County, Virginia; and Buchanan County, Virginia[6] |
Park: 4,600 acres[6]
Lake: 12 acres[7] |
| Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park |
Perry County[3] |
Park: 856 acres
Lake: 1,200 acres |
| Carter Caves State Resort Park |
Carter County[3] |
Park: 1,600 acres
Lake: 45 acres |
| Cumberland Falls State Resort Park |
Whitley County[3] |
1,657 acres |
| Dale Hollow Lake State Park |
|
Park: 3,398 acres
Lake: 27,700 acres[5] |
| General Butler State Resort Park |
Carroll County[3] |
Park: 809 acres
Lake: 30 acres |
| Greenbo Lake State Resort Park |
Greenup County |
Park: 3,300
Lake: 192 acres |
| Jenny Wiley State Resort Park |
Floyd County |
Park: 1,771 acres
Lake: 1,100 acres |
| Kenlake State Resort Park |
Calloway County[3] |
Park: 1,795 acres
Lake: 160,300 acres |
| Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park |
Marshall County[3] |
1,351 acres |
| Lake Barkley State Resort Park |
Trigg County[3] |
Park: 3,600 acres
Lake: 57,920 acres |
| Lake Cumberland State Resort Park |
Russell County[3] |
Park: 3,117 acres
Lake: 50,000 acres |
| Natural Bridge State Resort Park |
Powell County[3] |
Park: 2,300 acres
Lake: 54 acres |
| Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park |
Hopkins County |
Park: 863 acres
Lake: 56 acres |
| Pine Mountain State Resort Park |
Bell County[3] |
1,520 acres |
| Rough River Dam State Resort Park |
Breckinridge, Hardin, & Grayson counties[3] |
Park: 637 acres
Lake: 5,000 acres |
[edit] State historic sites
Ten of Kentucky's recreational parks and two of its resort parks are simultaneously designated as state historic sites. An additional eleven state historic sites are also maintained by the Kentucky Department of Parks.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bailey, Bill (1995). Kentucky State Parks. Saginaw, Michigan: Glovebox Guidebooks of America. ISBN 1881139131.
- ^ a b c d e Kentucky State "Recreation" Parks. Kentucky Department of Parks (2005-10-10). Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag (1992) "Parks, State", in Kleber, John E.: The Kentucky Encyclopedia, Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter, Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0813117720.
- ^ Pine Mountain Trail Home Page. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Kentucky State Resort Parks "The Nation’s Finest". Kentucky Department of Parks (2005-10-10). Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
- ^ a b Breaks Interstate Park: About Us. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
- ^ Breaks Interstate Park: Activites & Attractions. Retrieved on February 12, 2007.
- ^ a b c Kentucky State Historic Sites. Kentucky Department of Parks (2005-10-10). Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
