A century of destinations. Celebrate 100 years of Kentucky State Parks

Summer is knocking at our front door and you may have the itch to get out and about in this beautiful commonwealth of ours. What better time is there then to visit one of Kentucky’s many illustrious state parks?

To be clear, there is no wrong time of the year to visit one of Kentucky’s 45 state parks. The park system spans over 48,000 acres in the state and offers over 300 miles of hiking trails.

Established in 1924 by a bill signed by Gov. William Fields, or “Honest Bill from Olive Hill,” the Kentucky State Parks system has blossomed into the crown jewel of the commonwealth.

Countless Kentuckians likely have fond memories of the state parks in their local communities.

Celebrate 100 years of Kentucky’s state parks by visiting one of them, or all of them if you feel so inclined and have the time!

Here’s a comprehensive look by the Herald-Leader staff of the views, amenities and the grand beauty found in our commonwealth’s state parks system.

Kenlake State Resort Park

Located on the western shore of Kentucky Lake in Marshall and Calloway counties. The park, which offers lodging, dining, a marina, indoor tennis courts and access to hiking and biking trails, is about four hours from Lexington. Check out more here.

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

On the border of Whitley and McCreary counties in southeast Kentucky, this park is home to a spectacular sight. Cumberland Falls is about 260-feet long and has a 65-foot drop. About 800,000 visitors a year — from across the globe — take in its splendor.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

The park, located near Dawson Springs and three hours from Lexington, offers multiple lodging options, a restaurant and a variety of outdoor actives. Trail hikes in the area range from 13 miles to shorter treks for all ages. And there’s plenty of wildlife to see.

My Old Kentucky Home State Park

The park is in Bardstown in Nelson County. It’s the former home of the Rowan family, which was one of the sources of inspiration for Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home.” During the summer season, tours of the mansion are offered every hour — and tour guides sing the Kentucky state song.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park

In southeastern Kentucky, the park is home to more than 40 of the states 148 rare and endangered plants, according to park naturalist Keith Bowling. The resort, whose land was the first acquired by the state for a park, offers a tremendous amount of history and activities.

Carter Caves State Resort Park

This park, located near Olive Hill in northeastern Kentucky, has something for everyone to enjoy year round. Carter County, in northeast Kentucky, is home to more than 200 named and mapped caves. About 50 of those caves are located within the state park.

Learn the history

The man who was Kentucky’s first state parks commissioner can trace his ancestry back to the Reverend John Rogers, the first martyr of Queen Mary I’s reign in England. You can read more about him here.

Andrew Henderson

Lexington Herald-Leader

Andrew is the deputy audience editor for McClatchy’s mid-sized and smaller newsrooms. His home newsroom is the Lexington Herald-Leader and he occasionally writes opinion columns for the paper. He was previously the editor of the Oldham Era and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. Andrew is from Olive Hill in Carter County.