This year marks the 100 year anniversary of Kentucky State Parks and a century of destinations for Kentuckians, and many others, to visit.
Ryan C. Hermens
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.
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. This work is made possible, in no small part, because of our subscribers and dedicated readers, so thank you.
The 12 O’Clock Overlook is photographed at Kingdom Come State Park near Cumberland. Kingdom Come, about a 3-hour drive from Lexington, offers a campground; fishing; hiking; biking; an outdoor theater and pedal boating. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Pine Mountain State Resort Park
Dusk falls over Pine Mountain State Resort Park near Pineville. The park, about a 2.5-hour drive from Lexington, offers a lodge and cottages; restaurant; hiking; swimming; golf and an outdoor theater. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
Cumberland Falls is photographed at dawn at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin. Cumberland Falls, about an 1.5-hour drive from Lexington, known as “Niagara of the South,” is home to the only moonbow in the Western Hemisphere. The park offers a lodge and cottages; campground; restaurant; hiking trails; swimming; fishing and water fall. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Old Mulkey Meeting House State Historic Site
The Old Mulkey Meeting House is located near Tompkinsville. The state historic site, about a 3-hour drive from Lexington, is home to the oldest freestanding log meetinghouse in Kentucky. The structure was built in 1804. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Lincoln Homestead State Park
The original cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s mother grew up is located at Lincoln Homestead State Park in Washington County. The park, about 1-hour drive from Lexington, also includes a replica of the cabin where Lincoln’s father grew up; museum; disc golf; fishing and golf. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Barren River Lake State Resort Park
The sun rises over Barren River Lake near Lucas. Barren River Lake State Resort Park, about a 2.5-hour drive from Lexington, offers a lodge and cottages; a campground open from mid-March through mid-November; a restaurant; marina; hiking and biking trails and golfing. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Lake Barkley State Resort Park
The sun rises behind trees at Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz. Lake Barkley, about a 4-hour drive from Lexington, offers a lodge and cottages; campground; restaurant; hiking; marina; swimming; golfing; fishing; biking; racquetball; tennis and pickleball. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Columbus-Belmont State Park
The Mississippi River is photographed near Columbus-Belmont State Park in Columbus. Columbus-Belmont, about a 4.5-hour drive from Lexington, is the site of the Battle of Belmont in 1861 during the Civil War. The park offers a campground; hiking; boat ramps and a Civil War museum. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Pennyrile State Resort Park
Dusk falls over Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park near Dawson’s Springs. Pennyrile, about a 3-hour drive from Lexington, offers a lodge and cottages; campground; restaurant; hiking; fishing; swimming and boating. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
My Old Kentucky Home State Park
The historic mansion is photographed at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown. The state park, about a 1-hour drive from Lexington, was the inspiration for Stephen Foster’s song, “My Old Kentucky Home.” In addition to tours of the mansion, where guides sing Kentucky’s state song, the park offers a campground; golf; outdoor theater and tennis. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Old Fort Harrod State Park
John Curry, a gunsmith at Old Fort Harrod State Park, is photographed at the state park in Harrodsburg. The fort, about a 1-hour drive from Lexington, is a full-scale replica of the one built by James Harrod in 1774. The park includes cabins and blockhouses with handmade utensils, furniture, tools and implements used by early pioneers. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
Carter Caves State Resort Park
Smokey Bridge is photographed at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Carter County. Carter Caves, about a 1.5-hour drive from Lexington, offers a lodge and cottages; campground; restaurant; cave tours; hiking; disc golf course; fishing; swimming and rock climbing areas. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
This story was originally published June 7, 2024 at 10:52 AM.
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.
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