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List of Kentucky state parks facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Kentucky's system of 44 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. 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.

Although the Kentucky Horse Park is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it is administered separately from the Department of Parks and is not a state park. Breaks Interstate Park is also separate, administered under an interstate compact with the state of Virginia, in partnership with the parks departments of both states.


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.

Image Park Name County or Counties Size
Carr Creek Lake.jpg
Carr Creek State Park Knott County Lake: 750 acres (3.0 km2)
Columbus-Belmont State Park Anchor.JPG
Columbus-Belmont State Park Hickman County 156 acres (0.63 km2)
Dawkins Line Rail Trail Johnson and Magoffin Counties
EPSawWalkT1.jpg
E. P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park Louisville 370 acres (1.5 km2)
Fort Boonesborough.2001a.JPG
Fort Boonesborough State Park Richmond 153 acres (0.62 km2)
General Burnside State Park Pulaski County 430 acres (1.7 km2)
Grayson Lake.jpg
Grayson Lake State Park Carter County Park: 1,200 acres (4.9 km2)
Lake: 1,512 acres (6.1 km2)
Green River Lake.jpg
Green River Lake State Park Taylor County Park: 1,331 acres (5.4 km2)
Lake: 8,200 acres (33 km2)
Audubonwildernesslake.JPG
John James Audubon State Park Henderson County Park: 692 acres (2.8 km2)
Lakes: 28 acres (0.11 km2) & 9 acres (0.04 km2)
Kincaid Lake.jpg
Kincaid Lake State Park Pendleton County Park: 850 acres (3.4 km2)
Lake: 183 acres (0.74 km2)
Kingdom Come State Park Harlan County Park: 1,027 acres (4.2 km2)
Lake: 3 acres (0.01 km2)
Lake Malone State Park Muhlenberg County Park: 338 acres (1.4 km2)
Lake: 788 acres (3.2 km2)
Lincoln Homestead State Park Washington County 120 acres (0.49 km2)
Mineral Mound State Park Eddyville 541 acres (2.2 km2)
Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway - My Old Kentucky Home - NARA - 7720076.jpg
My Old Kentucky Home State Park Bardstown 285 acres (1.2 km2)
Nolin River Lake, Kentucky.png
Nolin Lake State Park Edmonson County Park: 333 acres (1.3 km2)
Lake: 5,795 acres (23 km2)
Old Fort Harrod State Park.jpg
Old Fort Harrod State Park Harrodsburg 15 acres (0.06 km2)
Paintsville Lake2.jpg
Paintsville Lake State Park Johnson County Park: 242 acres (1.0 km2)
Lake: 1,139 acres (4.6 km2)
Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail Bell, Harlan, Letcher, and Pike Counties Under construction
Taylorsville lake.jpg
Taylorsville Lake State Park Spencer County Park: 1,625 acres (6.6 km2)
Lake: 3,050 acres (12 km2)
Yatesville Lake.jpg
Yatesville Lake State Park Lawrence County Lake: 2,300 acres (9.3 km2)

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.

Photo Park Location Area
Barren River Lake 4.jpg
Barren River Lake State Resort Park Barren County Park: 2,187 acres (8.9 km2)
Lake: 10,000 acres (40 km2)
Blue Licks Cedar Glade.JPG
Blue Licks Battlefield State Park Robertson County 148 acres (0.60 km2)
Breaks.jpg
Breaks Interstate Park Pike County, Kentucky;
Dickenson and Buchanan County, Virginia
Park: 4,600 acres (19 km2)
Lake: 12 acres (0.05 km2)
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park Perry County Park: 856 acres (3.5 km2)
Lake: 1,200 acres (4.9 km2)
Carter Caves Visitor Center.JPG
Carter Caves State Resort Park Carter County Park: 1,600 acres (6.5 km2)
Lake: 45 acres (0.18 km2)
Cumberland Falls 2009.jpg
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park Whitley County 1,657 acres (6.7 km2)
DaleHollowLakeAerial.jpg
Dale Hollow Lake State Park Cumberland County Park: 3,398 acres (14 km2)
Lake: 27,700 acres (112 km2)
General Butler State Resort Park Carroll County Park: 809 acres (3.3 km2)
Lake: 30 acres (0.12 km2)
Greenbo Lake, KY.JPG
Greenbo Lake State Resort Park Greenup County Park: 3,300 acres (13 km2)
Lake: 192 acres (0.78 km2)
Dewey Lake fall.jpg
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park Floyd County Park: 1,771 acres (7.2 km2)
Lake: 1,100 acres (4.5 km2)
Open land at Cherokee SP.jpg
Kenlake State Resort Park Calloway and Marshall Counties Park: 1,795 acres (7.3 km2)
Lake: 160,300 acres (649 km2)
Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Marshall County 1,351 acres (5.5 km2)
View from Lake Barkley State Resort Park Lodge.jpg
Lake Barkley State Resort Park Trigg County Park: 3,600 acres (15 km2)
Lake: 57,920 acres (234 km2)
LakeCumberlandStateResortPark1.jpg
Lake Cumberland State Resort Park Russell County Park: 3,117 acres (13 km2)
Lake: 50,000 acres (202 km2)
Natural Bridge KY-27527-3.jpg
Natural Bridge State Resort Park Powell County Park: 2,300 acres (9.3 km2)
Lake: 54 acres (0.22 km2)
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Hopkins County Park: 863 acres (3.5 km2)
Lake: 56 acres (0.23 km2)
Chained Rock in Kentucky.jpg
Pine Mountain State Resort Park Bell County 1,520 acres (6.2 km2)
Rough River Dam State Resort Park Breckinridge, Hardin, & Grayson counties Park: 637 acres (2.6 km2)
Lake: 5,000 acres (20 km2)

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.

Photo Park Location Area
BIG BONE LICK STATE PARK.jpg
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site Boone County Park: 712 acres (2.9 km2)
Lake: 7.5 acres (0.03 km2)
Thomas Walker home.jpg
Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic Site Barbourville 12 acres (0.05 km2)
Isaac Shelby gravestone.jpg
Isaac Shelby Cemetery State Historic Site Stanford
Jefferson Davis Monument -1.jpg
Jefferson Davis State Historic Site Fairview 19 acres (0.08 km2)
Old-mulkey-meeting-house-ky1.jpg
Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site Tompkinsville 60 acres (0.24 km2)
Perryville Parsons Battery.jpg
Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site Perryville 669 acres (2.7 km2)
Waveland winter.jpg
Waveland State Historic Site Lexington 10 acres (0.04 km2)
Wickliffe Mounds Entrance.JPG
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site Wickliffe 21 acres (0.08 km2)

See also

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List of Kentucky state parks Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.