Take This Unforgettable Road Trip To 5 Of Kentucky's Least-Visited State Parks
By Sarah McCosham|Published April 20, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Kentucky is home to 45 state parks that each offer unique scenery, topography, natural features, and amenities — but there are some perennial favorites that tend to steal the show, time and time again. Of course, these scene stealers are all worthy of the spotlight (we love you, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park!), but if you only visit the same parks again and again, you’d be missing out on some of the best the Bluegrass has to offer. So today we’re turning out attention to the least-visited state parks in Kentucky, which you can visit on the following little road trip.
Not only does Kentucky have an amazing state parks system, but the Bluegrass is home to 17 full-service state resort parks -- more than any other state in the country!
Kentucky loves its water recreation, and Yatesville Lake State Park is a beautiful waterfront paradise. This park on the eastern edge of Kentucky features a gorgeous lake with two launch ramps, a marina, ADA-compliant fishing jetty, and a lovely little lagoon. After a busy day on the water, you can even spend the night at one of the park's 47 campsites.
Another lovely lake park, this gem in Staffordshire boasts 1,140 acres for unrivaled boating, water recreation, and fishing. The mountainous terrain and lush scenery around Paintsville Lake make it prettier than a picture, and a place you'll want to savor. Luckily, Paintsville Lake State Park has a wonderful campground with 32 developed sites complete with restrooms, showers, laundry and sewer hookups, waterfront picnic tables, two playgrounds, and more, for the ultimate Kentucky State Parks camping experience!
We sure hope you're not tired of the water views, because Jenny Wiley State Resort Park is an honest-to-goodness Kentucky oasis! This Kentucky State Park is 2,871 acres of pure Bluegrass beauty, offering an abundance of opportunities for outdoor recreation of both the land and water varieties. The park’s crown jewel is the 1,100-acre Dewey Lake, a cerulean pool with some of the bluest water in the state.
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, 4441 KY-1833, Buckhorn, KY 41721, USA
Kentucky -- yes, Kentucky -- has some of the most beautiful inland beaches you'll ever see, with many offering the added bonus of stunning mountain views. You'll find the most pristine beach in Kentucky, however, at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park. This is a lovely area in the southeastern part of Kentucky, surrounded by forest-covered hills and a 1,200-acre lake. This lake has a splendid beach, with white, sandy shoes and clear waters.
Carter Caves State Resort Park
Carter Caves State Resort Park, 344 Caveland Dr, Olive Hill, KY 41164, USA
While Kentucky's mammoth national park is one of its crown jewels, subterranean adventures abound in the Bluegrass State. In Carter County, Kentucky, there are nearly 200 caves of all sizes hiding underground. The eponymous Carter Caves State Resort Park offers tours of its expansive underworld that are a wonderful alternative to the oft-crowded Mammoth Cave, and above-ground adventures abound here, too!
How many of these least-visited state parks in Kentucky have you visited? We challenge you to check out each of the above five parks… and then the other 40 Kentucky State Parks, too!
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