11 Incredible Hidden Gems In Kentucky You’ll Want To Discover This Year
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Tori Jane
Author
Fun fact for anyone who doesn’t already know: Kentucky is an amazing state to visit, live in, or even just drive through. With as many amazing wonders as we’ve got peppered all across the state, it might be tough to decide which ones to see first. We’ve already published a couple of fun ideas, like our awesome hidden gems of Kentucky road trip, but here we are with even more! These best hidden gems in Kentucky are a mixture of natural and man-made wonders, but I promise every last one is amazing and worthy of your time. Come out and explore Kentucky – it’s waiting for you!
1. McNeely Lake
10500 Cedar Creek Rd, Louisville, KY 40229
10500 Cedar Creek Rd, Louisville, KY 40229, USA
McNeely Lake has the distinctive pleasure of being one of the most beautiful lakes in Kentucky, and yet somehow all too many folks either forget it's there or never knew about it to begin with. It's 46 beautiful acres of sparkling, clean water beloved by boaters and fishers alike. Come explore this lil' nugget of wonder in Louisville as soon as you get a moment!
2. Louisville Mega Cavern
1841 Taylor Ave, Louisville, KY 40213, USA
There are several caves in Kentucky, all of which are worth checking out (safely, of course). The most popular cave in Kentucky is by far Mammoth Cave, and as a result, other caves end up overlooked - including this one. The Louisville Mega Cavern is an incredible wonder in and of itself. Once upon a time, it was a limestone mine. Now, it's an epic attraction with fully underground ziplines and about a million reasons to check it out.
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3. Land Between The Lakes
238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211, USA
The idyllic Land Between The Lakes looks and feels like something out of a painting or a movie rather than somewhere in the US. Indeed, i't jaw-droppingly beautiful. It's not tiny, either - it encompasses 171,280 acres of absolutely awe-inspiring natural beauty, and there are plenty of things to do, see, and experience while you're here.
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4. Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve
1225 Athens Boonesboro Rd, Winchester, KY 40391, USA
The wonder-filled Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve is open for tours by appointment only, ensuring that the crowds will be little but the awesomeness will be much. This gorgeous preserve is 100% Kentucky as it's meant to be - wild and untouched. While the preserve itself is only open to those who make reservations, the John Holder Trail is always open and you may explore it whenever you'd like.
5. The Chained Rock at Pine Mountain
Q832+CX, Pineville, KY 40977, USA
The Chained Rock in Kentucky is one of my favorite weird, offbeat attractions. Hidden in southeast Kentucky is this large, unusual monument: a large outcropping of rock is outfitted with thick, sturdy chains. But why? In 1933, a 1.5-ton steamboat chain was lugged up to the top of Pine Mountain by a pack of mules and a group of folks calling themselves the Chained Rock Club. The rest, as they say, is history... and the chain remains there to this day.
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6. Doe Run Lake
1501 Bullock Pen Rd, Covington, KY 41017, USA
Doe Run Lake is among the most beautiful Kentucky Lakes there are, and yet it, like many things on this list, often goes overlooked. It's not enormous, coming in at just 30 acres in size, but it's GORGEOUS - no matter the time of year. The lake is surrounded by hiking trails, picnic areas, and spots to dip your toes in and relax. The lake is located within Doe Run Lake Park, which is an amazing place for all sorts of outdoor activities.
7. Swift Camp Creek Overlook at Red River Gorge
Sky Bridge Road, Sky Bridge Rd, Pine Ridge, KY 41360, USA
The Red River Gorge is easily one of the most beautiful places in Kentucky, and the Swift Camp Creek Overlook lets you take it all in at once. Extending seemingly forever, this overlook is a roadside stop on one of the best scenic drives in KY - and best of all, there are more along the drive, too. Just take Sky Bridge Road and let it lead you to paradise(s).
8. The Kentucky Castle
230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383, USA
The stunning Kentucky Castle is a top contender among the best hotels in Kentucky, and perhaps even the best hotels in the United States. Truly, this place reminds me of somewhere on the Scottish Isle instead of Kentucky, but we're just so lucky that it's all ours instead! Perhaps best of all, you can spend the night - or nights - for as long as you'd like, and there's plenty of delicious food to be had at the onsite restaurant as well.
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9. Blue Heron
Blue Heron, KY 42647, USA
Hidden in McCreary County is one of those Kentucky ghost towns that gets a lot of love from the urbex community but goes unnoticed by most others. But it shouldn't - it's one of the coolest places in Kentucky you never knew existed. Once upon a time, this place was known as Mine 18 and it was a bustling coal mining town. From 1937 until 1962, the mines were in operation, and things were going well... until they weren't, and now the whole town is nothing more than a memory. Nevertheless, it's a really cool memory you can explore to this day!
10. The Kentucky Bend
Kentucky Bend Road, Kentucky Bend Rd, Kentucky 38079, USA
The Kentucky Bend is the single most delightfully weird place in Kentucky. Located way off in the extreme southwestern part of the state, this bizarrely-shaped portion of what's called an "oxbow loop meander" in the Mississippi River has a population of just nine people as of the 2020 census and is shared partially with Missouri and Tennessee. Pretty cool!
11. Copperas Falls
Copperas Falls, RCRH+57, Valeria, KY 40387, USA
Finally, I've saved my very favorite for last: the iconic Copperas Falls is a jaw-droppingly beautiful waterfall in Kentucky that's sure to wow anyone who sees it, be it their first time, their third time, or their fiftieth time. No matter what, this 40-foot spectacle is only accessible via a "secret" unmarked "trail" that you can map out thanks to our friends at AllTrails. This one is best checked out in the spring, during snowmelt, or after a good rainstorm. That way, the falls are more likely to be roaring.
So, there you have it: the 11 best hidden gems in Kentucky, all waiting for you to discover them! If you’re planning to make a road trip out of it, you might want to check out our ultimate road trip packing list. You’ll surely find it helpful! What are your all-time favorite Kentucky hidden gems? How many of them made the list – and which ones would you add if you could? Let me know!
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