Spend The Day In Kentucky's Only National Wildlife Refuge For An Otherworldy Experience
By Andrea Limke|Published July 26, 2019
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
Kentucky is a nature lover’s dream with many parks and recreation areas to explore. Western Kentucky has a unique landscape in our state and also has a lot to offer those who want to spend time outdoors. Many know of The Land Between the Lakes, but nearby you’ll find our state’s only National Wildlife Refuge. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge in Kentucky is a great place to learn, explore, relax and spend time in nature for an otherworldly experience.
Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Benton in western Kentucky.
This area of our state is known for its diverse landscape, waterways, variety of wildlife and plantlife. This refuge is actually newer to the system, as it was established in 1997, and it is the only one of its kind in Kentucky.
As you can see from the map below, our country has many wildlife refuges that are working hard to maintain and learn from these environments.
That one dot in western Kentucky is Clarks River and it is home to many unique features that can't be found anywhere else in this area of the country. The bottomland hardwood forests are particularly special as they are one of the largest collections in the region.
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The water within the refuge is a lovely habitat for many species of wildlife and is also a beautiful place to visit.
You can use this sign to help explore the seasonal hiking trails and other areas of the refuge. As with all parks and protected areas, always visit with respect and remember that this is first and foremost the home of wildlife and plantlife.
You will very likely experience a variety of wildlife during a visit, both on the land and in the water.
Look for birds, ducks, geese, and fish around the water and always check the trees for owls, eagles, and other animals throughout the forest. Don't forget your camera as Clarks River is a great spot for nature photography in Kentucky.
The Environmental Education and Recreation Area (EERA) is an area of the refuge that is popular for hiking, wildlife viewing, and fishing.
This is used to maintain and manage the wildlife on the refuge. If you've been looking for a unique and lesser known place to visit to experience the natural beauty of western Kentucky, check out the only wildlife refuge in our state.
As the only National Wildlife Refuge in Kentucky, Clarks River has a lot to offer visitors. When you’re in this beautiful area of our state, don’t forget to stop by and spend time here for a unique and otherworldly experience. Did you know about this one-of-a-kind refuge? Let us know in the comments!
Address: 91 US-641, Benton, KY 42025
For more information on Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge in Kentucky, visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here.
And if you would like to learn more about Land Between the Lakes as well, check out our previous article here.
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