SPORTS & RECREATION / PARKS & NATURE
Metropolitan Louisville and Central Kentucky provide some of the nation’s most scenic countryside and breathtaking topography. Throughout the region, state and federal parks, forests, and recreation areas combine with municipal and county facilities and services to ensure year-round activities and adventures. Kentucky offers exceptional state resort parks that are brimming over with natural beauty and resort amenities, while deep forests are waiting just across the Ohio River in Indiana. Multi-purpose trails, modern and rustic camp sites, sparkling lakes for boating and water sports, and well-managed wildlife habitats encourage residents to relax in the beauty of natural surroundings.
STATE/FEDERAL PARKLAND
National Recreation Areas
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area
Oneida, TN 423-286-7275
Kentucky Center 606-376-5073
www.nps.gov/biso
Covering 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, this area protects pristine riverfront with scenic gorges and bluffs.
Cumberland Gap National Historic Park
Middlesboro, KY 606-248-2817
www.nps.gov/cuga
The “Gateway to the West” is filled with natural wonders including the Gap Cave and mountain scenery.
Hoosier National Forest
Bedford, IN 812-275-5987
www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier
Rolling hills, back-country trails, and rural crossroad communities make this wonderful forest a popular recreational destination.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
100 Van Morgan Drive
Golden Pond, KY 270-924-2000
https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us
Attractions include the Elk & Bison Prairie, Woodlands Nature Station, and the Golden Pond Planetarium.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave, KY 270-758-2180
www.nps.gov/maca
Named for its mammoth size, the world’s longest cave system has been explored for 365 miles.
Kentucky State Parks
Big Bone Lick State Park
3380 Beaver Road
Union, KY 859-384-3522
www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/lewisandclark/bbo.htm
Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park
10299 Maysville Road
Mount Olivet, KY 800-443-7008
https://parks.ky.gov
Carter Caves State Resort Park
344 Caveland Drive
Olive Hill, KY 800-325-0059
https://parks.ky.gov
E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park
3000 Freys Hill Road
Louisville, KY 502-426-8950
https://parks.ky.gov
Fort Boonesborough State Park
4375 Boonesborough Road
Richmond, KY 859-527-3131
http://parks.ky.gov
General Butler State Resort Park
1608 US Highway 227
Carrollton, KY 866-462-8853
https://parks.ky.gov
Green River Lake State Park
179 Park Office Road
Campbellsville, KY 270-465-8255
https://parks.ky.gov
Kincaid Lake State Park
565 Kincaid Park Road
Falmouth, KY 859-654-3531
https://parks.ky.gov
Lincoln Homestead State Park
5079 Lincoln Park Road
Springfield, KY 859-336-7461
https://parks.ky.gov
My Old Kentucky Home State Park
501 E. Stephen Foster Avenue
Bardstown, KY 502-348-3502
https://parks.ky.gov
Natural Bridge State Resort Park
2135 Natural Bridge Road
Slade, KY 800-325-1710
https://parks.ky.gov
Nolin Lake State Park
Kentucky Highway 1827
Bee Spring, KY 270-286-4240
https://parks.ky.gov
Old Fort Harrod State Park
100 South College Street
Harrodsburg, KY 859-734-3314
https://parks.ky.gov
Rough River State Resort Park
450 Lodge Road
Falls of Rough, KY 800-325-1713
https://parks.ky.gov
Taylorsville Lake State Park
1320 Park Road
Taylorsville, KY 502-477-8713
https://parks.ky.gov
Indiana State Parks & Forests
Charlestown State Park
State Road 62
Charlestown, IN 812-256-5600
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Clark State Forest
U.S. Highway 31
Henryville, IN 812-294-4306
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry
Clifty Falls State Park
1501 Green Road
Madison, IN 812-273-8885
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Deam Lake State Recreation Area
1217 Deam Lake Road
Borden, IN 812-246-5421
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry
Falls of the Ohio State Park
201 W. Riverside Drive
Clarksville, IN 812-280-9970
www.fallsoftheohio.org
Hardy Lake State Reservoir
4171 E. Harrod Road
Scottsburg, IN 812-794-3800
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Harrison-Crawford State Forest & Wyandotte Complex
7240 Old Forest Road SW
Corydon, IN 812-738-8232
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry
Lincoln State Park
State Road 162
Lincoln City, IN 812-937-4710
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Morgan-Monroe State Forest
6220 Forest Road
Martinsville, IN 765-342-4026
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry
O’Bannon Woods State Park
7240 Old Forest Road SW
Corydon, IN 812-738-8232
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Owen-Putnam State Forest
RR4 Box 214
Spencer, IN 812-829-2462
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry
Patoka Lake State Reservoir
3084 North Dillard Road
Birdseye, IN 812-685-2464
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Spring Mill State Park
3333 State Road 600 East
Mitchell, IN 812-849-4129
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Hidden River Cave
119 East Main Street
Horse Cave, KY 270-786-1466
https://hiddenrivercave.com
Iroquois Park
2120 Rundill Rd
Louisville 502-456-8100
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/iroquois-park
Jefferson Memorial Forest
11311 Mitchell Hill Road
Fairdale, KY 502-368-5404
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/jefferson-memorial-forest
Kentucky Down Under
Australian Theme Animal Park
3700 L&N Turnpike Road
Horse Cave, KY 270-786-1010
Toll Free 800-762-2869
https://www.kentuckydownunder.com
Louisville Otter Creek Park
850 Otter Creek Park Road
Brandenburg, KY 502-574-4583
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks
Louisville Waterfront Park
129 E. River Road
Louisville, KY 502-574-3768
https://ourwaterfront.org
The Louisville Zoo
1100 Trevilian Way
Louisville, KY 502-459-2181
www.louisvillezoo.org
Marengo Cave
400 East State Road 64
Marengo, IN 812-365-2705
Toll Free 888-702-2837
www.marengocave.com
McNeely Lake Park
6711 Mt. Washington Road
Louisville 502-456-8100
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/park
Newport Aquarium
One Aquarium Way
Newport, KY 859-261-7444
https://www.newportaquarium.com
Rauch Planetarium
Gheens Science Hall
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 502-852-6665
http://louisville.edu/planetarium
Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing
7410 Moorman Road
Louisville, KY 502-935-6809
www.riverside-landing.org
Squire Boone Caverns
100 Squire Boone Road, SW
Mauckport, IN 812-732-4381
www.squireboonecaverns.com
NATURE CENTERS & GARDENS
Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve
3745 Illinois Avenue
Louisville, KY 502-458-1328
www.louisvillenaturecenter.org
Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest
Kentucky Highway 245
Clermont, KY 502-955-8512
www.bernheim.org
Blackacre State Nature Preserve
3200 Tucker Station Road
Jeffersontown, KY 502-266-9802
https://blackacreconservancy.org
Forest Discovery Center
533 Louis Smith Road
Starlight, IN 812-923-1590
Hidden Hill Nursery & Sculpture Garden
1011 Utica-Charlestown Road
Utica, IN 812-280-0347
www.hiddenhillnursery.com
Kentucky Native Plant & Wildflower Garden
Oldham County History Center
106 North Second Avenue
La Grange, KY 502-222-0826
https://oldhamkyhistory.com
Louisville Nature Center
3745 Illinois Avenue
Louisville, KY 502-458-1328
www.louisvillenaturecenter.org
Riverside Kitchen Garden
7410 Moorman Road
Louisville, KY 502-935-6809
www.riverside-landing.org
Six Mile Island State Nature Preserve
River Road
Jefferson County, KY 502-573-2886
https://eec.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx
Whitehall Gardens
3110 Lexington Road
Louisville, KY 502-897-2944
www.edisonhouse.org
PARKS & RECREATION CONTACTS
Indiana State Forests
317-232-4105
www.in.gov/dnr/forestry
Indiana State Park System
317-232-4200
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake
Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Parks
502-456-8100
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/parks
Louisville Olmsted Parks
502-456-8125
www.olmstedparks.org
Kentucky State Park System
800-255-PARK
http://parks.ky.gov
National Park Service
Midwest Region
402-661-1524
www.nps.gov
Oldham County Parks & Recreation
502-225-0655
https://www.oldhamcountyky.gov/oldham-county-parks-recreation
QUICKLINKS
Earth Day Network
www.earthday.org
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
www.gsmit.org
Indiana Camping Reservations
http://indianastateparks.reserveamerica.com/
Indiana State Park Inn Reservations
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2435.htm
Kentucky Audubon Council
www.kentuckyaudubon.org
Kentucky Inn/Camping Reservations
http://parks.ky.gov/reservations
Kentucky Lakes
www.kylakes.com
Kentucky State Nature Preserves
http://naturepreserves.ky.gov
Kentucky Sierra Clubs
http://kentucky.sierraclub.org
The Nature Conservancy
www.nature.org
National Outdoor Adventure Guide
www.gorp.com
National Parks Camping Reservations
http://reservations.nps.gov
