{"id":316,"date":"2012-06-30T18:06:15","date_gmt":"2012-06-30T18:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.websitefix.net\/clients\/Generic\/?page_id=316"},"modified":"2021-04-22T14:54:35","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T14:54:35","slug":"parks-nature","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/?page_id=316","title":{"rendered":"Parks & Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"

SPORTS & RECREATION \/ PARKS & NATURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Metropolitan Louisville and Central Kentucky provide some of the nation\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

STATE\/FEDERAL PARKLAND<\/strong><\/p>\n

National Recreation Areas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area<\/strong>
\nOneida, TN 423-286-7275
\nKentucky Center 606-376-5073
\nwww.nps.gov\/biso<\/a>
\nCovering 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, this area protects pristine riverfront with scenic gorges and bluffs.<\/p>\n

Cumberland Gap National Historic Park<\/strong>
\nMiddlesboro, KY 606-248-2817
\nwww.nps.gov\/cuga<\/a>
\nThe “Gateway to the West” is filled with natural wonders including the Gap Cave and mountain scenery.<\/p>\n

Hoosier National Forest<\/strong>
\nBedford, IN 812-275-5987
\nwww.fs.fed.us\/r9\/hoosier<\/a>
\nRolling hills, back-country trails, and rural crossroad communities make this wonderful forest a popular recreational destination.<\/p>\n

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area<\/strong>
\n100 Van Morgan Drive
\nGolden Pond, KY 270-924-2000
\nhttps:\/\/www.landbetweenthelakes.us<\/a>
\nAttractions include the Elk & Bison Prairie, Woodlands Nature Station, and the Golden Pond Planetarium.<\/p>\n

Mammoth Cave National Park<\/strong>
\nMammoth Cave, KY 270-758-2180
\nwww.nps.gov\/maca<\/a>
\nNamed for its mammoth size, the world’s longest cave system has been explored for 365 miles.<\/p>\n

Kentucky State Parks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Big Bone Lick State Park<\/strong>
\n3380 Beaver Road
\nUnion, KY 859-384-3522
\nwww.nps.gov\/history\/nr\/travel\/lewisandclark\/bbo.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park<\/strong>
\n10299 Maysville Road
\nMount Olivet, KY 800-443-7008
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Carter Caves State Resort Park<\/strong>
\n344 Caveland Drive
\nOlive Hill, KY 800-325-0059
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

E.P. \u201cTom\u201d Sawyer State Park<\/strong>
\n3000 Freys Hill Road
\nLouisville, KY 502-426-8950
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Fort Boonesborough State Park<\/strong>
\n4375 Boonesborough Road
\nRichmond, KY 859-527-3131
\nhttp:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

General Butler State Resort Park<\/strong>
\n1608 US Highway 227
\nCarrollton, KY 866-462-8853
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Green River Lake State Park<\/strong>
\n179 Park Office Road
\nCampbellsville, KY 270-465-8255
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Kincaid Lake State Park<\/strong>
\n565 Kincaid Park Road
\nFalmouth, KY 859-654-3531
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Lincoln Homestead State Park<\/strong>
\n5079 Lincoln Park Road
\nSpringfield, KY 859-336-7461
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

My Old Kentucky Home State Park<\/strong>
\n501 E. Stephen Foster Avenue
\nBardstown, KY 502-348-3502
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Natural Bridge State Resort Park<\/strong>
\n2135 Natural Bridge Road
\nSlade, KY 800-325-1710
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Nolin Lake State Park<\/strong>
\nKentucky Highway 1827
\nBee Spring, KY 270-286-4240
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Old Fort Harrod State Park<\/strong>
\n100 South College Street
\nHarrodsburg, KY 859-734-3314
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Rough River State Resort Park<\/strong>
\n450 Lodge Road
\nFalls of Rough, KY 800-325-1713
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Taylorsville Lake State Park<\/strong>
\n1320 Park Road
\nTaylorsville, KY 502-477-8713
\nhttps:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Indiana State Parks & Forests<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlestown State Park<\/strong>
\nState Road 62
\nCharlestown, IN 812-256-5600
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

Clark State Forest<\/strong>
\nU.S. Highway 31
\nHenryville, IN 812-294-4306
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/forestry<\/a><\/p>\n

Clifty Falls State Park<\/strong>
\n1501 Green Road
\nMadison, IN 812-273-8885
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

Deam Lake State Recreation Area<\/strong>
\n1217 Deam Lake Road
\nBorden, IN 812-246-5421
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/forestry<\/a><\/p>\n

Falls of the Ohio State Park<\/strong>
\n201 W. Riverside Drive
\nClarksville, IN 812-280-9970
\nwww.fallsoftheohio.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardy Lake State Reservoir<\/strong>
\n4171 E. Harrod Road
\nScottsburg, IN 812-794-3800
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

Harrison-Crawford State Forest & Wyandotte Complex<\/strong>
\n7240 Old Forest Road SW
\nCorydon, IN 812-738-8232
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/forestry<\/a><\/p>\n

Lincoln State Park<\/strong>
\nState Road 162
\nLincoln City, IN 812-937-4710
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

Morgan-Monroe State Forest<\/strong>
\n6220 Forest Road
\nMartinsville, IN 765-342-4026
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/forestry<\/a><\/p>\n

O’Bannon Woods State Park<\/strong>
\n7240 Old Forest Road SW
\nCorydon, IN 812-738-8232
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

Owen-Putnam State Forest<\/strong>
\nRR4 Box 214
\nSpencer, IN 812-829-2462
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/forestry<\/a><\/p>\n

Patoka Lake State Reservoir<\/strong>
\n3084 North Dillard Road
\nBirdseye, IN 812-685-2464
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

Spring Mill State Park<\/strong>
\n3333 State Road 600 East
\nMitchell, IN 812-849-4129
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hidden River Cave<\/strong>
\n119 East Main Street
\nHorse Cave, KY 270-786-1466
\nhttps:\/\/hiddenrivercave.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Iroquois Park<\/strong>
\n2120 Rundill Rd
\nLouisville 502-456-8100
\nhttps:\/\/louisvilleky.gov\/government\/parks\/park-list\/iroquois-park<\/a><\/p>\n

Jefferson Memorial Forest <\/strong>
\n11311 Mitchell Hill Road
\nFairdale, KY 502-368-5404
\nhttps:\/\/louisvilleky.gov\/government\/jefferson-memorial-forest<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky Down Under<\/strong>
\nAustralian Theme Animal Park
\n3700 L&N Turnpike Road
\nHorse Cave, KY 270-786-1010
\nToll Free 800-762-2869
\nhttps:\/\/www.kentuckydownunder.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Louisville Otter Creek Park<\/strong>
\n850 Otter Creek Park Road
\nBrandenburg, KY 502-574-4583
\nhttps:\/\/louisvilleky.gov\/government\/parks<\/a><\/p>\n

Louisville Waterfront Park<\/strong>
\n129 E. River Road
\nLouisville, KY 502-574-3768
\nhttps:\/\/ourwaterfront.org<\/a><\/p>\n

The Louisville Zoo<\/strong>
\n1100 Trevilian Way
\nLouisville, KY 502-459-2181
\nwww.louisvillezoo.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Marengo Cave<\/strong>
\n400 East State Road 64
\nMarengo, IN 812-365-2705
\nToll Free 888-702-2837
\nwww.marengocave.com<\/a><\/p>\n

McNeely Lake Park<\/strong>
\n6711 Mt. Washington Road
\nLouisville 502-456-8100
\nhttps:\/\/louisvilleky.gov\/government\/park<\/a><\/p>\n

Newport Aquarium<\/strong>
\nOne Aquarium Way
\nNewport, KY 859-261-7444
\nhttps:\/\/www.newportaquarium.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Rauch Planetarium<\/strong>
\nGheens Science Hall
\nUniversity of Louisville
\nLouisville, KY 502-852-6665
\nhttp:\/\/louisville.edu\/planetarium<\/a><\/p>\n

Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing<\/strong>
\n7410 Moorman Road
\nLouisville, KY 502-935-6809
\nwww.riverside-landing.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Squire Boone Caverns<\/strong>
\n100 Squire Boone Road, SW
\nMauckport, IN 812-732-4381
\nwww.squireboonecaverns.com<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/strong><\/p>\n

NATURE CENTERS & GARDENS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve<\/strong>
\n3745 Illinois Avenue
\nLouisville, KY 502-458-1328
\nwww.louisvillenaturecenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest<\/strong>
\nKentucky Highway 245
\nClermont, KY 502-955-8512
\nwww.bernheim.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Blackacre State Nature Preserve<\/strong>
\n3200 Tucker Station Road
\nJeffersontown, KY 502-266-9802
\nhttps:\/\/blackacreconservancy.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Forest Discovery Center<\/strong>
\n533 Louis Smith Road
\nStarlight, IN 812-923-1590<\/p>\n

Hidden Hill Nursery & Sculpture Garden<\/strong>
\n1011 Utica-Charlestown Road
\nUtica, IN 812-280-0347
\nwww.hiddenhillnursery.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky Native Plant & Wildflower Garden<\/strong>
\nOldham County History Center
\n106 North Second Avenue
\nLa Grange, KY 502-222-0826
\nhttps:\/\/oldhamkyhistory.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Louisville Nature Center<\/strong>
\n3745 Illinois Avenue
\nLouisville, KY 502-458-1328
\nwww.louisvillenaturecenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Riverside Kitchen Garden<\/strong>
\n7410 Moorman Road
\nLouisville, KY 502-935-6809
\nwww.riverside-landing.org<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Six Mile Island State Nature Preserve<\/strong>
\nRiver Road
\nJefferson County, KY 502-573-2886
\nhttps:\/\/eec.ky.gov\/Pages\/index.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n

Whitehall Gardens<\/strong>
\n3110 Lexington Road
\nLouisville, KY 502-897-2944
\nwww.edisonhouse.org<\/a><\/p>\n

PARKS & RECREATION CONTACTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indiana State Forests<\/strong>
\n317-232-4105
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/forestry<\/a><\/p>\n

Indiana State Park System<\/strong>
\n317-232-4200
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake<\/a><\/p>\n

Louisville\/Jefferson County Metro Parks<\/strong>
\n502-456-8100
\nhttps:\/\/louisvilleky.gov\/government\/parks<\/a><\/p>\n

Louisville Olmsted Parks<\/strong>
\n502-456-8125
\nwww.olmstedparks.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky State Park System<\/strong>
\n800-255-PARK
\nhttp:\/\/parks.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

National Park Service<\/strong>
\nMidwest Region
\n402-661-1524
\nwww.nps.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Oldham County Parks & Recreation <\/strong>
\n502-225-0655
\nhttps:\/\/www.oldhamcountyky.gov\/oldham-county-parks-recreation<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

QUICKLINKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Earth Day Network<\/strong>
\nwww.earthday.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont<\/strong>
\nwww.gsmit.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Indiana Camping Reservations<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/indianastateparks.reserveamerica.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Indiana State Park Inn Reservations<\/strong>
\nwww.in.gov\/dnr\/parklake\/2435.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky Audubon Council<\/strong>
\nwww.kentuckyaudubon.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky Inn\/Camping Reservations<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/parks.ky.gov\/reservations<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky Lakes<\/strong>
\nwww.kylakes.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky State Nature Preserves<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/naturepreserves.ky.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Kentucky Sierra Clubs<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/kentucky.sierraclub.org<\/a><\/p>\n

The Nature Conservancy<\/strong>
\nwww.nature.org<\/a><\/p>\n

National Outdoor Adventure Guide<\/strong>
\nwww.gorp.com<\/a><\/p>\n

National Parks Camping Reservations<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/reservations.nps.gov<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SPORTS & RECREATION \/ PARKS & NATURE Metropolitan Louisville and Central Kentucky provide some of the nation\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-316","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=316"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":697,"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/316\/revisions\/697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sunraydirect.com\/LouisvilleKY3\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}