Department of Parks
State Parks Host Earth Day Events In April
State Parks Host Earth Day Events In April
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Join the Kentucky State Parks in April as part of the annual Earth Day celebration. Earth Day is April 22 and the state parks will host several events throughout the month connected to this commemoration.
Park visitors can enjoy hiking through Kentucky’s forests, camping under the stars, canoeing down rivers and streams and more. Below is a list of special events along with the park phone number for more information.
Barren River Lake State Resort Park (Lucas) – Earth Day Celebration – April 21
Barren River Lake SRP will be celebrating Earth Day with a variety of fun filled hikes as well as trail and shoreline cleanups. This is a great opportunity if you have a group needing a community service project. For more information call 800-325-0057.
Blue Licks Battlefield (Mount Olivet) – Overnight Canoe Trip on the Licking River – April 21
An all inclusive 23-mile excursion on the Licking River. Park will supply canoes, life jackets, transportation for nine, tents, sleeping bags, bed rolls, snacks, evening meal and breakfast all for just $75. 800-443-7008.
Carter Caves – (Olive Hill) - Backcountry Series “Tygart’s Creek Regretta”- April 14
A 6-mile canoe excursion down a beautiful gorge cut out by Tygart’s Creek. Canoe experience is required! If you don’t have the experience, then you’ll know why we call this a REGRETTA. Along the way we will see high cliff sides and the natural beauty that the spring has to offer in the gorge. Required Equipment includes; warm clothes, extra change of clothes, packed lunch, bottled water, flashlight and a bag for your equipment. Optional Equipment includes; sunscreen, camera, sunglasses, a waterproof container or a wet bag for all your stuff is highly recommended. Pre-registration required. Please contact Coy Ainsley at 606-286-4411 or by email at coy.ainsley@ky.gov
Carter Caves – (Olive Hill) – Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage & Campers Appreciation Weekend - April 27-29
Trillium, hepatica, and spring beauties abound at the valley edges & rocky outcroppings of Carter Caves! Special wildflower hikes and programs produce a “blooming” good time. This weekend has also been set aside as a special weekend for campers. Those camping this weekend will be charged the regular camping rate on Friday night and will receive Saturday night camping free! Special rates will apply to campers for mini-golf and cave tours. Some of the recreational programs include a Smokey Lake canoe trip, crafts, homemade ice cream, and a performance by the Appalachian Troubadours on Saturday Night.
Cumberland Falls (Corbin) – Nature Photography Weekend – April 20 – 22
Nature photography buffs will enjoy this weekend that features a 24-hour slide and digital competition. Photographers with all skill levels can pick up helpful tips from evening guest speakers. Plaques will be given in several categories. Pre-registration is required please contact Bret Smitley at 1-800-325-0063 or by email at BretA.Smitley@ky.gov
General Butler – (Carrollton) Now That's A Bargain Weekend (Camper Appreciation Weekend) April 27-29
Camper's pay Friday night and stay Saturday night free. Activities will include a Camper Swap Meet along with other activities and entertainment. Also, a mountain bike association will be conducting a training workshop on the Fossil Trail, to help improve trail conditions for hiking and biking. 866-462-8853
Greenbo Lake (Greenup) – Michael Tygart Hike – April 21
Travel back in history on this 9-mile trek named for early Kentucky explorer, Michael Tygart. The moderately easy trek leads past a mid-19th century iron furnace, historic cemetery, and iron ore pits, descends in to Pruitt Fork Valley, site of some pioneer homes and winds up along the scenic lakeshore. The hike will leave from the lodge at 9 a.m. and will end at approximately 2 p.m. $15 registration fee includes a commemorative Earth Day t-shirt. 800-325-0083
John James Audubon (Henderson)– Tiny Tot’s Art – April 13
Are you looking for the perfect class for that little budding artist, ages 3-5? Moms, dads or grandma’s are invited to bring their tiny tot’s to the Audubon Museum. Wear old clothes and experience the wonders of paint, oil pastels, chalk art and much more! Registration is required. The class will meet once a month on Friday’s for 3 month’s. Feb. 16th, March 16th & April 13th. Fee will include all 3 classes: $15.00 or $5.00 per class. 270-826-2247.
John James Audubon (Henderson) --Wildflower Extravaganza and Park Beautification/Trail Work Day – April 14
Join us for three leisurely hikes (9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.) into Audubon State Park and Nature Preserve to see the vibrant forest flora. We'll hike on rocky trails at an easy pace for plenty of botanizing along the way. Audubon State Park staff will scout out the hot spots ahead of time and lead you to the best of the best. Additional programs for all ages will include a wildflower presentation by Cooperative Extension Service Educator, Jeff Porter, as well as programs for wee ones. Later, we'll learn about the park’s “problem” plants, how they affect the native plant species, and what we can do to give our local plant species a helping hand. This program will feature a PowerPoint presentation at 2 p.m. and a weather dependant outdoor service project opportunity afterwards. This is a perfect opportunity for community groups to get outdoors. Give back to the community by beautifying your park. Staff Contact: Julie McDonald at 270-826-2247 or juliea.mcdonald@ky.gov
John James Audubon (Henderson) - Wild Flower Art at the Park- April 14
Students ages 6-10 are invited to join in the fun painting wildflowers. Time: 1-2 p.m. Fee: $5 pre-registration is required by April 13th. For more info or registration contact Kim McGrew at the Audubon Museum 270-827-1893 or kim.mcgrew@ky.gov
*Parents and children may also enjoy the leisurely Wildflower hikes at 9:00, 11:00 & 1:00.
John James Audubon (Henderson) – Audubon Artist Retreat – April 20
As the spring flowers begin to flourish our beautiful state park, it is a great time for plain-air painting. All artists are invited to attend the all day artist retreat at the Audubon Museum from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring your art work and materials and be prepared to get creative. Participants are welcome to paint outdoors or in. At 2:30 p.m., we will have a short group critique for those who wish to participate. Creative and motivating ideas are shared throughout the day. 270-826-2247.
Kentucky Dam Village (Gilbertsville)- Campers Appreciation and Earth Day Celebration – April 27 – 29
Camp two nights for the price of one! Our weekend will feature activities from our Kentucky Heritage and Culture with games, crafts, and entertainment. Bring a program to Wickliffe Mounds State Park for a discount on tours and museum entry. Sessions on trees and turning trash to treasure will be held April 28. 800-325-0146.
Lake Barkley (Cadiz) – Earth Week – April 15 – 22
Lake Barkley is celebrating Kentucky and National Earth Week with a full week of nature hikes and boat tours, local archaeology and history programs, guest speakers, live animal presentations, trail and shoreline cleanups, live entertainment, and more! 800-325-1708.
Lake Cumberland (Jamestown) and Dale Hollow Lake State Park (Burkesville) – 2nd Annual Geocaching Weekend – April 20 – 22
Celebrate Earth day at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park and Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park during our 2nd Annual Geocaching Weekend. The event will be held at both parks starting at Lake Cumberland S.R.P. on Friday and Saturday, and ending on Sunday at Dale Hollow Lake S.R.P. This event is designed for the beginning cachers to the experienced veterans. Please bring your own GPS. $15 per couple ( additional children $10), $10 per individual. Each couple will recieve two geocaching weekend
t-shirts and instructional presentation. For registration contact Robert Myers at RobertA.Myers@ky.gov or call 1-800-325-1709.
Natural Bridge (Slade) – Wildflower Weekend – April 19 – 22
The Natural Bridge area is home to hundreds to species of native plants; enjoy them this weekend with other botanists, gardeners, and nature lovers. Our field trips are for all levels of participation, from beginner to advanced wildflower enthusiast and from short easy walks in Natural Bridge to longer hikes in Red River Gorge. Our evening speakers will focus on the native plants of the region. On site registration fee is $5 per adult and $2 per child. 800-325-1710.
Pennyrile Forest (Dawson Springs)– Spring Photography Weekend – April 13 – 15
Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park's Spring Photography Weekend has gone all digital. This weekend consists of a contest with point & shoot, intermediate, and masters divisions, evening programs, and critique & award ceremony. Bring your own camera. Registration is $30. Register by April 9th and receive a $5 discount. Discount on lodging available. 800-325-1711.
Pennyrile Forest (Dawson Springs) – Camper Appreciation Weekend – April 27-29
In order to show camper’s how much Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park appreciates them, we are offering a special rate of two nights camping for the price of one! There will be a full schedule of events beginning Friday evening. Programs will have an Arbor Day and Earth Day-oriented theme. 800-325-1711.
Wickliffe Mounds (Wickliffe) – Trek Among the Trees at Wickliffe Mounds – April 28
Take a trek among the trees on the Woodswalk Trail at Wickliffe Mounds with forest rangers from the Kentucky Division of Forestry and learn how to identify local trees. Visitors will have the opportunity to investigate how native peoples utilized the forest for survival and how this important natural resource impacts life.
Free trees will be given away until the supply is exhausted. Morning trek starts at 10 a.m. and afternoon trek at 2 p.m. The admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Campers from Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky Dam Village SRP and Columbus-Belmont State Park receive discount admission to the event and museum. For more information about the day’s activities call (270) 335-3681.
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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 53 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov