Department of Parks
Winter Adventure Weekend Planned Jan. 29-31 at Carter Caves State Resort Park

OLIVE HILL, Ky. – Carter Caves State Resort Park will present a weekend of hiking, canoeing, cave tours, winter survival and other adventures with its first Winter Adventure Weekend Jan. 29-31.

Guests will be able to select from a list of trips they want to take – for beginners and advanced winter adventurers alike. All of the trips and events are led by guides.

Each trip is placed in a level based on the difficulty and skills that are required. The higher the level, the more skills and special equipment required. Guests will be responsible for appropriate dress, water and snacks and other items.

A list of the trips, along with registration information and other details about the weekend, is available at www.winteradventureweekend.com. All participants must register online at this site beginning Jan. 9. The non-refundable fee for adults (13 years old and older) is $25 and the non-refundable fee for children ages 6-12 is $20. (You must be at least 6 years old to participate. Some trips have age requirements.)

Other trip topics include wildlife crafts, pre-historic peoples, technical tree climbing, rappelling, zip lining and exploring natural bridges.

This event replaces the Crawlathon, which was cancelled in January 2009 due to the White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing bats but has not been found in Kentucky. Several caves at the state park have been closed as a precaution but two caves remain open for tours.

Carter Caves State Resort Park is located at 344 Caveland Drive in Olive Hill, Ky. The park has a lodge with a restaurant, cottages and campground. Besides cave tours, activities include hiking, swimming, boating and fishing.

The park is located off Interstate 64 at exit 161. Take U.S. 60 east. Go approximately 2 miles and turn left on KY 182 north. The park entrance is 3 miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.

The phone number for the park is 1-800-325-0059.

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov