Department of Parks
State Parks Offer National Trails Day Events

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Several Kentucky State Parks will be participating in National Trails Day on June 3.

National Trails Day was established in 1993 by the American Hiking Society to recognize the importance and value of recreational trails. Here are the state parks that are participating and the details:

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park (Greenup County): Conducting clean-up projects around Greenbo Lake. The park in Greenup County is seeking volunteers interested in the project. Projects will start at 9 a.m. and continue through the day, depending upon the number of volunteers who sign up. An educational hike on Fern Valley nature trail will be held at 3 p.m. For more information or to sign up to work, contact park naturalist Claire Earnhart at 606-473-7324 or 1-800-325-0083. Her email address is Claire.earnhart@ky.gov

John James Audubon State Park (Henderson County): Creatures of the Night Adventure Trek, 7-9 p.m. Departs from the start of Warbler Road (Main Office). Venture out with our Interpretation staff on National Trails Day and discover the mysticism of nighttime creatures.  Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Contact Julie McDonald at 270-826-4424 or juliea.mcdonald@ky.gov. Free.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park (Powell County): Offering several guided nature hikes, free of charge, as well as a volunteer work day to control invasive plant species on the trails.  All hikes will take place within the park. Dress appropriately for the outdoors and bring a snack and bottle of water. For information, call the park at 1-800-325-1710.

Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park (Christian and Hopkins counties): Offering several guided nature hikes, free of charge.  Participants may hike all the trails or just one.  All hikes will take place within the park.  Dress appropriately for the outdoors and bring a snack and bottle of water.  For more information contact Naturalist, Becky Clark at (270) 797-3421 or rebeccae.clark@ky.gov.

Pine Mountain State Resort Park (Bell County): Explore Blanton Forest. Enjoy a hiking adventure to explore this diverse ecological treasure on Pine Mountain's southern slope.  At 2,577 acres, Blanton Forest is one of the largest old-growth forests in the eastern United States.  Transportation by van will be departing at 10 a.m.  Registration fees are $15 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under and include guide service, site interpretation and a souvenir item.  Participation is limited to 9 persons and all are encouraged to bring water, snacks and a sack lunch.  Strenuous hiking; wear sturdy boots.  For more information, call 1-800-325-1712. Deadline to register is June 2.

For more information on National Trails Day, go to the American Hiking Society’s Web site at: http://www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd/

                                                --30--

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 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