Department of Parks
Feeling Adventurous? Try Kentucky State Parks’ Backcountry Adventure Series

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Interested in exploring some of the most scenic natural areas of the state? Maybe canoeing down remote streams? Crawling through a cave or falling asleep under the stars?

Then the Kentucky State Parks have something just for you in 2007. The Backcountry Adventure Series offers these opportunities and more at six state resort parks around the state starting in January.

There are four types of adventures to choose: one-day excursion, one- overnight backpack trip, one-overnight canoe camp, and a two-overnight backpack or backpack/canoe combo trip.  Participate in three out of the four types of excursions offered and each adventurer will receive a $50 Kentucky State Park Gift Card.  Participate in all four types of trips and each adventurer will receive a $100 gift card.  Gift cards can be used at any Kentucky State Park for lodging, dining, camping, gift shops and more.  In addition to the gift card, if you participate in all four types of adventures, your name will go in a drawing for a future one-night adventure excursion for two people at the park of your choice.

Upon arriving at your first adventure the naturalist trip leader will give you an Adventure Passport that you will keep and must take with you on all trips.  This will be stamped by your trip leader and will be your verification of participation.

Trips require registration and have participation limits, so check them out. Here’s a list of the parks, events and dates. For more details, including contact names and phone numbers, visit  www.parks.ky.gov and click on the “Backcountry Adventure Series” link.

Barren River State Resort Park

Barren River's Wild Cave Days – March 31

Backpacking Mammoth Cave National Park – March 10

Day Hike Mammoth Cave – March 24

Green River Overnight Canoe Trip – September 29 and October 6

Bluelicks Battlefield State Resort Park

Licking River Overnight Canoe Trip – April 21, June 16, July 21 and September 22

Carter Caves State Resort Park

Tygarts Creek Regretta- March 31 and April 14

Bat Cave Extreme – June 2 and July 14

4 C’s Fall Trek – September 29^th

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

Backpacking 101 at Cumberland Falls – January 27, February 17, and March 12

Cumberland River Overnight Canoe Trip – March 3 and October 6

Backpacking/Canoe 2-night Combo – March 16

Hiking the Cumberlands - February 3, April 7, May 5, June 2, and November 3

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park

Michael Tygart Trail Day Hike – January 20, and April 21

Claylick Loop Trail Day Hike – April 7

Carpenter’s Run Trail Day Hike – February 24

Beginner’s Backpacking – March 10-11, Sept. 29-30, Oct. 13-14, Nov. 10-11.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Beginner Backpacking – March 3, 10, 17, 24, September 22, 29, November 10 - 12, and 17

Exploring Arch Country – January 13, February 9-10, June 9, July 14, August 11, and December 1

--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