Department of Parks
Online Outdoors Magazine's Readers Honor Kentucky State Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park near Louisville has been named best urban escape by readers of Get Out! magazine, the online magazine of outdoor adventure in the Ohio River region.

Readers of Get Out!, which is based in Athens, Ohio, also lauded Carter Caves State Resort Park in northeastern Kentucky as having the best cave in the seven-state region the magazine covers.

Meanwhile, eastern Kentucky’s Sheltowee Trace Trail has been named best backpacking trail. The 260-mile trail runs the length of the Daniel Boone National Forest from close to the Ohio River to the Tennessee state line.  A section of the trail passes through Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin.

“These results are based on our reader survey, and Get Out! readers are the very people who live and play in the Ohio Valley,” said editor Mary Reed. “You can take these results to the bank. Better yet, take them to the trailhead.”

Park manager Chris Head said E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park is a large green space that offers a forested, natural landscape in addition to full recreational facilities for organized team sports. “We meet big city needs with a small country community feel and scenery,” he added.

Carter Caves Park Naturalist Coy Ainsley said he is extremely pleased that the state park caves won, but not surprised. Ainsley said cave lovers and other outdoor enthusiasts can always find something to do at Carter Caves State Park, which also offers 26 miles of hiking trails that highlight the area’s natural bridges.

“The Sheltowee Trace has some really nice sections for backpackers,” said Tim Eling, Red River Gorge Manager for the Daniel Boone National Forest. “It also allows people to connect with other trails to make interesting loops.”

Get Out! Magazine’s coverage region includes western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana as well as portions of Maryland and Illinois. Activities covered include hiking, cycling, paddling, snow sports and other active outdoor pursuits.

A full listing of Readers’ Choice winners is online now at http://www.getoutzine.com. For more information on Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov.

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The Kentucky 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