6 Best Natural Wonders To Visit In Kentucky This Year
Kentucky is a wonderful, although often overlooked, spot for a getaway this year. From experiencing big city life in Louisville or Lexington to delving into the state's vast wildernesses, it is a fun hub of culture and adventure right where the South meets the Midwest.
If you gravitate more toward the natural side of things, whether you love being active in the great outdoors or need a peaceful space for solitude, check out these must-visit natural wonders, many within state and national parks, the next time you are in the area.
Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave National Park contains the longest known cave system in the world, with more than 426 miles of surveyed passageways! Recognized as both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, the cave remains a globally important site for geology, biology, and history, making it one of Kentucky’s most significant natural landmarks.
Located about 40 miles northeast of Bowling Green, the park preserves a complex network of underground chambers, deep vertical shafts, and winding tunnels formed over millions of years in thick Mississippian limestone commonly found here.
It's best to explore the cave through a guided tour, many of which range from short walks to more challenging routes requiring more technical skills, like climbing. The cave’s stable temperatures and dark conditions provide habitat for a variety of species, including the endangered Kentucky cave shrimp and several bat populations.
On the other hand, surface trails lead through the region's lush forests, karst landscapes, and even some sinkhole fields, with many spots offering views over the Green River running through the park. The area also has archaeological significance, containing evidence of prehistoric Native American trade/hunting routes and small communities dating back thousands of years.
Natural Bridge
The Natural Bridge State Resort Park, which sits about an hour outside of Lexington, is known for its massive sandstone arch spanning 78 feet in length and rising 65 feet above the forest floor. This eye-catching geologic feature, similar to the one of the same name in Utah, formed over millions of years through weathering and erosion of the Pennsylvanian sandstone that is common to the region.
The park contains around 2,300 acres of rugged terrain, with a variety of trails that can be either easy walks or steep climbs, depending on where you go. The most direct route to the arch is via the Original Trail, a less than 1-mile path with an elevation gain of 400 feet. Other must-do trails provide access to scenic overlooks such as Lover’s Leap and Battleship Rock. Moreover, Natural Bridge's location in the Red River Gorge Geological Area connects it to a broader network of cliffs, rock shelters, and additional natural arches.
Wildlife here is notably diverse, too, with species including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and numerous songbirds calling the park home. It is a huge draw for birdwatching and landscape photography, with fall foliage pulling in hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Cumberland Falls
The fast-flowing Cumberland Falls, which are protected by Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in southeastern Kentucky, are one of the largest waterfalls in the southeastern United States. Known as the “Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls measures 68 feet high and 125 feet wide, with the Cumberland River surrounded by other beautiful scenery within the Daniel Boone National Forest. This site is also notable for producing a rare natural phenomenon: the moonbow, a nighttime rainbow visible on clear evenings during a full moon.
The park contains multiple maintained trails that provide varying perspectives of the falls, as well as access to other cool features like ridges, gorges, and densely forested areas. Geological attractions include steep sandstone bluffs and rock overhangs shaped by centuries of erosion. The river and its tributaries also support a variety of aquatic life, while the park’s forests provide habitat for black bears, bobcats, and a range of bird species. With that, recreational opportunities extend to fishing, camping, horseback riding, and more.
Red River Gorge
The Red River Gorge Geological Area, also located within the Daniel Boone National Forest, draws nature lovers with its high concentration of natural arches, cliffs, and naturally formed rocky shelters. Known internationally among rock climbers, the area draws both recreational visitors and researchers interested in its unique geological and ecological features.
More than 100 documented natural stone arches and steep gorges formed by the Red River and its tributaries can be discovered here. The region's gorgeous geology is the result of millions of years of water and wind erosion acting on the vast amount of sandstone. Furthermore, the vegetation in this deeply lush part of the state ranges from hemlock groves in sheltered hollows to oak and hickory forests along ridges, giving it a truly wild feel.
Routes to explore these wonderful features for yourself include the Auxier Ridge Trail, Gray’s Arch Trail, and the Sky Bridge loop, each offering views of prominent formations and forested valleys. The gorge is also a designated National Natural Landmark and is part of the larger Clifty Wilderness, which contains almost 13,380 acres of protected land that is generally open to the public.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area spans a massive 170,000 acres across western Kentucky and Tennessee, situated between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. This inland peninsula contains diverse habitats, including hardwood forests, wetlands, and open grasslands, all of which you can delve into. Due to this diversity, the area also supports a wide assortment of wildlife, such as bald eagles, river otters, deer, and an enclosed bison and elk range that preserves native prairie species.
Boasting an astonishing over 500 miles of trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding, seeing this park up close is easy and accessible. The nearby lakes offer spots for fishing, launching your boat, and paddling near the shore, too. Furthermore, seasonal changes bring stunning scenery all year round, from spring wildflowers to colorful autumn foliage and a dusting of snow in the winter.
Its location between two major reservoirs also provides critical habitat for migratory birds along the Mississippi Flyway, reinforcing its ecological importance. The recreation area also has a longstanding human history, as sites within it include the remains of former river settlements and an 1850s working farm maintained as a living history location.
Big Bone Lick
What is known as the "Big Bone Lick" is now surrounded by the Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, which is recognized for its paleontological and archaeological significance. About a half-hour drive south of Cincinnati, the site’s name comes from the large Pleistocene animal bones discovered in its salt and mineral springs, including those of mammoths, mastodons, and giant ground sloths. These salt licks attracted prehistoric wildlife for thousands of years, and later became a hunting and gathering site for Indigenous peoples.
In the 18th century, European explorers first documented the location, sparking intense scientific interest that eventually led to its designation as the “Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology.” Today, the park features a very well-stocked museum displaying fossil specimens and information on Ice Age megafauna, as well as an outdoor exhibit with life-sized animal replicas. Moreover, a small herd of American bison is maintained on-site to represent one of the species that once roamed the area.
You can explore the rest of this state park on a network of trails that meander through the area's grasslands, woodlands, and remnants of ancient licks. These trails provide both educational value and an easy way to get outdoors near one of the biggest metro areas in this part of the country.
Find Your Next Adventure in Kentucky
With these beautiful locations in mind, any outdoor lover can be in for a fun adventure this year in the Bluegrass State. Kentucky's wide variety of landscapes, from hilly woodlands to riverside hangouts, grasslands, extensive cave systems, and more, makes it a year-round destination that goes beyond bourbon distilleries and horse racing. This year, see what other natural wonders you can discover in this wonderful corner in the heart of the nation!
