Kentucky: Caves, Waterfalls and Bourbon

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® stretches across the entire state. The well-known cuisine also offers its own selection: Kentucky favorites include Hot Browns, Bourbon Balls, beer cheese and western Kentucky barbecue. Caves, waterfalls, hiking trails and historic sites offer other highlights. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip to Kentucky, first consider which of these experiences you want to shape your stay.

Caves: Mapped expanses and guided tours

Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system; 412 miles have been mapped so far. That length may grow as exploration continues. Cave tours are offered year-round at Mammoth Cave National Park, and reservations are recommended. Availability changes seasonally and depending on staffing, so check tour options for your visit in advance.

At Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, different numbers take center stage: the park has 20 caves. Four are used for guided tours; two can be explored independently with a permit. Access and permit requirements may change, so it’s a good idea to check them before your visit. At Mammoth Cave, the cave system’s mapped length conveys its scale; Carter Caves gives visitors a concrete guide to the number and types of exploration opportunities.

History is also part of the cave experience: Saltpetre Cave at Carter Caves State Resort Park served as a saltpeter mine during the War of 1812. This takes the story beyond the caves’ natural formations to their past use.

Waterfalls and hiking trails

Cumberland Falls is 125 feet high and known as the “Niagara of the South.” At full moon, a moonbow may be visible there; moonlight, weather and river conditions all play a role. No other such phenomenon occurs anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park has 17 miles of hiking trails leading to scenic areas.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park offers ten hiking trails ranging from half a mile to seven and a half miles long. Its natural sandstone arch spans 78 feet and is 65 feet high; the park is near the Red River Gorge Geological Area. Visitors can hike to Natural Bridge or take the Skylift. Its operation depends on seasonal conditions. The trail figures offer different points of reference: Cumberland Falls lists the total designated trail mileage, while Natural Bridge gives the number and length of individual trails.

At Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, you can explore 85 miles of hiking trails and 14,000 acres of wilderness. One trail passes through the historic Cumberland Gap Pass.

Horses, crafts and history

At Kentucky Horse Park, visitors can reserve horseback rides and pony rides at the Visitor Center on the day of their visit. Availability and reservation procedures may change. At the Hall of Champions, visitors can meet the residents featured that day; the daily program may also change. For a thematic look at horse history, the International Museum of the Horse covers more than 64,000 square feet. It explores the history of the horse and its special relationship with humans over time. Some exhibits may be temporarily closed during renovations.

At Fort Boonesborough, the site of Kentucky’s second settlement, a working fort has been reconstructed with cabins, log houses and furnishings. Artisans based there demonstrate traditional crafts and give visitors a sense of pioneer life in Kentucky. A different historical perspective awaits on tours of Waveland State Historic Site: they explore the daily lives of the family and the enslaved people who lived and worked there in the 1850s.

The Kentucky Artisan Center displays works by more than 800 Kentucky artisans in its galleries and exhibitions. The number of participating artisans may change. The Country Music Highway, a scenic byway, runs through seven counties in far eastern Kentucky, along the West Virginia border and past some of the state’s most beautiful state parks.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Cumberland County, Hancock County, Woodford County, Perry County, Harlan, Allen County, Estill County, Bourbon County, Mercer County, Graves County, Clark County, Calloway County, Thomas County, Breckinridge, Ohio County, Christian County, Montgomery County, Bullitt County, Mccracken County, Pike County, Boyd County, Hart County, Marion County, Simpson County, Madison County, Whitley County, Grant County, Daviess County, Boone County, Hopkins County, Lyon County, Shelby County, Barren County, Jessamine County, Floyd County, Taylor County, Meade County, Warren, Laurel, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Kenton, Campbell, Scott, Rowan, Hardin, Pulaski, Nelson, Logan, Martin County, Lawrence County, Bell County, Muhlenberg, Livingston, Marshall, Mason County, Owen County, Breathitt County, Morgan County, Union County, Grayson County, Garrard County, McCreary County, Trigg County, Knox County, Monroe County, Roundhill, Letcher and Carter County.

For the overall travel guide: USA.