Kentucky State Naturalist's Blog: Volunteer Trail Vacations for Kentucky

View of Pine Mountain

Great news!  Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail (PMSST) have been chosen by the American Hiking Society for Trail Volunteer Vacations for 2013.

Natural Bridge will host the event in April 2013 and the PMSST will host the event in September 2013.  These trips are great opportunities for those people who want to give back to the outdoor world through trail maintenance.  These trips are also located in many parts of the United States.

Natural Bridge in the fall

To schedule your Kentucky trip, visit the links below.

Natural Bridge American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation Link

Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail American Hiking Society Vacation Link

Up The Creek With A Paddle!

Guests on a Cave Tour

Great paddling events are planned for Carter Caves State Resort Park for March, April, and May. Warm up the Spring with an adventure float down Tygarts Creek.  Known for its caves and outdoor amenities, Carter Caves State Resort Park has a dining room, cottages, lodge rooms, golf, horseback riding, hiking trails, fishing, and camping.

‘BYOK’ Tygart Creek Kayak Float
March 23 and May 11

This is a 6-mile kayak trip that navigates paddlers down Tygarts Creek, which cuts through one of Kentucky's most scenic limestone gorges. You will be on the creek for at least 3.5 hours. “BYOK” stands for bring your own kayak. The park provides the transportation shuttle from the Welcome Center and guides for your trip on the creek. You will see high cliffsides and the natural beauty that the spring has to offer. There will be a side trip into one of Kentucky’s largest natural limestone tunnels. Required equipment includes; kayak, paddle, PFD (life jacket), the correct attire for cool-weather paddling, a complete change of clothes, treaded footwear, flashlight (for natural tunnel visit), sack lunch, bottled water and a dry bag for your supplies.  Participants meet at the Welcome Center at 10 a.m. The cost is $25 per person. Limited space available; preregistration is required. Call the park’s recreation department to register, 1-800-325-0059. (This trip may be canceled due to high or low water levels or extreme weather conditions).

Paddling on Tygarts Creek

Tygart Creek ‘Regretta’ Canoe Excursion 

April 13, 14 and May 12

This is a 6-mile canoe trip that navigates paddlers through the Tygarts Creek Gorge, one of Kentucky's most scenic limestone gorges.  You will be on the creek for at least 3.5 hours.  Canoe experience is required. If you don’t have the experience, then you’ll know why we call this a “REGRETTA.” Along the way you’ll see high cliffsides and the natural beauty that the spring has to offer. There will also be a side trip into one of Kentucky’s largest natural limestone tunnels. A guide, canoes, paddles, life jackets and transportation to and from the creek are provided. Required equipment is warm clothes, extra change of clothes, treaded footwear, flashlight (for natural tunnel visit), sack lunch, bottled water and a dry bag for your supplies. The cost is $25 per person. Limited space available; preregistration is required. Participants meet at the Welcome Center at 9:30 a.m. (This trip may be canceled due to high or low water levels or extreme weather conditions).  Call the park’s recreation department to register at 1-800-325-0059.

Directions: From Interstate 64, Exit 161, take U.S. 60 east. Go approximately 2 miles and turn left on KY 182 north. The park entrance is 3 miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.

Volunteer Trail Vacations for Kentucky

Photo of Pine Mountain by Brett Bentley

Great news!  Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail (PMSST) have been chosen by the American Hiking Society for Trail Volunteer Vacations for 2013.

Natural Bridge will host the event in April 2013 and the PMSST will host the event in September 2013.  These trips are great opportunities for those people who want to give back to the outdoor world through trail maintenance.  These trips are also located in many parts of the United States.

Natural Bridge in the fall

To schedule your Kentucky trip, visit the links below.

Natural Bridge American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation Link

Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail American Hiking Society Vacation Link

Pine Mountain State Resort Park

Yesterday (February 21) I traveled to the eastern part of Kentucky and took this scenic view at Pine Mountain State Resort Park.  This is the view you can get from staying in one of the lodge rooms.





Hope you enjoy the spectacular beauty.  For additional information or to book your reservation at this park, please visit this LINK.

Future Sportsman's Weekend

Join us Saturday, March 23 at Rough River Dam State Resort Park for a fun-filled event dedicated to getting youngsters interested in and actively involved in hunting, fishing, and the Great Outdoors!  Saturday is filled with hands-on activities including basic archery instruction, Explore Bowhunting activities, casting and fishing, target shooting, and educational programming by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  In addition, Grayson's Landing Restaurant will feature a Buffalo and Wild Game Buffet on Saturday evening with seatings at 4:30, 6:00, and 7:30 PM Central (reservations recommended).

Activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. CENTRAL on Saturday and continue into the evening.  Registration for activities and programs is only $10 per participant and overnight packages are available for $135 plus tax and include Saturday night lodging for two, Buffalo Dinner for two Saturday evening, breakfast for two on Sunday morning, and registration for all activities.

While all age groups are welcome, children must be a minimum age of 8 to participate in archery shooting and most activities are aimed at ages 6-12.  For more information about this exciting event or for inquiries about the Buffalo and Wild Game Buffet contact the park at 270-257-2311 or 1-800-325-1713.

White Nose Syndrome found at Carter Caves and Kingdom Come State Parks

"I knew eventually this deadly disease would make it to our Kentucky State Parks.  It is with sadness that I share this article below. This could be one of the largest ecological disasters that we will see in quite some time."  Ron Vanover

For a better understanding about White Nose Syndrome, view the video below.

Article below from Carrie Stambaugh, The Ashland Independent

OLIVE HILL — The fatal bat disease White-Nose Syndrome has spread to Carter Caves State Resort Park.

Officials confirmed Thursday that bats collected from three caves inside the park were infected with the deadly fungal disease that has been spreading rapidly across the U.S. since its discovery in 2006, killing millions of the insect-eating mammals. Nearly 40,000 endangered Indiana Bats hibernate annually in Carter Caves, representing half of those in Kentucky, park officials say.

Bats at Kingdom Come State Park Nature Preserve in Letcher County at Mammoth Cave National Park also tested positive for the disease in January. The disease has now spread across the commonwealth, having been found in 10 counties at 25 different sites.

Carter Caves Park Naturalist Coy Ainsley called the news terrible. “We knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier,” he said.

“Audubon  Museums, Traveling Exhibit”
75^th  Anniversary exhibit

January 28 ~February 10

As our first exhibit in the series of the “75^th Anniversary exhibits," Audubon Museum welcomes home the traveling exhibit. The exhibit has traveled across the United States for the past seven years, serving approximately 24 museums. Audubon Museum is proud to showcase these unique artifacts by exhibiting them to the public, January 28^th at the annual Friends of Audubon luncheon through February 10.

Susan Towles exhibit 

75^th Anniversary exhibit

January 28 ~April 17 

This exhibit is a brief history of Susan Towle's life and accomplishments during her years in Henderson, Kentucky.  Towels played a huge role in how the John James Audubon collection came about and the efforts to build a museum to house it.  

For further information contact: Alan Gehret, Curator or Kim McGrew-Liggett, Arts Administrator at the JJA Museum (270) 827-1893.  Visit the Park WEBLINK for additional information on cottage rentals and other park amenities.