Winter Is This Kentucky State Park’s Secret Season and Here’s Why You Should Go

You might be waiting for signs of spring—wildflowers, green grass, and rising temperatures—to visit Kentucky's fantastic state parks. Kentucky's state parks are excellent places to swim, boat, and picnic during warmer months, but some are amazing to visit during colder times of the year. Winter may be one park's secret season; Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, Kentucky, offers fascinating cave tours throughout the season.

Winter is the perfect time to go on a cave tour at Carter Caves State Resort Park. Visitors can enjoy tours of two caves, Cascade Cave and X-Cave, all winter long. The caves' interior temperatures during winter range between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Autumn Barnett, the Parks Program Services Leader at Carter Caves State Resort Park, the 75-minute Cascade Cave tour offers views of a stunning 65-foot waterfall and cave formation called a chandelier with more than 260 stalactites. On the tour, they can also see the largest stalactite in the park, "The Dragon," and James Branch Creek, which runs through the cave.

The 45-minute X-Cave Tour, named for passages that cross in the cave's center like the letter X, takes visitors past incredible cave formations, including stalactites and cave bacon. Some formations are named the Giant Turkey, the Pipe Organ, and Headache Rock. During winter, tourists can often see big brown bats in X-Cave, but they are no longer in the cave during warmer times of the year.

Aside from phenomenal cave tours, there are many things to do at Carter Caves State Resort Park. The Gift Shop at the Welcome Center has information, restrooms, and a gift shop selling souvenirs, books, and items handcrafted in Kentucky. During the winter, birders can spot northern sparrows, finches, juncos, and red-breasted nuthatches in the park. Spring and summer bring opportunities to see other birds, like rose-breasted grosbeaks, cedar waxwings, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and red-tailed hawks. The park also has 33 miles of hiking trails, taking hikers past natural bridges, cliffs, and boxed canyons. The Three Bridges Trail is a moderately difficult 3.6-mile loop hike taking hikers past natural bridges and scenic overlooks.

Carter Caves State Resort Park also provides opportunities to camp, fish, and gem mine, as well as to play miniature golf, picnic, paddle boat, swim, rappel, and rock climb. The availability of some of these activities is dependent upon the season.

For more information, visit Carter Caves State Resort Park online.

Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill is near Morehead, Kentucky, a small town with fantastic attractions. Cave Run Lake is stunning and an excellent place to fish, kayak, and hike. The Honey and Bee Connection is an awesome honeybee education center. Root-A-Bakers Bakery and Cafe is a charming Morehouse eatery serving mouthwatering sandwiches, famous sugar cookies, and much more.

Consider planning a relaxing getaway to Morehead. This two-bedroom Airbnb cottage has a convenient location, free Wi-Fi, and allows pets.