This Underrated Kentucky Park Has Something For Every Type Of Outdoor Enthusiast

Kentucky is quickly emerging as a popular tourist destination, and it's easy to see why. The Bluegrass State has a little something for every type of traveler. Visitors can enjoy beautiful views, explore unique cities with mouthwatering gastronomy, or indulge in their adventurous side and try out heart-pumping outdoor activities. If the latter sounds like your style, it's time to plan a trip to Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. 

Road trip routes that visit multiple distilleries inspire bourbon enthusiasts to make the trip, and bluegrass brings the music lovers, but for nature lovers, Kentucky's parks are the real attraction. Some of the most popular destinations in Kentucky for outdoor enthusiasts include the internationally famous Red River Gorge (a dream destination for climbers), while Cumberland Lake is a popular summer getaway spot for countless midwestern families. The world's longest-known cave system, Mammoth Cave, is another popular place to visit.

With so many places to explore, many visitors overlook the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. You may be considering skipping it due to a jam-packed Kentucky itinerary, but that would be a mistake. Carve out some time to visit this underrated gem, and you'll be rewarded with gorgeous views, great campgrounds, and thrilling adventures galore.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is located in southeastern Kentucky and extends into parts of northeastern Tennessee. It is just three hours by car from major cities like Knoxville, Nashville, and Lexington. The preserve encompasses about 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau and includes portions of the Big South Fork River and its tributaries. In 1974, Big South Fork was designated as a National Recreation Area and a National River, so it is managed by the United States National Park Service. Parts of the river are also protected as a Kentucky Wild River.

Despite its abundance of activities, growing popularity, and close proximity to other popular outdoor destinations like Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountain National Park, it remains unspoiled by crowds. About 800,000 people visit each year, but with the park's massive size, there is plenty of space to spread out. It's easy to find a little slice of this natural paradise all for yourself.

The landscape includes a large canyon, carved by the powerful Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, which runs right through the center of the preserve. Epic cliffs, sandstone arches, and lush forests await. Kentucky's tallest waterfall — Yahoo Falls — towers 113 feet and is located within the Big South Fork National Recreation Area.There are five campgrounds with sites for tents and RVs, with three in Kentucky and two on the Tennessee side.

Camping, hiking, and whitewater paddling are all popular adventures here, and there are multiple sandstone arches located throughout the park — Twin Arches are two of the most popular. They're the largest natural arches within the park and can be reached via the Twin Arch Trail, which is just under a mile long. Once there, you can relax with a nice picnic lunch and enjoy the scenery. Alternatively, you can continue along the Twin Arches Loop Trail, which will pass by an old historic home called Jake's Place and several large rock overhangs used as shelters by the region's Indigenous people and early settlers. Blue Heron Overlook is an easy half-mile walk with epic views, and Devil's Jump Overlook is located just steps from the parking lot with views of the river.

If you're interested in paddlesports, the main river and its tributaries have some amazing whitewater, and visitors can paddle rapids ranked from Class II (moderate) to Class IV (difficult) in canoes, kayaks, or whitewater rafts. Bring your own boats along and use the public river access points, or book a guided trip. There are full-day and half-day trips available, usually starting at around $100 per person. Then, if you need a rest from all the hiking and paddling, take a ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway. The 14-mile train trip journeys down 600 feet into the gorge and stops at the Blue Heron Mining Company, an open-air museum about the history of coal mining.