This beautiful fieldstone lodge offers 28 rooms with full amenities. Each room features a private balcony or patio overlooking the surrounding woodlands. Rooms available by late afternoon. Check-out by noon, Eastern Time. Pets are not allowed (with the exception of service dogs). View accommodation details.
High speed wireless internet service available at the lodge.
Enjoy the seclusion of a beautiful two-bedroom cottage. Eleven are available (10 have 4 queen beds and 1 has 4 double beds). The newly-built structures offer modern conveniences such as automatic dishwashers and microwave ovens along with covered decks that offer scenic views of the park’s wooded hills. Ten of the eleven cottages have two bathrooms. Nine have wood-burning fireplaces. Tableware, cooking utensils and linens are provided with fresh linens available daily. Cottages available by late afternoon. Check-out by 11:00 AM, Eastern Time. Pets are not allowed (with the exception of service dogs).
Enjoy the great outdoors! The campground features 89 campsites including 30 tent sites with utilities, a dump station, and two central service buildings with rest rooms and showers. The tent sites do not have water or electric. Closed for season from mid-November to mid-March.
Two Group Camp Buildings located in our primitive campground are available for reservation. Each building contains six bunk beds without mattresses. Linens are not provided. Guests will need to bring their own bedding. Each building is equipped with electrical plugs and lights, and accomodates up to 12 people. $48 per night. Call toll free for reservations, 1-888-459-7275.
Gift Shop & Welcome Center
The Welcome Center provides cave tour information and orientation, rest rooms, and a gift shop featuring authentic Kentucky handcrafts. Our gift shop offers the largest selection of bat items and information in Kentucky. A wide variety of souvenirs, handcrafts, candles, jellies and coal crafted items can also be found. One of our most popular items is the rack display for kids and adults alike.
The gift shop is open from 9:00am - 5:00pm daily and will be open until 6:00pm through the summer months.
Miniature Golf
Also enjoy the 18-hole miniature golf course. In the off-season, clubs and balls are available at the campground registration building and the Lodge front desk. Open seasonally.
RATES
Ages 13 & Older: $4.00
Children 4-12: $3.00
Children 3 & under: Free
Picnicking & Playgrounds
Picnic tables, grills, and playgrounds are located throughout the park. Two rental shelters are available.
Planned Recreation
Enjoy year-round interpretive programs on native plants, animals, and local history under the direction of a full-time naturalist. Daily summer recreational activities are conducted by a seasonal recreation staff.
Swimming
A large swimming pool, located a half-mile drive from the lodge, is free to lodge and cottage guests (show key).
Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. Lifeguard-protected.
Hours - 10 AM-7 PM.
Campers and non-lodging guests are charged $3.50 per adult; $2.50 per child 3-12 years of age. Two years and under free.
COMMUNITY POOL HOURS:
Please call ahead to confirm community pool hours which are determined by seasonal help availability, and many of whom are returning back to school during mid-August.
Tennis
Two tennis courts are in the lodge area. Guest may check out rackets.
Take a guided canoe trip on the 45–acre Smokey Lake to experience the beauty of the rugged, undisturbed terrain.
Fees: $10 for adults (13 and up), $5 for children. Seasonal participants must sign up in advance at the Welcome Center.
Smokey Valley Lake is Kentucky’s first and only trophy bass lake! In addition to largemouth bass, anglers vie for bluegill, catfish, and crappie. Fishing license required for both residents and non-residents and are available at the front desk. Bait can be purchased at the campground.
Naturalist/Recreation Programs
Click here for a view by month of recreation and naturalist programs, and other happenings at the park. This calendar will help you plan your trip based around your favorite park activities!
Please be sure to check out the Special Events section of the web site for annual park events.
Hiking Trails
Discover the above ground beauty of Carter Caves on 26 miles of wooded nature trails. Trails range from easy to difficult hiking level ability. The Kiser Hollow Trail is a multi-use 10-mile trail for horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking. There is a parking area at the trailhead for trucks with horse trailers. Guests bring and ride mountain bikes. No ATVs allowed, and no overnight camping on the trail.
Horseback Riding Trails
Kiser Hollow Horse Trail is a relatively new trail that enables guests to bring their own horses and ride.
Open: mid-April through September. Closed: October through mid-April.
Guided rides are available from 9:00am - 7:00pm daily. The cost is $15 per person. The trail is 3 1/2 miles and lasts about 45 minutes. Pony rides available for children. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be 45 minute wagon rides through the State Forest for $10 per person. Check with the stables for more information.
Seasonal mid-April to September.
Click to view
Trail Information.
Memorial Weekend Tours
Summer 2009 Schedule
The Carter County region has the highest concentration of caves to be found in any area of Kentucky. Two of the park’s caves offer guided tours year-round, Cascade Cave and X-Cave. Horn Hollow Cave is an undeveloped Cave that can be toured on your own by filling out a permit at the Welcome Center. Enjoy a subterranean adventure, created by nature over millions of years.
View tour information.
Bat Cave, Saltpeter Cave & Laurel Cave are closed until further notice! White Nose Syndrome, a disease that is killing 90-100% of hibernating bats in infected caves, is getting closer to the state of Kentucky. All three of these caves are important Bat Hibernacula's for the Federally Endangered Indiana Bat. The Department of Parks closed these caves in order to help prevent the introduction of White Nose Syndrome. For additional information on the White Nose Syndrome you can visit the following website: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html.
Test your skills on the 9-hole regulation golf course. A fully-equipped pro shop, rental riding carts, pull carts, and clubs are available. Open year-round, weather permitting. Pro Shop direct number: 606-286-8881. View more information.
