Outdoor Wanderlust recently visited Carter Caves State Park. We had a great time at a lesser known Kentucky State Park even with heavy rain. This park should be on your to do list if you’re passing through eastern Kentucky. Here is the full report of the lodge, nearby hiking trails, rock bridges, and Cave Tours.

Planning Our Trip

We won a silent auction item that included a free night in the Kentucky State Park Resort of our choice. We decided to visit a park that was new to us, and hoped to check out some fresh mountain bike trails. I researched the parks that included mountain bike trails, and excluded those with which we already had considerable familiarity. Carter Caves State Park was within a few hours driving distance and has over 12 miles of connecting contain bike trails. I also wisely (as it turns out), explored other activities and favored to the option of taking a cave tour in case the weather was unpleasant.

The Restaurant

Carter Caves State Park Lodge was typical for a Kentucky State Park. We visited Tierney’s Cavern Restaurant for lunch shortly after arriving to Olive Hill, Kentucky. The menu was standard for Kentucky State Parks. My veggie burger and french fries were enjoyable, and the view from the lodge overlooks a forest, which provided a peaceful backdrop for our lunch. If you’re not prepared to make your own food or just want to get out of the weather than this is a decent place to eat. There is a small town outside of the park but you’ll only find a small pizza place and a grocery store, so beggars can’t be choosers.

The Lodge Room

We normally opt to hammock camp or to stay in our van but as part of the silent auction we had a night in the lodge. The lodge room was also fairly typical of state parks. There was a typical restroom with standard shower/tub and toilet, a vanity in the main room with a sink, coffee maker, and large mirror. The queen bed was comfortable, and the room included a desk, couch, and an outdoor wooden balcony overlooking the hiking trails.  We struggled to control the temperature in the room. The air conditioner worked exceedingly well.  As soon as the room warmed, we would adjust and nearly instantly the room was chilly. In the summer, I am sure this feature would be glorious. To be honest, the room was comfortable, but not outstanding.  If you are in a state park, logic would dictate you likely will not spend all day cooped up in a room anyway.

The Caves

As it turned out, most of Kentucky experienced heavy rains and flooding the weekend we visited Carter Caves. We began our visit first thing in the morning with a tour of Cascade Cave. The day we visited, the cave was particularly aptly named. The rain from the ground level created waterfalls that the guide said were nearly never present and made the established falls even stronger. Our group was small, with only two parties of four people total, and the guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and relaxed. The tour was a true highlight of the trip.

At one point, the path exists the cave and overlooks a stream. The landscape revealed the after effects of a cave collapse hundreds of years ago. The boulders, trees, stream, and rock wall facing rivaled most any spot in Kentucky I have witnessed with my own eyes. The sound of the rushing water, cave behind us, rock overhangs, and the beautiful foliage created a peaceful nook that the visitors were allowed to absorb due to the relaxed pace of our small group.

The tour continued on to grand rooms, and a stories high waterfall. We were greeted by small and large brown bats, as well as cave crickets. We had planned to visit the other cave while in the state park. However, by the 4:30 p.m. start time, the cave had flooded.  The ranger determined it was unsafe to tour the cave, so we will have to check out the cave during our return trip.

The Trails

We explored a few miles of trail surrounding the lodge. Unfortunately, due to the flooding, the trails were been unsuitable for mountain biking. The Three Bridges Trail led down to Smoky Bridge, a natural rock bridge extending over a stream. The trail to the bridge was short, but beautiful. While it was close to the lodge, it felt secluded. We also took the Raven Bridge Trail to Raven Bridge, another impressive rock bridge feature. This trail was slightly longer and featured waterfalls along the way.

We left the lodge area and took a portion of the Carter Caves Cross Country Trails out to the Shangra La Arch. Traversing this trail was somewhat challenging. The high water in the stream required some true scrambling.  After passing through the arch, there was a set of very steep steps which were somewhat wobbly and angled. However, the view was certainly worth the unsteady footing and the mud smeared on my pants.

We hope to visit Carter Caves State Park in the future and will report back on the mountain bike trails.

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