Carter Caves State Resort Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- parks.ky.gov(606) 286-4411
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Construction Currently the lower bathhouse at the Carter Caves Campgound is under renovation.It is anticipated that the completion will take 6 weeks to complete from 7-13-26.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Partial closure Beginning on August 19th, the Carter Caves Public swimming pool will be CLOSED Monday thru Thursday until Labor Day Weekend, with its last day of operation on September 7th. Check out Facebook page for more info.
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Carter Caves State Resort Park is a 1,820-acre park in Carter County, about 5 miles northeast of Olive Hill.
Things to do include cave tours, rock climbing, horseback riding, golf, and historic sites. Its trail network totals roughly 15 miles, according to the park. For overnight stays there are campsites (tent sites). Roofed lodging includes cabins.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
Fall Cave Tour Schedule 2026 Click Here for more specific information on both guided and self guided cave information.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Pets
Pets are welcome in most outdoor areas but must be leashed; restricted from nature preserves, beaches and some historic sites; service animals always permitted. Pet-friendly rooms/cabins available for an additional fee ($50 + tax).
Statewide rule from Kentucky's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Fees and passes
Free general admission: "We charge no general admission fee." Some historic sites/museums and activities charge (see park listings).
Statewide fee rule from Kentucky's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (campsites, kentuckystateparks.reserveamerica.com); lodge rooms and cottages via per-park online booking links (guestrez.megasyshms.com)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
The Lewis Caveland Lodge offers rooms featuring a private patio overlooking the surrounding woodlands. Rooms available by late afternoon. High-speed wireless internet service available at the lodge. The park also has cottages and a campground that's open year-round, offering primitive, RV, and equestrian campsites. For more campsite photos and camping reservations CLICK HERE. Equestrian campsites available ONLY by calling the park directly at (606) 653-0719. Availability of equestrian campsites may be limited if not booked at least 10 days in advance of arrival. During winter operations, cottages are available 7 days a week, and lodge rooms are available Wednesday through Saturday night.
Read more from the park
Backcountry Campsites
Eagles Nest Backcountry Campsite - The Eagles Nest Backcountry campsite is located along the 4 C’s Trail on the southwestern side of Smoky Lake. At this area, there are two sites available for camping: one available for tent camping, the other provides a half-faced shelter. Both are available for reservation by contacting the front desk at the Lewis Caveland Lodge. The tent site can accommodate up to 4 people and is a very short distance from the half-faced shelter that can accommodate up to 4 people as well. The sites are referred to as Eagle Nest 1 (the half-faced shelter at $20 per night) and Eagle Nest 2 (the tent camping site at $15 per night). Please be sure to specify which site you would like to reserve when speaking with the front desk staff. For reservations, call 606-286-4411.
Johnson Homeplace Backcountry Campsite
The Johnson Homeplace Campsite is located along the 4 C’s trail on the southeastern side of Smoky Lake. This site is large enough to accommodate several backpacking tents but DOES NOT include a half-faced shelter like the Eagles Nest site. Johnson Homeplace is available for reservation at $15 per night and can be made by calling the front desk at the Lewis Caveland Lodge. For reservations, call 606-286-4411. For a YouTube video of both backcountry campsites CLICK HERE.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Wildlife viewing and birdingCave toursHistoric sites and toursFishingHorseback ridingHikingGolfCanoeing and kayakingPicnickingRock climbingSwimmingCamping
Trails
Guided Horseback Riding
Guided horseback riding at Carter Caves is currently not available. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to check back often for updates on when rides will resume.
Hiking
Discover the above-ground beauty of Carter Caves on 33 miles of wooded nature trails. These trails highlight many fascinating geological features, including natural bridges, arches, caves, sinkholes, cliffs, and a boxed canyon. Trails range from easy to difficult hiking level ability. The trail system supports over 15 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.
Swimming
Swimming
The Carter Caves public swimming pool is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day! It offers 3 features for your enjoyment: the diving pool, the Olympic sized pool, and the kiddie pool. The pool is open daily from 10am to 6pm (weather permitting). Fees: $6 for Adults, $5 for Children, $4 for Campers and Mondays: $3 for all. Overnight lodge and cottage guests swim at no charge. Information is subject to change without notice. Cash only!
Boating and paddling
Paddling
Bring your boat to experience the beauty and rugged undisturbed terrain of the 45-acre Smoky Lake. During the summer months, guided trips of Smoky Lake allow visitors of all experience levels to paddle the lake by canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Experienced paddlers can enjoy a scenic trip on Tygart Creek offered during the spring. Click Here for more information on seasonal boat rentals (kayaks, paddleboards, canoes). Call the Department of Recreation for more information.
Fishing
Fishing
Smoky Valley Lake is Kentucky's first trophy bass lake! In addition to largemouth bass, anglers vie for bluegill, catfish, and crappie. Fishing licenses are required for both residents and non-residents and are available at the front desk. Click here to purchase a license online at Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Don't have a fishing pole? No problem! Ask at the park about their fishing loaner program where you can check out FREE equipment. Click here for waterbody information with boat ramp details.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Playground
- Visitor center
- Park or camp store
Camping
- Tent camping
Lodging
- Cabins
Recreation
- Golf course
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 344 Caveland Drive
Olive Hill, KY 41164 - Nearest town
- Olive Hill — about 5 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.3721, -83.1273
- Phone
- (606) 286-4411
- paul.tierney@ky.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Kentucky State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026; page says updated Oct 29, 2026
- Find a Park listing IDs + Sitefinity listings OData API (/api/default/listings) used by the site
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology