This is a list of nature centers and environmental education centers in the state of Kentucky.
To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.
Name | Location | County | Region | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beckley Creek Park | Louisville | Jefferson | North Central | 616 acres, includes the PNC Achievement Center for Education and Interpretation, operated by The Parklands of Floyds Fork |
Berea College Forestry Outreach Center | Berea | Madison | East Central | website, The Pinnacles hiking trails, education center, operated by Berea College which owns over 9,000 acres of forest land |
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest | Clermont | Bullitt | North Central | 14,000-acre arboretum, forest, and nature preserve, education center, art gallery, 35 miles of trails |
Blackacre State Nature Preserve | Louisville | Jefferson | North Central | 170 acre farm, trails, 19th century homestead, environmental education programs |
Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge | Danville | Boyle | Bluegrass | website, 500 acres, features the Mary Ashby Cheek Nature Center |
Clay Hill Memorial Forest | Campbellsville | Taylor | South Central Kentucky | website, 158-acre educational and research woodland that is managed by Campbellsville University as a regional center for environmental education |
Clyde E. Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary & Life Adventure Center | Frankfort | Franklin | Bluegrass | website, 374 acres, operated by the Central Kentucky Audubon Society |
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve | Goshen | Oldham | North Central | website, 168 acres, exhibits include ecosystem dioramas, Native American life, Kentucky fish, natural history learning areas |
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary | Lexington | Fayette | Bluegrass | website, 287 acres, located in the Kentucky River Palisades, managed by an independent board in conjunction with the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, features the Winifred W. Haggart Nature Center |
Fort Wright Nature Center | Fort Wright | Kenton | Northern Kentucky | website, 13 acre park, operated by the city |
Gladie Visitor Center | Stanton | Powell | Central | website, cultural heritage, natural history and geology of the Red River Gorge Geological Area and Clifty Wilderness in the Daniel Boone National Forest |
Jenny Wiley State Resort Park | Prestonsburg | Floyd | Eastern | 2,871 acres, includes a nature center |
Joe Ford Nature Center | Owensboro | Daviess | Western | website, 14 acres, operated by the city |
John James Audubon State Park | Henderson | Henderson | Western | About 700 acres, features the Audubon Museum, with exhibits about John James Audubon's life and art and a nature center with hands-on exhibits |
Land Between the Lakes Woodlands Nature Station | Trigg | Western | Outdoor native wildlife enclosures and native plant trails, indoor exhibits, programs, website | |
Lost River Cave | Bowling Green | Warren | South Central Kentucky | cave tours by boat, 68 acres with 3 miles of trails, nature center |
Louisville Nature Center | Louisville | Jefferson | North Central | 41 acres in Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve |
Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center | Livingston | Rockcastle | South Central Kentucky | website, operated by Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest |
Natural Bridge State Resort Park | Slade | Powell | Central | 2,200 acre forested park and nature preserve with 22 miles of trails, a 60-acre lake, nature center |
Pine Mountain State Resort Park | Pineville | Bell | Southeast | 1,159 acres, includes the Pine Mountain Interpretive Center, golf course and mini golf |
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary | Lexington | Fayette | Bluegrass | website, 734 acres, over 10 miles of trails, nature center, operated by the city |
Salato Wildlife Education Center | Frankfort | Franklin | Bluegrass | website, operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, includes indoor exhibits and outdoor trails with native wildlife on display, 262 acres, 4 miles of trails |
Toyota Environmental Education Center | Georgetown | Scott | North Central | website, operated by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, park with 1 mile trail, education programs |
Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery | Jamestown | Russell | South Central Kentucky | Features a visitor/environmental center, exhibits about fish, natural history and the environment |