Kentucky Nature

Smoky Bridge- Waterfall Bridge

Box Canyon - Carter Caves Sandstone and Tygarts Creek Limestone

Carter Caves State Resort Park is located on the Western edge of the Cumberland Plateau in Carter County, Kentucky.  The feature called Natural Bridge is a natural limestone arch.  It bridges over Cave Branch in the park.

The feature known as Smoky Bridge is a large natural limestone arch similar to Natural Bridge.  Under the limestone of Smoky Bridge is a dry valley where Smoky Creek is located.  The stream bed flows after heavy storms.  Two springs supply water that runs under Smoky Bridge.  Smoky Bridge is considered to have formed by the waterfall arch process.

Cascades Cave is located in Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserve. This is an area in
Carter Caves State Resort Park.  It is well south of the park lodge but it can be accessed after a short drive.  In Cascades Cave a part of the cave named the “Cathedral Room” forms beneath several sinkholes.  The room contains a variety of columns, stalactites, straws and stalagmites.   Sinkholes above the “Cathedral Room” conduct surface water into cracksand crevices leading down into the “Cathedral Room.” These sinkholes have diverted a large amount of surface water into the cave,which has allowed a number of dripstone formations to form over the years.

Another cave in the Cascades Caverns area is called North Cave.  At one time the caves were competing for cave tour money.  Now the caves are operated by the state park.

Cascade Cave - Cathedral Room

Two state nature preserves are located in Carter Caves State Park.  One preserve is Bat Cave State Nature Preserve and one preserve is Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserve.  The set aside areas were designed to protect several rare and endangered species, including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), mountain maple (Acer spicatum), and Canadian yew (Taxus canadensis).

In Cascades Caverns State Nature Preserve the beautiful Box Canyon Trail loops through a scenic canyon. The steep walls of the canyon are over 60 feet high. In places the walls meet at a nearly perfect ninety degree angle. The square corners and high vertical cliffs result from collapse of the sandstone along two sets of intersecting joints. The floor of the canyon has many large blocks of fallen sandstone from the sandstone unit.  The walls are composed of Carter Caves Sandstone or Tygarts Creek Limestone.

The Carter Caves Sandstone shows prominent cases of weathering.  Large areas of the rock show honeycomb weathering.

Going in

Carter Caves State Resort Park - Fall 2014 - Natural Bridge Trail

Lewis Caveland Lodge - Rooms

Reflections on the stream water at Natural Bridge

Scenic water at Natural Bridge

If one is to practice forest bathing then being in the natural world is required.  Carter Caves State Resort Park is located on the Western edge of the Cumberland Plateau in Carter County Kentucky. This location provides the conditions necessary for the possible presence of woods of the mixed mesophytic type.  Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, is seen growing in the park.  Umbrella magnolia tree grows along the paths winding through the woods.

The park area was used for commercial purposes until the 1940s when it  was acquired in steps to create the 2000 acre state park of the present day.  The area was timbered until about the 1930s.  With the area being completely logged why visit?

The park is wonderland of natural beauty.  There are some large trees that likely escaped the cutting of the forest.  And the diversity of the forest now in the area and the boulders and steep cliffs make for a place of great appeal. 

Carter Caves State Resort Park - Palette of Fall Colors