A multi-mile hike after a short drive to Cascade Cave. This will be an on-trail/off-trail hike up the valley paralleling the Cascade Cave System (Cascade, Sandy, Jones, Tire Creek, Waterfall caves) demonstrating a variety of impressive karst features including streams, an insurgence, springs, many cave entrances, a karst window, and arches. Time and weather permitting, various sandstone features can be visited as well (caves, springs).

Come learn all about the amazing diversity of organisms that inhabit the Carter Caves forest. We will discuss everything from why some trees make good whiskey barrels and others do not to how to use different plants when the zombies come. This hike will be about 1.5 miles in length along the Horn Hollow Trail.

A hike to view surfaces features and topology shaped by karst processes in Horn Hollow and the lower portion of the Valley of the Caves. Horn Hollow is a hanging karst valley that is the last major side valley of the Valley of the Caves before it's junction with Tygart's Gorge. The trip will look at sinkholes, pits, cave entrances, swallow holes and resurgences and how these features were shaped by the development of caves in Horn Hollow over time.

Bring the whole family to learn how to begin foraging and how to incorporate these free natural resources into your daily life. We will cover getting started, common items to forage in Kentucky during each season, discuss a variety of uses for foraged items, and take an easy on trail walk around the area to begin identifying plants and trees. Be ready to take pictures with your phone and take notes in the beginners guide that you will get to take home!

Follow James Branch from the Fort Falls waterfall to Cascade Caverns, seeing some amazing karst topography, including sinking streams, dry creek beds, a karst window and several caves along the way. This is purely a surface trip, no caving equipment needed, just normal weather-appropriate hiking gear.

During this four-mile hike, you will learn to decipher tell-tale surface features that are indicative of a dynamic sub-surface environment. Cave entrances, sinkholes, pits, shelters, springs, arches, and bridges will be featured on this scenic ramble. The hike follows the Three Bridges Trail, with several short off-trail ventures.

Embark on a captivating adventure with our Carter Caves Park Interpreters on this Kids? Wilderness Walk. Join experienced guides as they lead young explorers on a nature-filled journey through the heart of Carter Caves on this 3.5-mile hike of the Three Bridges Trail. Discover hidden wonders (including three natural stone bridges), identify native flora and fauna, and immerse yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors. This educational and fun-filled event promises an unforgettable experience, fostering a love for nature and instilling a sense of environmental stewardship in the next generation. Lace up your hiking boots, pack your curiosity, and prepare for exploration and discovery. (This event aids in completing the Winter Adventure Weekend Junior Naturalist certification and participants will get 3 different I Did a Hike stickers; more details at the time of the event.) Children need adult supervision on this hike.

This is a hands-on, all-ages workshop presenting the Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics as they apply to winter recreation and caving. Guided by two Leave No Trace Trainers, you will gain new insight on how to minimize your impact on the environment regardless of season or location. This isn't a lecture but a fun, interactive program that will take us into caves and onto trails designed to educate and enlighten! All participants will get souvenirs courtesy of the Trainers.

You don't need a yoga mat to get into a meditative state, put on an extra layer and your hiking boots and join us for a meditative hike designed to promote relaxation and mindfulness. This slow paced 2-mile hike is designed to help us tune into all of our senses and connect with the sight and sounds of nature that we will be immersed in. This hike is for everyone and no previous experience is necessary.

Much has been discussed about the significant geology of Carter Caves. Join our residential old broke down caver as he reviews the most recent theories on what makes the Carter Caves area so special and unique. This trip will include a walk through X-Cave and a jaunt into the valley along Cave Branch. One highlight of the trip will include a walk through, Carter Caves Natural Bridge, the only natural bridge in Kentucky that supports a paved road.

The beauty at Carter Caves State Park is demonstrated well in this moderate hike displaying natural stone bridges, stairs and the artwork of mother nature. As we hike you will see different ecosystems as we explore what the local animals are finding to eat in their natural habitat. If we have ice and snow be aware the bridges may be slippery. Please dress accordingly and wear appropriate footwear. We welcome the 50+ age group.

Join us for a unique yoga experience in the midst of a winter wonderland. This moving meditation covers approximately 2 miles of hiking and roughly 20-minutes of a beginner-friendly yoga practice. Transportation is required to get to the Welcome Center as the hike will begin at the trailhead near X-Cave. We will traverse the first section of the 4Cs trail, a quiet, serene, and hilly section of woods. This leads us to a path that brings us to the backside of Natural Bridge. It is here we will pause for a mindful outdoor yoga practice, then loop back to the Welcome Center. No yoga mat is required, but it is recommended that you bring a towel or shirt for sitting on the ground.