Experience the “Niagara Falls of the South” and witness the extraordinarily rare moonbow at Cumberland Falls State Park. Located southwest of Corbin, Kentucky in the Daniel Boone National Forest, the park features over 1,600 acres of land perfect for every type of adventurer. Come for the falls and stay for the wide range of activities the park offers, including horseback riding, gemstone mining, hiking, and watersports.
Lodging
Whether you’re looking to stay in a glamorous lodge with views of the Cumberland River or pitch a tent in a full-service campground, Cumberland Falls State Park offers lodging to accommodate every type of traveler. The three types of lodging offered by the park makes it stand out from other state parks in the basin; every visitor is bound to find a lodging experience that best suits the experience they are looking for.
DuPont Lodge
For those looking for an opulent stay at the state park, DuPont Lodge offers opulent accommodations as one of Kentucky’s most beautiful state park lodges. While staying in one of 51 full-service rooms, enjoy the lodge’s hemlock beams, pine paneling, and stone fireplaces. The Riverview Restaurant overlooks a gorgeous view of the Cumberland River and Appalachian Mountains and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner service. Looking to host an event? The lodge is a popular location for weddings, retreats, conferences, and getaways of every kind.
Cabins
Looking for a comfortable stay but don’t want all the extravagance of the Dupont Lodge? Stay in one of the many cabins available to rent. The state park’s one and two-bedroom cabins offer full bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. Many of the cabins are newly renovated and come in a range of different floor-plans. Interested in downscaling even more? The park’s Woodland Suites offer smaller cabin experiences for a cheaper price.
Camping
For those looking for a more rustic stay, the park offers a 51-site campground complete with water access, full restrooms and showers, groceries, and dumping stations. Campsites are available to rent from March 15-October 31.
The Falls
Standing out as the park’s namesake and main attraction, the Cumberland Falls are a must see sight to any park visitor. The 60-foot falls that cascade across a rock-ridden gorge earn its nickname as the “Niagara of the South”. And don’t miss the moonbow, an extremely rare phenomenon that attracts visitors from wide and far. Also called a white rainbow, or lunar rainbow, the moonbow appears for around two days on either end of a full moon. The moonbow is formed when the light of the moon is refracted in tiny water droplets off of the waterfall. Check the park’s website for more information on dates where the moonbow can be viewed.
Watersports
After you’ve seen the falls and the elusive moonbow, be sure to stay around the river for the variety of water activities the park offers. Fish for bass, catfish, roughfish, and panfish in the Cumberland River, swim in designated park locations, or schedule a rafting trip to get an up-close view of the falls.
Birding
Cumberland Falls State Park is a great site to watch for many species of South American birds whose migration patterns cross the region. Bird-watchers can enjoy spotting many species of Wood Warblers, Chickadees, Cardinals, Finches, Woodpeckers, and more from various lookout points and scenic areas.
Gem Mining
Experience the park’s newest attraction while testing your luck discovering gemstones at the Cumberland Falls Mining Company. The company gives visitors opportunities to sift and identify local gemstones they purchase in the gift shop. Visitors may find anything from pyrite, moonstone, topaz, sapphire, emerald, and many more varieties of gems.
Hiking
Those looking to explore the park on foot can trek through 17 miles of hiking trails that feature scenic views of the river and surrounding mountains. The popular Moonbow Trail connects to backpacking trails in Daniel Boone National Forest, giving hikers opportunities to explore past the boundaries of the state park into the greater Kentucky wilderness.
Horseback Riding
The park also offers guided, 45-minute horseback trail rides through the Kentucky forest for both new and experienced riders. For $20/rider, visitors can book horseback rides from Memorial Day through Labor Day and during select weekends in the fall.
