Big Bone Lick State Park

Activity Overview

Big Bone Lick state park is a historic nature park located in Boone County, Kentucky. This park has historic importance because the park had remains and fossils of some of the early animal inhabitants in America. The park is also considered the birthplace of American paleontology. Animals fossils that were found at Big Bone lick included, ancient Bison, primitive horses, giant mammoths, mastodons and the ground sloth. Animals in big bone lick would come to feed on the water and minerals present in the area. Big Bone lick park now has picnic grounds, discovery trail, a camp ground, grills and a pool.

Things to Do

• The state park is a wonderful natural history site, but now has become more of a recreational site, where families can do lots of fun activities. Track the interesting discovery trail, located behind the visitor's center, the 4.5-mile trail gives you a glimpse into the most recent ice age.
• The visitor center itself is an interesting location to explore, it displays a 1,000 pound mastodon skull, and many other exhibits of fossils found in the area. Museum and gift shop are only open November through March.
• Families can have a camping experience in the nature park, camping grounds are open April through October. The camp ground features 62 camp sites, with electricity, grills, a play ground, pool and an on-site grocery store.
• Come and explore a rare herd of the American Bison in the park, great Bison once roamed the area, but were hunted down to extinction.
• Big bone lick park is a great site for bird watching, the lake in the park offers fishing, and is open year-round.
• A mini golf course, play grounds for children and tennis courts are available for the visitors.
• Picnic grounds can be used on the spot, and picnic shelters can be reserved for larger groups.

Big Bone Lick state park Insider Tips

• Restrooms and showers are available.
• Some facilities like swimming pool and tennis courts are available seasonally.