Kentucky has no shortage of great state parks to explore. You can find a great place to retreat into nature in every corner of the state and everywhere in between. However, if you’re looking for an experience that you won’t find at any other park, then head to Big Bone Lick State Park in northern Kentucky.

Big Bone Lick State Park is located in Boone County, only about 30 minutes from Cincinnati.

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It is known as the “Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology” due to the massive fossils of prehistoric animals that have been found there.

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This state park offers an educational aspect that other parks don’t have.

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Replicas and fossils of the animals that were attracted to the abundance of salt springs in the area thousands of years ago are on display so you can get an idea of what this part of Kentucky looked like before and during the Ice Age.

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The fossils of animals like mammoths, mastodons, and ground sloths have been found nearby.

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These creatures found the salt and mineral deposits here difficult to resist, which is why they frequented this part of Kentucky, which at the time was very swampy.

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Obviously, these huge animals left behind large fossils, hence the name “Big Bone Lick.”

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There is a museum in the park as well, where you can see many of the bones on display. You can also see Native American artifacts. The first humans in the area are thought to be from the Pre-Paleo Period (about 13,000 BC). The abundance of animals made this area an ideal hunting ground.

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Today, there are herds of bison living in the park that you can go see. This herd is an attempt to restore the bison population in Kentucky. Wild bison used to roam free in huge herds in Big Bone Lick, but they were hunted to near extinction.

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The Discovery Trail, which is located behind the visitors’ center, is a 4.5 mile trail that consists of every trail within the park combined into one big, fascinating hike. You’ll traverse through forests, grasslands, a savanna, past the salt-sulphur springs, and the bison-viewing area.

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You can also camp in Big Bone Lick State Park. Their campground is open April 1 through October 31, and has 62 campsites.

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Has anyone ever stepped back in time and visited this state park before?

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Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM

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Flickr/elycefeliz

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TripAdvisor/Brandy M.

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