Home to hiking trails and water sports, Ky. adds central city to ‘trail town’ program

Jackie Starkey

The commonwealth announced Monday it has added yet another locale to its portfolio of Kentucky Trail Towns; naming Liberty the latest and 28th addition to the program.

In the last month the state has announced two other new trail towns – Burkesville in Cumberland County and Hyden in Leslie County.

Liberty, located in Casey County, southwest of Danville, is about 60 miles from Lexington.

The trail towns program aims to highlight outdoor recreation offerings in the featured cities, hoping to draw tourism to the areas as economic stimulus.

“We are excited to continue to add these communities to the list of outdoor destinations across Kentucky,” Russ Meyer, commissioner of the state Department of Parks, said in a release. “The interest in Kentucky’s outdoor opportunities continues to grow, and our Trail Towns and State Parks are some of the best places to get these experiences.”

In addition to recreational opportunities, the program also aims to share the culture, history and stories of the locations, according to the release.

Just in time for fall, this southern Kentucky locale is state’s newest ‘trail town’

A little about Liberty, KY

The seat of Casey County, Liberty was established in 1806 and incorporated in 1860. While the county was home to an estimated 15,860 residents as of mid-2021, Liberty has fewer than 2,000 residents, according to the 2020 Census.

Located on the Green River and home to Lake Liberty, the city offers water sports like fishing, kayaking and more.

Locals have also established several area hiking trails, according to the release, including the Shut In Road Trail, Lake Liberty Trail System and the Liberty Island Trail.

State parks department announces another Kentucky Trail Town, this one in the southeast

Kentucky Trail Towns

Liberty is the 28th and latest of the Kentucky Trail Town program, which is managed by the state Department of Parks.

The others are:

  • Dawson Springs

  • Livingston

  • Morehead

  • Olive Hill

  • London

  • Stearns

  • Elkhorn City

  • Jamestown

  • Manchester

  • Berea

  • Columbia

  • Royalton

  • Harlan County’s Cumberland, Benham and Lynch

  • McKee

  • Slade

  • Munfordville

  • Cave City/Horse Cave

  • Campbellsville

  • Irvine

  • Ravenna

  • Hazard

  • Elizabethtown

  • Morgantown

  • Park City

  • Livermore

  • Burkesville

  • Hyden

These Ky. towns hope to draw adventure seekers. They’re getting federal help to do so

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