Discover Laurel: Nature and History

Laurel County can be explored from several perspectives. Laurel River Lake brings a distinctive waterscape into view; at Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park and historic sites, the settlement of Kentucky and traces of the Civil War take center stage. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose among the lake, park, and historic sites based on your interests.

Waterscapes at Laurel River Lake

Laurel River Lake covers 5,600 acres and lies in Laurel and Whitley counties within the boundaries of Daniel Boone National Forest. Quiet coves and rocky shores shape its landscape; the lake also offers boating. Its open water and shoreline features give this outing a different focus from the historic sites in the county. From London, Laurel River Lake is accessible by traveling east on KY 192 for more than 20 miles to KY 1193. Check the route before you set out.

Pioneer history at Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park

Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park combines a wooded, gently rolling landscape with a historic site honoring the pioneers who settled Kentucky. At the Mountain Life Museum, the exhibits take visitors into a pioneer settlement. The museum includes seven buildings with relics from the pioneer era; it also displays handcrafted items by local artists. McHargue’s Mill is a reconstructed, working watermill with an authentic interior. The park also has mini golf, and the Boone Trace Trail runs through it. The landscape, settlement, and crafts offer different facets of the same park visit.

Trails with different focuses

The Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail runs through the Laurel Dam area. Camp Wildcat in Laurel County was the site of the first engagement of regular troops in Kentucky during the Civil War. In Daniel Boone National Forest, the Wildcat Trail #490 runs from Camp Wildcat to Hoosier Knob. The Hoosier Knob Interpretive Trail offers a different experience: it is a 1.5-mile out-and-back trail with informational signs. Near London, Kentucky, at Frazier Knob, there is also a trail laid out as a 2.7-mile out-and-back route, used primarily for hiking and trail running.

The wider region also has cycling routes: in London-Laurel County and surrounding areas, there are routes on country roads, gravel roads, and bike paths for cyclists of all ability levels. This lets you distinguish hiking routes with clearly named destinations from the broader regional selection of cycling routes.

Museums and historical context

The Laurel County History Museum and Genealogy Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing Laurel County history through research, education, and exhibits. While the Mountain Life Museum highlights pioneer settlement and local crafts, this institution focuses on the history of the county as a whole. Another historical subject is the Harland Sanders Cafe: it is of national significance to the history of American commerce and is considered the birthplace of the fast-food chicken restaurant industry.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: London, Simpson County, Harlan, Rowan, Thomas County, Owen County, Bourbon County, Mason County

For the main travel overview: Kentucky.