Cave Run Lake combines broad expanses of water with a long shoreline in Rowan: the lake covers more than 8,000 acres of open water and has 200 miles of shoreline. Activities include boating, fishing, tubing, water skiing, and swimming. Trails, landscapes, and the county’s history also shape the character of the region. Nature experiences sit alongside art venues and memorial sites that bring different chapters of Rowan’s history to life.
Water, Trails, and Landscapes
At Cave Run Lake, options range from boating to swimming; fishing, tubing, and water skiing are also available. The figures give a sense of the lake’s scale, while the activities offer different ways to enjoy the water. If you prefer to explore on land, Rowan County has multi-use trails for a range of experience levels. The Morehead area has more than 30 biking trails.
Twin Knobs Campground also has two trails with listed lengths: Twin Knobs Shoreline Trail is 2.5 miles long, and Knob Overlook Trail is 1.5 miles long. These specific figures make it easy to distinguish the two options by length without assuming a walking time or difficulty level. The Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail runs through Daniel Boone National Forest from Rowan County, Kentucky, to the Tennessee border.
Rowan County is connected to Daniel Boone National Forest. More than 200 bird species have been recorded at birdwatching sites in the county. Lockegee Rock on Lockegee Mountain offers a scenic overlook with far-reaching views of forests and distant Cave Run Lake. The view takes in both the forested area and the lake in the distance. Farmers, meanwhile, is a Rowan County community surrounded by river landscapes in Daniel Boone National Forest, where fishing and canoeing are possible.
Art and Local History
The Kentucky Folk Art Center houses more than 1,400 works of contemporary self-taught art from Kentucky. At the Rowan County Arts Center, art and a historic building come together: the restored 1899 courthouse houses galleries, studios, and event spaces. The center offers hands-on classes and workshops; regular concerts connect visitors with the region’s cultural heritage. If you’re planning a class or concert, it’s best to check the latest schedule in advance.
Rowan’s history is also reflected in specific events and places. The Rowan County War lasted from 1884 to 1887 and claimed 20 lives. Haldeman Voting House #8 was built in 1935 by the Works Progress Administration using local fieldstone and is associated with rural Rowan County. The Haldeman Museum focuses on memorabilia and stories from the history of the Haldeman community.
The Rowan County Veterans Museum preserves local military history, with exhibits spanning from the Civil War to the present. Morehead also explores six railroads that ran through Rowan County and historic floods. The Twin Tunnel near Wrigley is one of the surviving remnants of the disused Morehead and North Fork Railroad. Another way to explore the county’s past is the free, app-based Historical Rowan Tour.
Another Water Attraction
Sheltowee Falls Splash Pad is a free, nature-themed water attraction with a treehouse, two slides, and more than 40 interactive water features. If you’re planning a visit, check the latest seasonal information in advance. Together with the activities at Cave Run Lake, the splash pad offers another side of Rowan’s water experiences, while art venues, museums, and historic sites provide a distinct cultural and historical focus.
Discover more destinations: Morehead, Jessamine County, Lyon County, Mercer County, Morgan County, Franklin, Pulaski, Hardin.
For the main travel overview: Kentucky.
