A Forest Hideaway

The park takes its name from the "pennyroyal" plant, a tiny, aromatic mint that grows wild in the area (locally pronounced "pennyrile"). While the park itself is around 863 rolling acres, it’s surrounded by a massive 15,000-acre state forest. This gives the whole area a sense of seclusion and peace that’s hard to find. We spent our time marveling at the sandstone cliffs and the deep green canopy that makes this place a "nature lover’s dream."

The "Kentucky Coast"

The absolute highlight for our family, and what makes this park so famous, is the Pennyrile Lake beach. You wouldn't expect to find a pristine, white-sand beach tucked away in the Kentucky woods, but there it is! The sand is incredibly soft and clean, making it feel more like a Florida destination than a lakeside in the Midwest. Because the 56-acre lake is restricted to non-motorized boats (rowboats, pedal boats, and canoes only), the water is calm and quiet. It was the perfect spot for us to relax while the kids played in the gentle waves. It’s a very unique feature for the region, and we can see why it’s often called the most beautiful beach in the state. Pennyrile gave us that rare "best of both worlds" experience: the tranquility of a deep forest and the fun of a sun-soaked beach day. It’s a detour we are so glad we made.