The Best of Kentucky at Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is one of the longest rivers in Kentucky, offering a peaceful abode to countless Southerners who pride their privacy and love living among breathtaking scenery. Choose a Cumberland River riverfront property to enjoy great fishing, spectacular nature scenes, and unique Kentucky fun.
Rural River
Cumberland River is 688 miles long and serves at the watershed for about 18,000 square miles of Southern land. It runs through gorgeous rural areas in southern Kentucky and north-central Tennessee. Your Cumberland River riverfront property may be in or near one of several towns that lie along the river, like Burkesville, Somerset, or Burnside. If fishing is your preferred way to enjoy the river, you’ll be glad to know that you can rent river and fishing equipment in or near all of these cities. For example, Mutt E. Waters River Rentals in Burkesville has canoes and kayaks available to rent.
The state record-setting 21-pound brown trout and 14-pound, 6-ounce rainbow trout were both fished out of Cumberland River. Even if your primary targets are trophy-sized brown and rainbow trout, you may also catch walleye, sauger, and oversized striped bass. This is a river that can be fished by boat or by fly fishing, but may only be suitable for kayaks and canoes depending on location (for example, the first 142 miles of the river). Fishing guides, like Rainbow Guide Service in Burkesville and Burton’s Guide Service in Nancy, are readily available to help you find the best spots to cast your line. Or if you’d rather go it alone, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has an excellent guide online for where and how to fish for whatever you are targeting.
Phenomenal Forest
Cumberland River riverfront properties are nestled in some of the finest countryside of Kentucky, much of which is protected and stewarded by state and federal agencies. While the Cumberland River winds through several sate parks, like Dale Hollow State Resort Park near Burkesville and Lake Cumberland State Resort Park near Albany, the main attraction is Daniel Boone National Forest. It is named so because of Daniel Boone’s influence on the exploration and founding of Kentucky. The park spreads across 21 counties and has about 2,100,00 acres within its proclamation boundary. That’s bigger than the state of Delaware! The forest is so large and varied that visitors can choose just about anything that they want to do within the park. Hiking, picnicking, rock climbing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and target shooting are only a few of the ways that sightseers enjoy this natural wonder.
Cumberland Falls is one of the many jewels found within Daniel Boone National Forest. At 68 feet, this waterfall is one of the largest in the eastern United States. It is sometimes called Little Niagara or the Niagara of the South. Plan your visit to a Cumberland River riverfront property during a full moon so that you can see the Cumberland Falls elusive lunar rainbow, or “moonbow,” that appears as the mist from the falls rises into the night sky. The moonbow of white light begins at the base of the falls and arches down the Cumberland River. You won’t want to miss a chance to see this natural phenomenon that only occurs in a few places on earth.
Engaging Entertainment
There are other fun things to do near your Cumberland River riverfront property, depending on where it is situated. The Mill Springs Battlefield and Museum near Nancy commemorates the Battle of Mill Springs, which occurred on January 19, 1862 as part of the Civil War. The museum has civil war artifacts and an interesting exhibit showing the differences in the daily lives of Northern and Southern Americans of the time period. You can also “meet” Abraham Lincoln, who appears in his historic garb.
The Kentucky State Parks Golf Trail has 12 championship golf courses with a wide variety of layouts that will challenge even the best players. For people with kids or who want a beginner experience, the trail has four different 9-hole golf courses that are kid friendly. Depending on the location of your riverfront property, the Dale Hollow Lake or General Burnside Island courses may be closer to you. If you want to play several of these courses, one Golf Trail Card Pass lets you visit all of them.
If you’re up for a bit of a drive, Nashville is a true Kentucky experience. You can take in a concert at the Grand Ole Opry, hear original music at writer's night at the famous Bluebird Cafe, or enjoy a cold one in a real honky-tonk, like Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge or Second Fiddle.
If you’re ready to experience the best of Kentucky, rent a Cumberland River riverfront property for your next trip.
