Outdoor Recreation

RUDY MINES // PHOTO BY JAMIE ALEXANDER

BIKE TRAILS

RUDY MINE TRAILS SYSTEM

Enjoy nature at its finest when you visit the Rudy Mine Trail hiking and bike trail system located out Highway 60 West. The double track trail includes three trails that interconnect equaling four miles for easy to moderate rating. The single track trails were designed by mountain bikers, with 8.25 miles of trails and amazing terrain. These trails offer something for every level rider or outdoor enthusiast!

THE GREENBELT

The Adkisson Greenbelt Park is designed to encircle the city, linking neighborhoods, business districts, parks and schools. Over 15 miles of trails make up the Greenbelt Park and offer a 10-foot wide asphalt surface that will easily accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists and meets the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards.

CITY PARKS WALKING TRAILS

Seven of Owensboro’s city parks offer walking trails. Listed below are those parks and lengths of each walking trail:

Chautauqua Park………………. .7 miles Dugan Best Park………….……. .8 miles Jack C. Fisher Park………….…. .7 miles Joe Ford Nature Park………….. .4 miles Legion Park……………………. .5 miles Moreland Park…………………. .6 miles Waymond Morris Park………… 1.5 miles

HIKING TRAILS

YELLOW CREEK PARK

Located at 5710 KY-144 in east Daviess County, Yellow Creek Park offers six hiking trails ranging from .5 to 1.5 miles.

PANTHER CREEK PARK

Located at in west Daviess County, Panther Creek Park offers seven hiking trails ranging from .2 to 4 miles.

JOE FORD NATURE PARK

Located near the intersection of the Wendell Ford Expressway and Hwy 60 West, the Joe Ford Nature Park is named in honor of Joe Ford who developed the 15 acre woodland into an outdoor classroom. The Nature Center operates Tuesday – Thursday 9am-3pm, Friday 9am-Noon. Walking trails are open for your enjoyment 365 days a year during daylight hours.

Just a short 30 minute drive away, Audubon State Park is best known for its namesake, John James Audubon, who wrote an exhaustive book about birds that was a landmark work in the 1800s. The one-mile “lake trail” offers a beautiful view of Wilderness Lake with another two-mile “backcountry trail” as an add-on.

FISHING

OHIO RIVER

Our little stretch of the Ohio River is home to the state record catfish for both Kentucky and Indiana - a 104 lb blue cat caught just upriver by Owensboro’s Bruce Midkiff in 1999. It’s also home to Monsters on the Ohio, a catfishing tournament held each October at English Park which has grown to become known as the “Super Bowl of Catfishing.” Hundreds of teams from across the country compete for cash prizes as their five largest fish are weighed in front of the crowd.

CITY AND COUNTY PARKS

Owensboro/Daviess County has several great options for family fishing right here in our own backyard. Yellow Creek and Panther Creek Park are regularly stocked through the FINS (fish in the neighborhood) program. Through a grant from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, the state stocks both county parks with catfish in the summer and trout in the winter.

In the city parks system, Jack C. Fischer is stocked with trout in the spring and fall, but Waymond Morris Park on Todd Bridge Road is the only city park that is stocked through the FINS program.

The state requires that you follow their regulations; a fishing license is required and game wardens do occasionally patrol the parks, but fishing in a park is a great option for families.

CARPENTERS LAKE

Sitting about ten miles northeast of Owensboro, it has a boat ramp and an ADA accessible fishing pier. The lake has good populations of largemouth bass, as well as other popular species like bluegill and channel catfish. At 68 acres, it is possible for boat fisherman to work the lake very thoroughly in a day’s fishing time, but bank access is somewhat limited.

KINGFISHER LAKES

Adjacent to Carpenter Lake, Highway 405 splits Old Kingfisher Lake from New Kingfisher Lake. Each lake has a boat ramp and gravel parking areas for anglers. Kingfisher Lakes is owned and managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and provides locals and visitors a place to enjoy a relaxing day of fishing.

DAVIESS COUNTY FISH AND GAME ASSOCIATION

The 25-acre lake at Daviess County Fish and Game is stocked with crappie, red ear, bass and catfish on a regular basis for its members. The purpose of the Daviess County Fish and Game is purely charitable and educational in nature, promoting hunting, fishing, wildlife and land conservation, as well as safety and respect for others. In addition to fishing, Fish and Game has a rifle range, archery range, two playgrounds, camping, bath house, and hiking trails.

DISC GOLF

Yellow Creek Park and Panther Creek Park both offer disc golf courses, although both offer different challenges. The course at Yellow Creek is mostly open holes with strategic pin locations, some requiring throws over the lake, while Panther Creek has several tightly wooded holes and several longer holes with shots out of and into wood lines. Whitesville Community Park, located just outside of Owensboro, also offers a course with 21 technical, slightly wooded holes with a lot of elevation change.

CAMPING

DIAMOND LAKE RESORT

Diamond Lake Resort is just fifteen minutes west of Owensboro and was recently named one of the best spots in Kentucky to camp. Diamond Lake also offers fishing, several go-kart tracks, putt-putt, disc golf and bumper boats. Diamond Lake is located off Hwy 56 at 7301 Hobbs Road.

WINDY HOLLOW CAMPGROUND

Relax and enjoy a swim on the beach, stop in for a snack at the concession stand, and enjoy the scenic view. With modern campsites, and a beautiful setting, Windy Hollow offers family camping at its best.

VASTWOOD PARK – HANCOCK COUNTY

Vastwood Park is a great camping destination just 30 minutes east of Owensboro. Many campsites are right on the beautiful 19-acre lake, with an RV campground on an elevated clearing overlooking the lake. Campers can enjoy a paved walking trail circling the lake, disc golf, a large fenced-in playground, and wide variety of athletic fields. O

COUNTY PARKS

Horse Fork Creek is home to western Kentucky’s largest soccer complex, a 6-acre lake, a large playground, a splash park and newly opened inclusive playground.

Yellow Creek Park is a 152-acre park with several sports fields, walking and hiking trails, a pioneer village, a popular frisbee disc golf course, and a 7-acre lake.

Panther Creek Park boasts seven walking and hiking trails, some of which are elevated above the wetlands along the creek. The 6-acre lake is regularly stocked by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Panther Creek South also has a frisbee disc golf course.

SPRAY PARKS

Spray park splash pads are located at three City Parks: Kendall Perkins Park, Legion Park, and Smothers Park; as well as Panther Creek, Yellow Creek, and Horse Fork Creek parks in the county system. Open late May - late September.

CITY POOLS

Combest Pool

1530 McJohnson Ave | 270-687-8723

*The City Parks & Rec offers swim lessons, fitness/aquatics classes, and various special events throughout the summer. Call 270-687-8333 for available dates and times.

POOL MEMBERSHIPS

Atlantis Swim Club

3905 Cater Road | 270-683-1200

Owensboro Country Club

400 E Byers Ave. | 270-683-6265 Windridge Country Club

5044 Millers Mill Rd. | 270-685-3639

The Pearl Club