As fall approaches, people throughout the country are making plans for fall foliage trips. Instead of just going on a scenic drive or a day trip to a forested area, you can have a more intimate leaf-peeping experience by camping amid the awe-inspiring colors of fall. If you’re living or traveling in Paintsville, Kentucky, set up a tent or park your RV at one of the following campgrounds.
Paintsville Lake State Park Campground
Paintsville Lake State Park is one of the best places to view fall foliage in the Paintsville area. The main attraction in this park is the scenic 1,140-acre Paintsville Lake. The lake looks its most spectacular during fall, when the gorgeous red, orange, and yellow hues of trees along its shores are mirrored on its surface. There are also a number of trails in the park that offer great leaf-peeping and wildlife-viewing opportunities. Besides admiring nature’s beauty, you can also hike, boat, fish, play sports, and tour a historic farm.
Paintsville Lake State Park has a large campground that features 32 campsites and amenities such as restrooms, electricity, and water. For a more authentic outdoor experience, you can camp at one of the 10 primitive campsites in the park. This state park is situated just a few miles west of downtown Paintsville.
Falls Campground
Located about 35 miles northeast of Paintsville near Louisa Falls Campground is a popular camping place for visitors to the Falls of Blaine Creek. This waterfall is wide and deep, making it a great place for swimming and fishing. During the fall, the mesmerizing sound of water rolling over the falls combines with the stunning colors of the lush surrounding foliage to create a uniquely tranquil and enchanting environment.
Falls Campground has approximately 100 campsites, some of which are spacious enough to accommodate the largest RVs. Each campsite is equipped with 30/50 amp electricity, water, picnic table, fire ring, Wi-Fi, and cable TV. If you want a more comfortable stay, you can rent one of the five camping cabins available.
Zilpo Campground
Zilpo Campground is situated beside the beautiful 8,270-acre Cave Run Lake in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The enormous lake and its surrounding area offer a wide range of outdoor activities. Families can enjoy a nice picnic or swim at the sandy beach near the campground and hikers can explore the 2.25-mile Zilpo Mountain Loop Trail that connects to many other trails around the lake. Anglers can try to reel in largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskie, crappie, bluegill, and catfish.
Zilpo Campground offers tent camping, RV sites, and cabin rental. Some of its campsites feature electricity, water, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and campfire rings, while others are more primitive. There’s also a campground store that sells food, ice, camping gear, and firewood. This campground is situated about 70 miles west of Paintsville near the town of Salt Lick.
There are many other campgrounds around Paintsville that provide wonderful fall foliage experiences. Camping at one of these locations will make your fall vacation a truly memorable affair.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/delainahaslam/15186756959/sizes/l
Image via Flickr by Delaina Haslam
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