The outdoors are calling! Relax and unwind or explore your adventurous side. Madisonville offers the largest variety of outdoor recreation & adventure in Kentucky. Pack your gear and see for yourself what awaits you in Madisonville and Hopkins County in 2023!
Geocaching
Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.
Kayaking
Don’t own a kayak? No worries! Tradewater Kayaking offers rentals and a shuttle service to bring you back to your vehicle! Click here for a list of additional places to kayak & canoe in Hopkins County!
Mountain Biking
Grapevine Lake is known for legendary mountain bike trails for all skill levels! The 188-acre park features over 8 miles of bike trails, including a youth trail. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park also offers mountain biking trails!
Birding
Mahr Park Arboretum is a sanctuary for all kinds of wildlife and birds are no exception with over 163 different species observed so far! Click here for a birding checklist for Mahr Park or click here for a list of sightings!
Miniature Golf
The Madisonville City Park offers adventure for all ages! Their 18-hole mini-golf course is a great way to get the whole family outside!
Spray Park
When the weather warms up everyone is looking for ways to cool down! The Spray Park at Festus Claybon Park is a great place to go on a hot summer’s day.
Golf
Hit the greens in Hopkins County! Lakeshore Country Club boasts an 18-hole course, Madisonville City Parks offers a 9-hole course, Madisonville Country Club is home to a championship 18-hole course that is open to the public, and Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park has an 18-hole course.
Hunting
Explore 5 unique wildlife management areas totaling over 11,000 acres in Hopkins County. Each one offers different opportunities and regulations. Hunt waterfowl, deer, turkey, and small game.
Fishing
Public fishing ponds, lakes, and rivers can be found throughout Hopkins County. Our vast wildlife management areas, City Parks and State Park offer ample opportunity to reel in a big one!
Pickleball
The fastest-growing sport has found huge popularity in Madisonville! With several pickleball courts around the community, people from all walks of life are learning and loving this new game!
Footgolf
Madisonville City Park is the place to go if you want to play (or learn to play) footgolf. The park features a 9-hole course.
Hiking
Kentucky’s first certified Trail Town is located right here in Hopkins County! Dawson Springs and Pennyrile Forest offer some of the best hiking trails in the area, no matter your level of experience! That is just one of the many places to hit the trail, click here for other hiking trails in Hopkins County!
Downtown Walking Tour
The Downtown Madisonville Walking Tours are a great way to get out and see the city! These three tours highlight the historical, patriotic, and artistic points of the heart of the city. The points of interest are numbered, but you may begin your tour at any point along the route, as each of the three parts make a loop. Click here to download a copy or pick up a copy at our office!
Nature Play Area
Explore Mahr Park’s one-of-a-kind Nature Play Area featuring equipment made from Douglas fir wood. Lush native plants surround the area providing opportunities for children to engage all of their senses. The Nature Play Area fosters imaginative play and encourages children to interact with their environment while participating in age-appropriate developmental play.
Swimming
Hop in a swimming pool during the heat of the summer, or swim year-round at the Hopkins County Family YMCA, which offers a bubble dome over the pool so you can swim in comfort no matter what the weather!
Picnic
Take your pick of scenic areas across the county, but we love the pavillions at Mahr Park Arboretum. With several different areas and access to restrooms, you can’t go wrong with a picnic at the park!
Find a Waterfall
The Pennyrile region offers stunning waterfalls! Take a short 1-mile walk on the Saltpeter Cave and Falls Trail and discover a cascade that is nearly 70 feet tall!
Biking
Go for a leisurely ride at any park! Don’t have a bike or want to load yours up? Mahr Park offers bike rentals and paved paths!
Camping
Our camping facilities range from totally “roughing it” to serene sites with full utility hookups. Pack your gear, hitch up your RV, and come enjoy Hopkins County’s beautiful outdoor scenery.
Go to the Beach
Wait.. what? Yup, you read that right. Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park offers a gorgeous beach with clear blue waters and sand just like you were on the coast!
Catch a Sunrise or Sunset
Stunning views like this can be found in every Hopkins County Community. Whether you prefer to wake up early and catch the sunrise or find the perfect place to sit and watch the sunset, it’s a must when exploring the outdoors!
Skateboarding
Show off your skills or learn something new! The Madisonville Skatepark is a 3,000-square-foot outdoor facility on the corner of Sugg Street and Railroad Street in downtown Madisonville. The park boasts handrails, a bowl, pipe ramps and other obstacles for skates of all ages.
Pedal Boating
Enjoy this fun family-friendly activity at Mahr Park! Offering pedal boat rentals enjoy some time on the water and spend a day at the park!