THE RAPIDS OF THE RUSSELL FORK ARE THE ULTIMATE THRILL RIDE.

IT'S A BUCKET LIST MOMENT FOR BIRD WATCHERS WHEN THE SAND HILL CRANES ARRIVE AT BARREN RIVER LAKE.

REINTRODUCE YOURSELF TO MOTHER NATURE IN DAWSON SPRINGS, KENTUCKY'S FIRST TRAIL TOWN.

AND THE MOON BOW AT CUMBERLAND FALLS IS A PHOTOGRAPHER'S DREAM.

COME JOIN ME OUTDOORS ON KENTUCKY LIFE COMING UP NOW.

HELLO, I'M DOUG FLYNN AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY LIFE GREAT OUTDOORS.

FROM ONE END OF OUR COMMONWEALTH TO THE OTHER, THERE ARE ADVENTURES TO SUIT EVERY OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST.

ROCK CLIMBERS CAN TAKE ON THE CLIFFS AND CRAGS OF THE GORGE.

BOATERS AND PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO FISH, LIKE ME, HAVE THEIR CHOICE OF BEAUTIFUL LAKES.

AND EXPERIENCE RAFTERS ARE DRAWN TO THE RUSSELL FORK RIVER EACH YEAR TO RUN SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING RAPIDS IN THE COUNTRY.

WHILE FAMILIES HAVE FUN ON THE RIVER'S LESS DEMANDING SECTIONS.

>> MOST OF US HAVE A CONNECTION WITH NATURE AND WITH WATER AND IT TAKES YOU OUT OF WHAT WE CONSIDER THE RAT RACE OR THE HUSTLE BUSTLE KIND OF LIFE THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES LIVE.

MORE OR LESS WE ARE TRYING TO GET BACK TO THIS WORLD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> WHEN YOU ARE ON THE RIVER, IT'S JUST LIKE THERE IS NOTHING ELSE.

>> AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THIS SPORT THE MOST IS A DAY ON THE RIVER, YOU FORGET ABOUT ALL YOUR PROBLEMS.

ANYTHING YOU HAVE GOING ON, EVEN THE MOST SERIOUS TIMES OF YOUR LIFE, IF YOU ARE OUT HERE PATTED LING, YOU FORGET ABOUT IT OUT HERE ON THE RIVER.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST THING ABOUT IT.

>> WHEN YOU ARE OFF THE RIVER, I THINK SOME OF THE HIGH STRESS SITUATIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF GET A GOOD GRASP ON LIFE AND HOW DANGEROUS THINGS CAN BE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES YOU ARE GOING RIGHT PAST THINGS THAT COULD KILL YOU.

AT THE SAME TIME IT'S REALLY CHILL.

SO THAT LEADS TO A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSONALITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS BUT THEY'RE ALSO VERY CALCULATED RISKS.

>> YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOES EXTEND INTO PEOPLE'S LIFESTYLE.

WHITEWATER PADDLING IS A LIFESTYLE BECAUSE THE MORE YOU DO IT, THE BETTER YOU GET, THE MORE YOU WANT TO DO IT AND THE MORE ADVANCED YOU BECOME.

>> SO EACH ONE OF THE GUIDES, WE HAVE OUR OWN STYLES HERE.

I'M GOING TO LET THE OTHER GUIDES TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEIR STYLE AND HOW WE PADDLE.

HOW WE MANEUVER THE BOAT AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IS EVERYBODY READY TO GO RAFTING?

>> YEAH!

>> YEAH!

>> WHOO!

LET'S GO!

>> LET'S GO FORWARD.

THIS IS LUCY.

UNCONVENTIONAL LUCY-- LOOSY.

WE DON'T CALL HER LOOSEY GOOSY TORE NOTHING.

SHE IS A WONDER DOG.

I TOOK HER ON A CHANCE.

SHE HAS REWARDED US FOR DOING THAT.

DURING THIS PAST SPRING, I STARTED TRAINING HER FOR SWIFT WATER RESCUE.

I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE HER RESCUING PEOPLE BUT SHE CAN HELP ASSIST OUT ON THE RIVER, YOU KNOW.

>> LOOSEY IS AWESOME.

SHE JUST ADDS TO THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.

SHE IS LIKE ANOTHER BUDDY ON THE RIVER, YOU KNOW.

>> BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK AND THIS SIDE OF VIRGINIA AND THIS END OF KENTUCKY IS A HIDDEN GEM.

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO VISIT YET AND WE HOPE TO CHANGE THAT AS WE BRING PEOPLE IN FOR THE WHITEWATER RAFTING AND IT'S UNIQUE IN THAT IT IS COMMISSION CONTROLLED.

IT IS NOT CONTROLLED BY EITHER STATE BUT BOTH STATES ARE INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF IT.

>> THE MAIN THING PEOPLE CALL THE GRAND CANYON OF THE SOUTH.

IT'S ABOUT A 1600-FOOT DEEP GORGE IN THE DEEPEST PART.

THE ONE THING ABOUT THE RUSSELL FORK IS WE HAVE A LOT OF DAYS WHERE WE GET FLOWS THAT ARE EITHER FROM RAIN OR FROM THE DAM.

90% OF THE WATER FLOW COMES FROM JOHN FLANAGAN DAM AND THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE DURING THE FALL SEASON, THE ARMY CORPS HAS BEEN MANDATED BY CONGRESS THAT THEY HAVE TO DROP THIS LAKE BECAUSE THERE ARE FIVE PROJECT PURPOSES FOR THAT LAKE.

THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING FLOOD CONTROL AND 1990, A GUP OF POLITICIANS MOSTLY GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED BASED ON OTHER SUCCESSES AND OTHER WATERSHEDS THAT HEY, WE CAN MAKE A RECREATION OUT OF THIS.

WE CAN CREATED RECREATION.

THERE ARE THREE SECTIONS OF THE RIVER.

A SCALE OF AVAILABILITY FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS HERE AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS RIVER A WHOLE LOT.

WE ARE ON THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION HERE.

BELOW US IS THE RUSSELL FORK GORGE, A CLASS 5 EXPERT ONLY SECTION OF WHITEWATER.

WE LEAVE THAT TO THE EXPERT GUYS AND THE KAYAKERS BUT BETWEEN BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK AND BREAK HORN CITY, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF RAPIDS.

>> THAT'S GOOD GANG, TAKE A BREAK.

>> THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO COME, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.

WE ARE GOING TO TAKE REAL GOOD CARE OF YOU AND THE WHITEWATER IS NOT SO DIFFICULT OR CHALLENGING THAT YOU COULDN'T COME OUT AND MAKE THIS YOUR FIRST TIME.

TO COME TO THIS AREA IS ENOUGH IN ITSELF.

BUT IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN GETTING ON THE WATER AND SEEING A PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU WOULDN'T SEE JUST BY COMING IN TO VISIT THE PARK.

>> SO WE ARE COMING UP ON A REALLY COOL FEATURE.

YOU CAN SEE THE ROCKS VERTICAL UP AHEAD THAT ARE OFF THE LEFT BANK.

WE ARE GETTING READY TO CROSS A FAULT LINE.

SO THAT'S AN EXPOSURE WHAT HAVE THEY CALL THE PINE MOUNTAIN OVERTHRUST THERE AND IT REALLY IS A FAULT LINE.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE RIVER AND 100 YARDS DOWN THE STREAM IT WILL BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RIVER.

WE ARE GOING TO CROSS IT WHILE ON THE RIVER.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS THAT YOU ALL DON'T RECOGNIZE, SMALL LITTLE LAUGHS, LITTLE CHUCKLES THAT YOU ALL GET, I AM TUNED INTO THAT BECAUSE I'M SHOWING SOMEBODY SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY UNIQUE HERE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, FOR ME, I JUST, I LOVE TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO THIS SPORT.

>> IT'S SIMILAR TO A LOT OF THE OTHER EXTREME SPORT COMMUNITIES EXCEPT THAT WE ARE VERY UNIQUE IN HOW WE COME TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU HAVE A CORE GROUP OF SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE PADDLING TOGETHER A LOT, YOU QUICKLY BECOME CLOSE FRIENDS.

YOU JUST NEVER WANT TO GO ALONE.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE RULE OUT THERE.

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO HAVE A BUDDY AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT CREATES THE COMMUNITY AROUND KAYAKING.

FOR SAFETY AND THEN ALSO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU ARE TEACHING KIDS, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO HAVE ONE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO STRESS THEM OUT OR PUT THEM IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'RE SCARED SO FOR CHARLIE AND I, WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN AND SHE GETS SCARED SOMETIMES.

>> I STRESS MYSELF OUT MORE THAN YOU STRESS ME OUT.

>> KAYAKING IS SCARY.

THERE IS A LOT OF, YOU ARE AT THE WHIMS OF NATURE MORE SO THAN MOUNTAIN BIKING OR CLIMBING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

YOU ARE OR DEALING WITH THIS BIG NATURAL FORCE.

SO, YEAH, I THINK IT TEACHES YOUR KIDS THE SAME IDEA, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT LIFE IS VERY FRAGILE AND HAVE YOU TO APPRECIATE EVERY DAY.

>> IT'S AWESOME.

I KNOW FOR OTHER KIDS, WHENEVER THEY THINK OF WHITEWATER RAFTING, THEY'RE PROBABLY THINKING IT'S A TOURIST ATTRACTION WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING FOR WHITEWATER.

FOR ME, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HAVING MY DAD FOR WHITEWATER, IT'S JUST LIKE, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S NATURAL.

I REALLY CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.

>> SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANOTHER SLIEF.

SHE HAS NEVER KNOWN ANYTHING OTHER THAN BEING OUTDOORS AND BEING ON THE RIVER.

>> I THINK SHE WAS FOUR THE FIRST TIME WE EVER TOOK HER.

I HAVE A REALLY COOL PICTURE OF JUST ME AND HER ON A RIVER AND SHE IS RIDING ON THE FRONT, WE CALL IT RIDING THE BULL.

SHE USED TO BUG ME TO DEATH.

I WANT TO RIDE THE BULL.

I NEED YOU TO PADDLE, TOO.

SHE IS AT LEAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLD AND SHE HAS BEEN DOING IT.

SHE IS A 10-YEAR VETERAN NOW.

THE BIGGEST THING IT HAS TAUGHT ME IN LIFE IS TO APPRECIATE THE SMALL THINGS AND THEN GREATER THINGS LIKE HOW TO APPRECIATE NATURE TO A FINER POINT, I WOULD SAY.

LIKE I REALLY LOVE IT NOW AND IT'S NEVER-- I HAVE NEVER FELT LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE UNTIL I GOT INTO THIS SPORT.

>> ALL OF US HAVE OUR FAVORITE SEASON OF THE YEAR.

MOST OF US WOULD PROBABLY NOMINATE SPRING AND FALL AS THE PRETTIEST SEASONS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

WITH THE AMAZING COLORS OF WILD FLOWERS IN BLOOM OR THE BRIGHT AUTUMN LEAVES.

BUT NATURE PROVIDES UNFORGETTABLE SITES AND EXPERIENCES FOR US IN EVERY SEASON.

FOR BIRD WATCHERS, ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE EVENTS HAPPENS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AT BARREN RIVER LAKE.

>> NESTLED AT BARREN RIVER LAKE STATE RESORT PARK IS A SPECIAL PLACE FOR SOME VERY SPECIAL BIRDS.

MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST IN AWE AND LISTENING TO THEM AND LEARNING ABOUT THEM.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LEARN A LOT OF NEW FACTS ABOUT THEM WHEN THEY COME FOR THE WEEKEND.

>> NATURALIST JAMIE AVERY IS TALKING ABOUT SAND HILL CRANES.

BARREN RIVER LAKE IS ONE OF THE FEW LOCATIONS IN KENTUCKY ON THEIR MIGRATION ROUTE AS THEY HEAD SOUTH FROM MID NOVEMBER TO MID FEBRUARY.

BARREN RIVER THE LAKE IS 2340R78 ALLIE A 10,000 ACRE LAKE BUT IN THE WINTER TIME THEY LET MOST OF THE WATER OUT BECAUSE IT'S A FLOOD CONTROL LAKE SO IN THE SPRING WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF RAINS, WE CAN KEEP THE RIVER FROM FLOODING DOWNRIVER.

AND SO IN THE WINTER TIME WHEN THEY LET THE WATER OUT, IT EXPOSES MUD FLATS AND THE CRANES ROOST ON THE MUD FLATTS BECAUSE IT'S A FORM OF PROTECTION.

THEY CAN SEE ALL AROUND THEM AND THEY'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER.

>> THESE BIRDS CERTAINLY HAVE SOME UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS.

>> THEY'RE A TALL GRAY BIRD, THEY CAN HAVE A WING SPAN ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO SEVEN FEET.

WEIGH 10 TO 15 POUNDS.

THE THING THAT MAKES THEM NOTICEABLE FROM OTHER CRANES IS THEY HAVE A RED HEAD AND IT'S ACTUALLY SKIN INSTEAD OF FEATHERS ON TOP.

THE RED CROWN ON THEIR HEAD.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE A WHITE CHEEK PATCH AND THE BIGGER THE WHITE ON THE CHEEK PATCH, THE HIGHER THEY ARE IN THE ORDER OF THEIR FAMILY.

THEY'RE OPPORTUNISTIC OMNIVORES MEANING THEY WILL EAT EVERYTHING FROM THE WASTE GRAINS IN THE FIELDS LIKE THE CORN, IF THEY FIND SALAMANDERS OR SNAKE OR MOUSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO EAT WHATEVER THEY FIND.

THE PREDATORS THEY WOULD HAVE IN THIS AREA OF COURSE ARE HUMANS.

BUT THEN THE OTHERS MAY BE SOMETHING LIKE COYOTES OR A FOX, PERHAPS AN EAGLE.

BUT THOSE WOULD BE THE PREDATORS THAT THEY WOULD WATCH OUT FOR.

>> THE THREE FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE SAND HILL CRANES I LIKE ARE THE SOUND THEY MAKE, WATCHING THEM DANCE WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELD AND WATCHING THEM LAND AS THEY PARACHUTE IN TO WHEREVER THEY'RE LANDING AT.

THE SOUND IS LIKE A ROLLING TRUMP IT CALL OR BUGLE.

SOMEBODY EXPLAINED IT TO ME, LIKE A KAROOOOMENT.

THEY HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF CALLS.

SOME ARE A CONTACT CALL, JUST TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILY GROUPS.

THERE IS A GUARD CALL THEY DO IF THEY FEEL THERE THENNED ORDAININGER AROUND THREATENED OR UNISON CALLING TO KEEP IN CONTACT.

THEY'RE JUST LIKE US.

THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR FAMILY FRIENDS AND VOICES AND DISTINGUISH BETWEEN EACH OTHER LIKE WE D O.

WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE FIELDS FEEDING, YOU WILL SEE THEM DANCING A LOT AND IT IS PART OF THEIR COURTSHIP RITUAL AND TO STRENGTHEN PAIR BONDS.

WHAT THEY WILL DO IS JUMP INTO THE AIR, FLAP THEIR WINGS.

THEY WILL PICK UP CORN STALKS OR STICKS AND GRASS AND THROW IT INTO THE AIR.

SOMETIMES IF IT GETS REALLY INTENSE, THEY'LL EVEN FLY UP AND FLY OVER AND LAND IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE FIELD SO IT'S JUST A WAY TO STRENGTHEN PAIR BONDS AND PRACTICE THE MATING RITUAL.

ONCE CRANES FORM A BOND AND ARE SUCCESSFUL AT REPRODUCING, THEY'LL STAY TOGETHER FOR LIFE.

IT'S REALLY NEAT TO WATCH THEM COME IN AND LAND BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HOLD THEIR WINGS OUT IN A PARACHUTE FORMATION AND LET THEIR LEGS DANGLE TO KEEP THEM BALANCED AND WEIGHTED WHEN THEY LAND.

SAND HILLS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY SOCIAL ANIMAL.

THEY'RE VERY SOCIAL.

WHEN YOU SEE CRANES THEY'RE USUALLY IN GROUPS.

OCCASIONALLY YOU WILL SEE A SMALL GROUP OF 3 OR 4 BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT'S LARGE GROUPS OF THEM.

USUALLY WHEN YOU SEE A SINGLE ONE, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THEIR FAMILY GROUP.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU WILL SEE A SINGLE ONE FLY OUT AND TURN AROUND AND COME BACK CALLING AS IT IS LOOKING FOR ITS FAMILY.

>> THOUSANDS OF CRANES MAKE THEIR HOME IN WESTERN KENTUCKY FOR A FEW MONTHS A YEAR.

>> OUR LOCAL FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS TAKE COUNT OF THEM EACH WEEK.

HE COUNTS THEM WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN NOVEMBER AND COUNT THEM UNTIL FEBRUARY.

IT VARIES DEPENDING ON WEATHER AND THE HOW MANY ARE COMING THROUGH.

LAST YEAR, I THINK WE HAD UP TO 24,000 AT A TIME.

THIS YEAR THE BIGGEST NUMBERS WE'VE HAD HAVE BEEN LIKE 5600.

SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER AND HOW MANY ARE COMING THROUGH.

>> BIRD WATCHERS AND NATURE LOVERS ALIKE COME TO THE BARREN RIVER LAKE STATE PARK FROM ALL OVER THE EASTERN U.S. TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE CRANES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

>> THE FARTHEST WE HAVE HAD SOMEONE COME IS PENNSYLVANIA, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THEY'VE COME FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM LEXINGTON, LOUISVILLE AREA, CINCINNATI, OHIO, INDIANA, ILLINOIS, WE ARE STARTING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE COME FROM TENNESSEE AREA.

EVEN OVER IN MISSOURI.

>> THE WEEKEND TOURS ARE ALWAYS POPULAR AND SUN RISE AND SUNSET TICKETS HAVE BECOME A HOT COMMODITY.

>> WE HAVE BEEN DOING THE TRIPS FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS TO SEE THEM.

WE DO THOSE THE LAST PART OF JANUARY.

THE TRIPS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE WILD AND ACTUALLY SEE THE CRANES AND THE TRIPS, WAS WE DO IS YOU SIGN UP FOR AN EARLY MORNING TOUR, A SUNRISE TOUR, OR AN AFTERNOON TRIP, SUNSET TRIP AND WE GO OUT TO SUCH AS ON THE SUNRISE TOUR, WE GO OUT TO THE ROOST SITE FIRST AND WATCH THEM LEAVE.

SOME OF THEM FLY RIGHT OVER US AND AFTER MOST OF THEM HAVE LEFT THE ROOST SITE WE GO TO THE FEEDING FEEDS AND LOOK FOR THEM THERE.

IT'S JUST A REALLY INTERESTING WEEKEND.

IT'S REALLY GREAT IF YOU LOVE BIRDING OR YOU ARE WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CRANES.

IT'S A GREAT WEEKEND TO COME AND OF COURSE WE SEE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WILDLIFE ON THE TRIPS AS WELL.

THE WHITE TAIL DEER AND TURKEY.

IT'S A GREAT WEEKEND IF YOU LOVE NATURE.

>> THESE MAJESTIC CREATURES CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION OF EVERYONE WHO VISITS THE STATE PARK.

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, GETTING OUT INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS IS A REALLY TONIC FOR THE SOUL.

GIVE ME A FISHING POLE AND A BEAUTIFUL BODY OF WATER AND I'M A HAPPY MAN.

MOTHER NATURE COULD ALWAYS USE A LITTLE NURTURING THOUGH AND MANY KENTUCKIANS ARE CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND GETTING BACK TO NATURE.

SO IF YOU ARE READY TO GET BACK OUTDOORS, KENTUCKY'S FIRST TRAIL HOUND DAWSON SPRINGS IS READY TO FOR YOU LOCATED IN THE EART OF WESTERN KENTUCKY, IT IS A WONDERFUL PLACE.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL FRIENDLY PEOPLE, BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY, A MAGNIFICENT HISTORY AND SOME BEAUTIFUL PLACES TO VISIT TODAY.

THE NAME OF DAWSON SPRINGS CAME FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO OWNED SOME PROPERTY IN TOWN WHERE THE RAILROAD WAS COMING THROUGH AND HIS NAME WAS DAWSON AND THEN LATER, BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE WELLS, SOMEONE SUGGESTED THAT SPRINGS SOUNDED BETTER THAN WELLS SO THE NAME STUCK, DAWSON SPRINGS.

IT IS THE ONLY CITY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THAT WAS ACTUALLY SETTLED AS A MINERAL WATER COMMUNITY THAT REMAINS A VIABLE COMMUNITY.

KNOWN AS THE HEALTH SPA OF THE UPPER SOUTH.

THE DAWSON SPRINGS HAS A POPULATION OF 3,000 THAT LIVE INSIDE A MILE CITY LIMITS AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER 3500 THAT LIVE IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES AND ON LAKE BESHEAR.

I WOULD SAY CONNECTED WITH OUR COMMUNITY, THERE IS APPROXIMATELY SIX TO 7,000 PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SOME FANTASTIC TRAILS IN AND AROUND OUR CITY.

ABOUT 100 TRAILS, ABOUT 50 EQUINE TRAILS, 30 MILES OF MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS, ABOUT 3.

AND WE HAVE A RIVER THAT ENCIRCLES OUR CITY.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE 15 MAJOR LAKES OF KENTUCKY THAT ABUTS OUR CITY.

AND INSIDE THE THOUSAND ACRE RESORT STATE PARK, THERE IS ANOTHER 58-ACRE LAKE.

SO WE HAVE JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE THAT WE WOULD COME AND VISIT.

THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA WAS THE FIRST IN KENTUCKY.

THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL NATURAL BRIDGE LOCATED IN THE JOHNS KENYAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA.

THERE IS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL VISTA OVER THE TOP OF HUNTER'S BLUFF.

AND LITTLE THERE IS A HUGE ROCK SHELTER WITH THE WATERFALLS THAT COME OVER THE TOP THAT THE LOCALS ALWAYS CALLED SALT PETER CAVE.

SO-- AND THEY'RE JUST A SHORT WALK FROM THE ROADWAY.

LAKE BESHEAR IS ONE OF THE 15 MAJOR LAKES OF KENTUCKY.

ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN THAT HELPED TO IMPOUND THE LAKE MADE THE STATEMENT THIS WAS ONE OF THE TWO MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKES IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE IT HAS BEAUTIFUL CLIFF LINES ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN INTERSPERSED ALL AROUND THE LAKE, ABOUT 25 MILES OF SHORELINE, THE THIRD BEST LARGE MOUTH BASS FISHING LAKE IN KENTUCKY.

THE TRADE WATER RIVER IN AND AROUND DAWSON SPRINGS THAT STARTS A LITTLE SOUTH OF TOWN AND COMES IN AND AROUND THE CITY IS A GREAT CANOE AND KAYAKING TRAIL.

STARTING AT THE HUDDLESTONFORD AROUND DAWSON SPRINGS WHEN YOU COME OUT AT RIVERSIDE PARK, THERE IS ABOUT SEVEN MILES OF RIVER.

100 YEARS AGO, THE RECREATION TOURISM BOATS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.

PRESENTLY TODAY ON THE TRADE WATER RIVER, WHAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY ARE THE BEAUTIFUL CLIFF LINES UP AND DOWN THE RIVER AND THERE IS A SERENENESS THAT IS JUST ALWAYS PRESENT ON THE RIVER THAT THE LAKES OFFER A DIFFERENT SERENITY BUT THERE IS A SPECIALNESS AND QUAINTNESS OF THE RIVER.

THERE ARE 50 HORSE TRAILS OR EQUINE TRAILS LOCATED OUT IN THE 15,000 ACRE PENNYRILE FOREST.

THEY'RE IN THE BEAUTIFUL TOPOGRAPHY.

YOU WILL CROSS CREEKS, SPRING LINES, DRIPPING SPRINGS, YOU WILL GO IN THE BEAUTIFUL FOREST.

YOU WILL GO OVER HOME SITES.

SEE OLD CISTERNS, OLD CEMETERIES.

IT'S JUST A VERY INTERESTING AREA AND BEAUTIFUL AREA.

IN WHICH TO GO AND ENJOY HORSE RIDING.

AND RIGHT NOW, IN EXCESS OF 50 MILES OF IT.

MY FAVORITE TRAIL OF ALL OF THEM WOULD BE THE LAKE TRAIL IN AND AROUND THE PENNYRILE LAKE.

IT IS ONE OF THE TOP 10 TRAILS IN KENTUCKY.

THERE IS NO PLACE THAT THERE IS NO THE A BEAUTIFUL VISTA OF THE LAKE.

OVERVIEWS THE TOP OF A HUGE CLIFF THAT CONNECTS THE CITY OF DAWSON SPRINGS, GOES DOWN LAKE BESHEAR AND CONNECTS IT WITH THE PENNYRILE RESORT STATE PARK.

YOU HAVE ALL THE CLIFF LINES, YOU WILL SEE OVERTHROUGHS OF LAKE BESHEAR AND A LOT OF RUGGED TERRAIN AND IT'S A CHALLENGING TRAIL.

SO IF YOU ARE OUT FOR ADVENTURE, IT'S A 13-MILE TRAIL THAT IS SURE TO FIT THE BILL FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD WANT TO COME AND ENJOY THE OUT OF DOORS.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, WE WOULD GO ON VACATIONS.

MY DAD WOULD SAY THE BEST MEAL THAT I HAD AND THE PRETTIEST THINGS I SAW WAS HERE IN DAWSON SPRINGS IN THE PENNYRILE BEFORE I LEFT AND I TRAVELED A THOUSAND MILES AND CAME HOME AND THE BEST MEAL AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES I SAW WERE HERE IN DAWSON SPRINGS AROUND THE PENNYRILE WHEN I GOT HOME.

VISITORS COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE CUMBERLAND FALLS.

MOST TAKE HOME MANY PHOTOS OF IT.

BUT IT'S THE WORLD FAMOUS MOON BOWL AND CAPTURING IT ON FILM THAT BRINGS PHOTOGRAPHERS BACK TO THE FALLS AGAIN AND AGAIN TO TRY THEIR LUCK AND SKILL.

THANKS FOR JOINING US IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

I'M DOUG FLYNN ENJOYING LIFE, KENTUCKY LIFE.

>> IT IS ONE OF OUR STATE'S ICONIC NATURAL FEATURES.

CUMBERLAND FALLS, THE NIAGARA OF THE SOUTH.

AS SPECTACULAR AS IT IS IN THE DAYTIME, THE FALLS PUTS ON ANOTHER SHOW ON CLEAR NIGHTS DURING FULL MOONS.

IT'S CALLED THE MOON BOW OR LUNAR RAINBOW.

>> WHAT HAPPENS IS THE MIST THAT COMES OFF THE FALLS COMES UP AND THE LIGHT FROM THE MOON FILTERS THROUGH AND CREATES THE MOON BOW.

YOU CAN'T SEE COLOR IN IT USUALLY UNTIL YOU DEVELOP YOUR PHOTOGRAPH.

BUT THEN IT HAS ALL THE COLORS IN IT.

THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW THE MOON BOW HAPPENS EVERY MONTH.

USUALLY FOR FIVE DAYS IF THE SKIES ARE OPEN.

>> CUMBERLAND FALLS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE WHERE YOU CAN SEE A MOON BOW ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> OUR FALLS ARE NOT ARTIFICIALLY LIT.

WE DON'T HAVE LIGHTS ON THEM IN THE EVENING TO LIGHT THEM UP LIKE THEY DO AT NIAGARA FALLS.

AND AT YOSEMITE FALLS.

VICTORIA FALLS LOST THEIR MOONBOW WHEN THEY HAD AN EARTHQUAKE.

THE ROCKS NO LONGER SUPPORT THE FALLS IN THE SAME WAY, SO THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS FILTERED THROUGH, THE MIST, IT DOESN'T LIGHT IT UP AS A MOONBOW ANY LONGER.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT GIVE THEMSELVES ENOUGH TIME HERE.

THEY THINK THAT BY LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAVE POSTED, WHICH IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY, THAT THEY CAN COME IN THOSE FEW SHORT HOURS AND GET IT.

THEY NEED TO COME, THEY NEED TO SPEND THEIR WEEKEND HERE OR THEIR WEEK BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TWO DAYS BEFORE A FULL MOON, DURING AND TWO DAYS AFTER THE FULL MOON THERE IS A LIKELIHOOD OF A MOONBOW.

AND IF THEY WILL COME AND STAY IN THE LODGE OR THE SURROUNDINGS, DO OUR TRAILS, ENJOY EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE HERE, THEY WOULD HAVE A MUCH BETTER TRIP, PLUS MORE OF A CHANCE OF GETTING A MOONBOW.

>> THIS PHENOMENA DRAWS EXPERT PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

CHARLIE BAGLAND IS A TALENTED KENTUCKY PHOTOGRAPHER WHOSE CREDITS INCLUDE THIS KENTUCKY NATURE PLATE BASED ON ONE OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FALLS.