Woodlands Nature Station

Woodlands Nature Station The Woodlands Nature Station is your connection to the wild plants and animals of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area!

Visit to see native rescued wildlife, walk in the native gardens, and chat with expert naturalists. Nestled in the woods between Hematite and Honker Lakes, the Woodlands Nature Station in Land Between the Lakes serves as the gateway to an 6,800-acre wildlife refuge in the National Recreation Area known as the Nature Watch area. This area is known for some of the best wildlife viewing in LBL and co

ntains 5 scenic hiking trails to explore! Nature Station also offers naturalist-guided canoe and kayak trips between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Nature Station’s Interpretive Naturalists serve as LBL’s go to specialists for wildlife in LBL, covering topics such as native gardening, conservation, and the local flora and fauna. The facility also houses 50+ native rescued animal species such as endangered red wolves, a bobcat, and birds of prey in their “forever homes” providing these injured or orphaned animals a second chance at life and becoming an ambassador for their species. The Nature Station is one of the main environmental education facilities within Land Between the Lakes. Gaze into the eyes of a great horned owl, howl with a coyote, or watch the elusive endangered red wolf in our backyard exhibit area as you walk through our native plant gardens as hummingbirds buzz around your head. Then, explore as adults and kids alike take part in naturalist-led programs with up-close animal encounters, story time, canoe and kayak trips, hikes, and more! Our naturalists make learning fun!

✅REMINDER: The submission deadline for this year's Hummingbird Photo Contest is September 10th. Thanks to all the photog...
09/01/2026

✅REMINDER: The submission deadline for this year's Hummingbird Photo Contest is September 10th.

Thanks to all the photographers that came out to visit this August -- we hope you got some great shots, and we can't wait to see all the entries!

You can grab the photo contest rules and entry form here:https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Photo-Contest-2026-Rules-and-Entry-Form.pdf

08/31/2026

It's the last day of Hummingbird Month at the Woodlands Nature Station. Thanks to everyone who celebrated hummingbirds with us this August!

Hummingbirds are the only bird in the world that can truly hover. Their wings, unlike other birds, are fused at the elbow and move in a figure-eight motion. This allows them to hover and to fly in any direction, even upside down!

During coutship displays, a male hummingbird can beat its wings 200 times per second, and reach speeds of 60 mph! This incredible flight strategy can make hummingbirds appear more like a bug than a bird as they zip around your backyard.

When we installed Acopian BirdSavers on our windows, we expected that the paracords would prevent fatal bird strikes. An...
08/30/2026

When we installed Acopian BirdSavers on our windows, we expected that the paracords would prevent fatal bird strikes. And they do so wonderfully. What we didn't expect was how many other critters would use them!

This summer, the paracords hanging in front of our windows have been a favorite spot for pipevine swallowtails to hang their chrysalises. Just last week, we watched this freshly emerged one dry out for a couple hours before flying away.

If you have large windows and want to prevent bird strikes, simple window treatments can be highly effective.Learn more about preventing bird strikes at home here: https://abcbirds.org/strategies/solutions-for-homes/

“We should pay more attention. We’re just mistreating Mother Nature—that’s like being ugly to your mama.”  --Dolly Parto...
08/28/2026

“We should pay more attention. We’re just mistreating Mother Nature—that’s like being ugly to your mama.” --Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton contributed to bald eagle conservation by creating the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, which helps to educate Dollywood visitors about bald eagles and other birds of prey. Today, thanks to efforts across the continent, bald eagles are no longer endangered.

Our own resident eagle, Tahahente, lived for a while with Dollywood's partner, the American Eagle Foundation, before finding her permanent home here at the Woodlands Nature Station.

Photo by Abanathy Photography, LLC

One way to guess at what a bird eats is to look closely at their beak. Often, a bird's beak is specifically adapted to h...
08/27/2026

One way to guess at what a bird eats is to look closely at their beak. Often, a bird's beak is specifically adapted to help them eat their favorite foods. Hummingbirds have long, thin beaks to help them get nectar from long, tube-shaped flowers.

If you are hoping to attract more hummingbirds to your backyard, plant some native plants with their favorite flowers! Here are some of our favorite native hummingbird plants: trumpet vine (pictured), coral honeysuckle, red buckeye, cardinal flower, and indian pink.

Photo by George Whidby

Bring the family to the Woodlands Nature Station during Labor Day weekend for a day full of outdoor adventure! Programs ...
08/26/2026

Bring the family to the Woodlands Nature Station during Labor Day weekend for a day full of outdoor adventure! Programs and activities will focus on outdoor skills that will help your child to be a more confident outdoor adventurer. We will also feature live animal programs all about the wildlife that lives in Land Between the Lakes!

All activities are included with general admission ($7 for ages 16+ and free for ages 15 and under). Check out the full schedule here: https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/calendar/kids-adventure-weekend/

If you feed hummingbirds, then you know that they can be pretty serious about defending their territory. We often get as...
08/25/2026

If you feed hummingbirds, then you know that they can be pretty serious about defending their territory. We often get asked why hummingbirds are so mean to each other!

Hummingbirds have an incredibly high metabolism, and they rely on nectar as a food source to keep them alive. In nature, nectar is rare - quite different than our bottomless backyard feeders. So when a hummingbird finds a good source of food, they are willing to duke it out with their neighbors, heedless of whether you'll keep providing them with endless sugar water.

Photo by Hazel Lewallen.

Our last guided paddle trips of the summer will be during Labor Day Weekend on Energy Lake. Join us Sept. 5 or 6 for a S...
08/24/2026

Our last guided paddle trips of the summer will be during Labor Day Weekend on Energy Lake. Join us Sept. 5 or 6 for a Sunset Kayak Trip! 🌅

This beginner-friendly paddle will explore the nooks and crannies of one of our favorite wildlife watching locations. Expert naturalist will help you search the waters and shorelines for wildlife such as osprey, eagles, beavers, egrets, frogs, and songbirds. Enjoy a feast for the eyes and ears as the sun dips below the trees and nature’s evening chorus comes to life.

$30 per person. Cost does not include daytime NS admission. Ages 13+. Reservation and full deposit required. Call 270-924-2020 to reserve your space.

We are excited to offer a Sensory Nature Hike on Sept. 26th in partnership with Kentucky School for the Blind in Land Be...
08/22/2026

We are excited to offer a Sensory Nature Hike on Sept. 26th in partnership with Kentucky School for the Blind in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

Join Woodlands Nature Station naturalists on a 1 mile Sensory Nature Hike from 10-11:30am that will encourage hikers to use all of their senses as they explore the outdoors. Then, from 11:30-12:30, staff from KSB will lead activities to help sighted people learn about blindness. These activities will meet at the Golden Pond Visitor Center's picnic pavilion.

This program is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. Everyone is welcome, and members of the visually impaired community are especially encouraged to attend.

On Sept. 26, we are also offering free admission to the Woodlands Nature Station and the Homeplace Working Farm for National Public Lands Day, so bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Did you know that the gorget feathers on a hummingbird are iridescent? This means that their throats are brilliantly red...
08/21/2026

Did you know that the gorget feathers on a hummingbird are iridescent? This means that their throats are brilliantly red (or pink or purple) only when the light hits them at the right angle. Without that perfect angle, these feathers appear much darker, almost black.

These photos from Leslie Todd do a great job of demonstrating how a slight change in angle can dramatically change the appearence of those throat feathers.

Address

3146 Silver Trail Road
Cadiz, KY
42211

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12709242299

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