Off the beaten path
A surprise Kentucky destination
“TURN HERE,” the GPS said, so I did.
We’d just been rerouted, possibly due to construction, which meant an opportunity to enjoy some Kentucky back roads.
I asked my wife, Tammy, who was sitting in the passenger seat, to search for a hiking trail along the new route. One of the results was Canaan Ridge Park, just 12 miles ahead. Along the way, we enjoyed the beautiful Kentucky countryside—rolling hills with old but well-maintained barns, fields of beans and corn, and a couple of whitetail deer.
At the park entrance, just off State Route 132 in Dixon, we saw construction workers hard at work on a new visitor center, and a separate crew working on new bathrooms and a deck where fish will be weighed following future tournaments at the lake.
The property, which had been privately owned, was acquired by the Webster County government in 2021 and opened to the public in 2024.
Webster County Parks Director Zara Toal says the park has steadily added improvements, including a playground, pavilions and trails, which were all made possible by grants and federal funding.
“There are plans for the future as well,” Toal says. “Aside from some improvements to existing structures on the property, we are planning to build a campground to make Canaan Ridge Park an even more desirable destination to help bring more folks to our area for a great day of outdoor recreation.”
My wife and I were very impressed by the aesthetics of the park. The pavilions are spacious and the playground is well equipped to give adventurous little ones a fun time. The park offers a boat ramp as well as a kayak launch for paddling and fishing on the 65-acre lake.
Toal says the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has completed a study of the lake and will be advising on the best management practices to improve the fishing opportunities, which currently include bluegill, redear, crappie, bass and rumors of catfish.
Canaan Ridge was worth the detour—and I can’t wait to come back with a fishing kayak
