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Is there no climbing allowed on any State of Kentucky owned land, or is it just the land Kentucky says you can't climb on, like specific State Parks. I think Dismal Rock is part of Nolin State Park, and you can climb there.

For instance: what if I found some climbing on an island on the Ohio River that Kentucky owns, could I climb there?

If it's an island on the Ohio, it is a sand bar. Are you talking about a bridge or something?

It is not illegal to climb on Kentucky state parks. It is a State Park Policy issued under Park Memo 05-01 to prohibit climbing without prior written permission. See below.

Other land owned by Kentucky would be covered by whatever agency or jurisdiction was responsible, for example, KY Fish and Wildlife or Department of Transportation, etc.

STATE PARK POLICIES
(Activities Requiring Permits or Written Permission from Park Officials)

Rappelling and Rock Climbing Park Policy Memo 05-01
The sport of rappelling and rock climbing with ropes, carabiners or any other means, are prohibited anywhere within the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks without prior written permission of the Commissioner of Parks.

Rappelling Park Policy Memo 98-05-01. The sport of rappelling is strictly forbidden anywhere within the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks without prior written permission of the Commissioner of Parks.

What if it wasn't a park, just land owned by Kentucky? Example: boulders situated in the Ohio River.

Should we assume no climbing is allowed, or the opposite.

I think it deals more with the parks and not state owned land.

It just makes me think that might be their policy for everything then. I guess my next course of action should be contacting fish and wildlife or something, unless someone knows the answer to this conundrum..

Don't bother Fish & Wildlife. Just go climb your boulders... no one cares, and F&WD will either ignore you or say no.

I need answers, what should I do? I would love to make the place public, have meetups there, and just be able to climb without worrying.

How much would the fine be? Better yet what would the fine even be for? I doubt there is a rule anywhere stating "no climbing" allowed in the ohio river, but it would be nice to know for sure.

The Fish and Wildlife website said it may take them a week to respond due to researching your question. Maybe when they can't answer it, they just end up forgetting about it. I would hope the only reason they would say no is because they found a rule/law which stated so.

dustonian wrote:Don't bother Fish & Wildlife. Just go climb your boulders... no one cares, and F&WD will either ignore you or say no.

+1

i'd note that the prohibition seems to require some element of technical equipment. bouldering could then fall outside of the code?

the army corps of engineers apparently has a selective policy against dws, i.e. summersville lake. navigable/commercial waterways usually fall under their jurisdiction..