Go Wild For Wildflowers On These 7 Scenic Spring Hikes In Kentucky
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Sarah McCosham
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The landscape of the Bluegrass State is extraordinary during the spring, when the rolling hills are covered in a near-endless array of winsome wildflowers and blooming foliage. Spring might just be our favorite time of year for hiking in Kentucky, in fact, as our Great Outdoors burst into an almost synchronized spectacle of color. If you have a soft spot for this season, too, then you’ll want to check out the following scenic wildflower hikes in Kentucky.
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, 3885 Raven Run Wy, Lexington, KY 40515, USA
One of the most enchanting places to hike in the Bluegrass, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary comes alive in the spring. We're particularly fond the Yellow Trail; while admittedly a bit strenuous, this fairy-tale path positively dazzles during the spring with its verdant greens and gold hues!
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 3501 Lexington Rd, Harrodsburg, KY 40330, USA
A total hidden gem, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is best-known as a place to go to learn about a different way of life and a historic time period. But what many people don't realize is that Shaker Village boasts some of the most peaceful scenic hiking trails in Kentucky. This trail system offers a variety of landscapes and everything from wildflowers to waterfalls, river views to rocky cliffs. If you need some time outdoors and want to try something new, get lost on the wildflower and waterfall trails of this Kentucky treasure.
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While stunning any time of the year, the John James Audubon State Park is particularly winsome in the spring. Enjoy a leisurely stroll or more vigorous hike; the preserve offers six miles of hiking trails that range in difficulty, terrain, and scenery. Much of the park is within a dedicated Kentucky State Nature Preserve, too, so the surroundings are particularly untouched, with a bounty of wildflowers and native plants.
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Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA
If you're anxious about missing peak Bluegrass spring blooms, Bernheim Arboretum’s Big Prairie is home to one of summer’s signature flowers: the prairie coneflower. And we say "home to" we mean there's a bona fide superbloom of these enchanting yellow flowers! While you're there, check out the Canopy Tree Walk, which is absolutely lovely any season of the year!
Pine Mountain State Resort Park, 1050 State Park Rd, Pineville, KY 40977, USA
Kentucky State Parks boast some of the best places to find native spring wildflowers, dubbed "ephemerals" for their fleeting, short-lived bloom. These romantic beauties can be found along many of the state park system's 300 miles of trails, with an abundance to be seen along the Chained Rock Trail at Pine Mountain State Park.
This place is 1,159 acres of unfiltered Bluegrass beauty situated in the Pine Mountain ridge of the Appalachians, and the spring spectacle of wildflowers here might result in a spontaneous "Sound of Music" moment.
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259, USA
Mammoth Cave is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders in the world, and it's a huge point of pride for Kentucky. But if you limit your adventures to the subterranean variety, you're really missing out. Mammoth Cave is home to some of the best hiking trails, outdoor recreation, and wildlife in the U.S. The wildflowers, especially, are fantastic. From the early spring days of March through the chilly afternoons of October, different wildflowers can be found across the park: prairie coneflowers, passionflowers, pinkblazing stars, and goldenrods. It's a veritable ROYGBIV of color at Mammoth Cave in the spring -- an experience you won't want to miss!
Carter Caves State Resort Park, 344 Caveland Dr, Olive Hill, KY 41164, USA
Another place best-known for its underground adventures, the wildflowers at Carter Caves are extraordinary. The Three Bridges Trail at Carter Caves State Resort Park is an easy and enjoyable 3.5-mile loop that winds through magical landscape and provides beautiful views. In the spring, the emerald greens and vibrant colors of the budding forest as you emerge from the shadowy caverns will make you feel as if you've stepped out into the technicolor world of Oz.
What are your favorite wildflower hikes in Kentucky? Have you tried any of the above hikes before? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience!
Looking for more beautiful spring hikes in Kentucky? These waterfall trails are calling your name!
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