Kentucky is a natural playground with beautiful parks scattered all across the state. You can experience a wide variety of landscapes, all within the Bluegrass State, and there are plenty of places that are easily accessible to almost everyone. While the larger, more popular parks are absolutely worth visiting, sometimes you want to escape to a hidden gem that is free of crowds, but bursting with natural beauty. The Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge is such a place and it offers 7 miles of hiking trails in Kentucky. Explore this diverse landscape, immerse yourself in nature, and use the beauty of Kentucky as a way to relax and rejuvenate.
The Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge is a 500-acre preserve located about 14 miles from Danville.
It is land set aside to preserve this lush landscape for generations to come. It's a bit of a hidden gem and not fancy at all, but it is exactly what you'd want in a wildlife refuge and nature preserve.
The land offers several miles of hiking trails in Kentucky that everyone in your family will enjoy, even your four-legged family members.
These trails range from very short and easy to more difficult thanks to steep elevation changes. You can read all about each of the trails here.
Many of the trails include a stroll along a serene body of water, such as Island Pond, shown below.
The Bluebird Trail, an easy, .5-mile path, takes you around the pond and offers beautiful scenery any time of year. This is a great option if you don't have much time, but really want to relax in nature.
The variety of the landscape is one of the highlights of the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge, and it can be seen on any of the miles of hiking trails in Kentucky.
Hike through a meadow, past wildflowers, and along a rushing stream. Have a seat next to a small pond and relax in the quiet and peacefulness of nature. It sounds too good to be true, but it isn't within this preserve.
As a wildlife refuge, you can expect to find a wide array of animals, especially near the water.
Turtles, frogs, fish, birds, insects, and yes, maybe snakes, among others all call the refuge home. They love Kentucky as much as we do and who can blame them with a place to live that's so delightful.
Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge offers various events throughout the year, and you can check out what's coming up here.
There are organized hikes, creek walks, nighttime events, and other events that allow you to have some guidance as you explore the land. The creek walk events are especially great for families with children.
The refuge is open all year long and is as beautiful in the cold of winter as it is in the warmth of summer.
If you live nearby or find yourself in the area, escape to the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge for awhile. You may be lucky enough to get much of the property to yourself to explore, relax, and take on even more of the wonderful hiking trails in Kentucky.
The Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge offers lovely hiking trails in Kentucky that are scenic all year long. Escape into nature at this hidden gem and witness Kentucky in its most beautiful, natural state. Did you know about this wildlife refuge, tucked away near Danville? Share your experience with us in the comments!
For more information on the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge, visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here. The refuge is open from dawn to dusk, all year long.
Address: 600 Carpenter Creek Road, Parksville, KY 40464
And for another interesting thing to do in the area, check out the historic outdoor theatre in Danville, featured in our previous article here.
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