Northern Kentucky

Gently Rolling Hills, Abundant Wildflowers, Playful Creeks, and Bison

About This Region

Northern Kentucky provides a range of hiking opportunities including city, county, and state parks, state nature preserves, wildlife management areas, and even a few privately managed nature preserves.

Though the region lacks many of the big land features found in other parts of the state, the hikes here offer gentle terrain, an abundance of wildflowers, and the bison herd at Big Bone Lick.

The region is at its finest in Spring when wildflowers line the trails before the forest canopy fills in. This is also the time of year that bison birth calves that are a real treat to see.

Hiking Areas

Adair Wildlife Management Area
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Boone Cliffs State Nature Preserve
Conservancy Park, Bellevue
Devou Park
Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserve
Doe Run Lake
Ft. Wright Nature Center
Gunpowder Creek - Sperti Park
Highland Cemetery
Licking River Greenway
Lincoln Ridge (Banklick Woods) Park
Middle Creek Park
Middleton Mills Park
Morning View Heritage Area
Mullins Wildlife Management Area
Waller-Stephenson Mill Park

Hikes

Featured
BSA Troop 717 Nature Trail
BSA Troop 717 Nature Trail

This is a short lollipop trail across from St. Elizabeth Hospital’s Edgewood campus. Constructed by Boy Scouts of America’s Troop 717, this trail is a nice surprise in the heart of the suburbs with a nice variety of wildflowers on display inside of a nice patch of woods.

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‘Two Rivers’ Overlook
‘Two Rivers’ Overlook

This CCC constructed overlook has commanding views of the river valley - home to the town of Carrollton. I give it the moniker Two Rivers because the Kentucky joins the Ohio River below. After visiting here, head into town to checkout Point Park to see the rivers up close.

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Woodland Trail Lollipop
Woodland Trail Lollipop

This forest walk descends from the lodge and runs just west of the campground on a combination of double and single track trail. Though a bit loud with traffic noise nearest KY-227, the quiet sections are lush with mature hardwoods and loads of goodies on the forest floor.

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Butler Lake Loop
Butler Lake Loop

This is a nice, short walk around Butler Lake with plenty of fishing spots along the trail. Enjoy these lakeside views with a good number of wildflowers, plenty of squirrels, and on this day, a pair of garter snakes. This park was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and nearly all its handiwork remains on display today.

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Snow Day at Devou Park Overlook
Snow Day at Devou Park Overlook

When Northern Kentucky gets a big snow, the place to be is Devou Park. We stopped in for some snow-covered views of Covington and Cincinnati while also seeing the kiddos enjoying the sledding hill at the amphitheater. This is a fantastic spot for a quick, big view and snow makes it just a little prettier!

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Snow Day at Moser Branch Double Falls
Snow Day at Moser Branch Double Falls

We had the pleasure of laying first tracks at Ft. Wright Nature Center on our way to Moser Branch Double Falls. This is a gorgeous little spot tucked away between a beautiful neighborhood and Highland Cemetery. For a longer hike, come in from the cemetery’s trail system that connects with the nature center at the falls.

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