Wildlife & Birding Trails in Kentucky

From Shelbyville take Hwy 55 S proceed to left on 55/155 to Taylorsville. Take KY 44 to KY 248 - approx. 8 miles East. (502) 477-8713.

L1 - Taylorsville Lake SP and WMA

Facilities: 3050 acre lake, 1600 acres, full service campground, horseman's camp for equestrians, boat ramp/lake access for fishing, full service marina with boat rentals, picnicking, trails, wildlife viewing area with viewing blind.

Habitat and Trail Info:
PARK: rolling hillsides, steep slopes leading to lakeshore. Red cedar, tulip tree, rough-leaved dogwood, beech, maple, hickory, oaks. 15 mile trail system. Hiking, mountain biking & horseback riding.

WMA: 11,672 acres no horseback riding or camping allowed. Vehicles/ATV's prohibited off maintained roads. All hunters/dog trainers must check in and out. (502) 477-9024.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities:
PARK: Orchard oriole, indigo buntings, prairie warblers, red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, turkey vultures and wild turkey. Mammals: deer, red fox. Also seen, ospreys and bald eagles.

WMA: Squirrel, rabbit, deer, quail, dove, turkey, otter and furbearers. Waterfowl refuge area east of Van Buren boat ramp.

L2 - Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home, Knob Creek Farm, & Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

Go back to Taylorsville, then take 55 S to Bluegrass Pkwy at ext. 34. Bluegrass Pkwy West to Exit 21. Take 31E Scenic Byway to New Haven,right at entrance of Boyhood home

Habitat and Trail Info: Oak-hickory forests and old growth grove, meadows host native wildlife. 116.5 acres. Picnic area, exhibits, film, visitors center, boardwalk and sinking spring, birthplace cabin.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: 2.2 miles of trail - white tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite, migrant songbirds, squirrel, raccoon, opossum, ground hog, cardinal, eastern bluebird, blue jay, woodpecker and red-tailed hawk.

L3 - Elizabethtown

From Birthplace, take 31E North to left on 61. Continue on 61 to 31W North to Freeman Lake.

Habitat and Trails: 13 miles of trails and 2 public parks, includes Freeman, Buffalo and Fisherman's Lakes.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: songbirds, waterfowl, fishing and boat rentals. (270) 769-3916.

L4 - Vernon Douglas Nature Preserve

From E-town, Bluegrass Pkwy east 9.0 miles to exit 8 at KY 583. Exit right and turn right at stop sign. Turn right onto Audubon Trace Rd. 0.5 miles on left.

Habitat and Trails: 730 acres. Sugar maple, beech and tulip poplar. 4.5 miles trail over uneven terrain. Wildflowers abound in spring. Spur trail takes hikers to "the Pinnacle" for a bird's eyeview of valley.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: spring wildflowers display, birdwatching. Hazards: venomous snakes (rare).

L5 - Bernheim Forest

From Vernon Douglas SNP take Bluegrass Pkwy to Exit 21 at Bardstown proceed North on US 31E to 245. Take 245 to Deatsville then to Clermont and left at entrance. No accommodations.

Habitat and Trail Info: Issac Bernheim established the area in 1929 and gave there Arboretum and Research Forest to the people of Kentucky as a gift. (502) 955-8512. Diverse array of birds, over 200 species are known, gardens, lakes, nature center, expanses of scenic natural area, 30 miles of hiking trails, 12000 acre research forest. Oak-hickory forest with maple, beech, birch and mixed pines. Streams, ponds, cropland and wildlife food plots are present.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: Blue-gray gnat-catchers, common yellowthroats, worm-eating warblers, yellow breasted chats, Philadelphia vireo and Bewick's wren. See bufflehead, black duck and American widgeon. Nature center: white-tailed deer, birds of prey, exhibits of small mammals, reptiles, fish and other aquatic life.