Wildlife & Birding Trails in Kentucky

This 60-mile route spans the Kentucky-Tennessee areas of Land Between the Lakes and connects with the Western Highland Rim Automobile Birding Trail in Dover, Tennessee on Highway 79. The route includes opportunities to see upland hardwood forests, agricultural fields, lakeshore areas, interior lakes and bottom wetland habitat. Starting point: Kentucky Dam.

Land Between the Lakes is the #1 Tourist Attraction in Kentucky,
attracting millions to this International Biosphere Reserve.

B1 – Kentucky Dam

Travel east/west on US 62/KY 641 to the Kentucky Dam. There are pull off locations on and below the dam. Gas, lodging and dining opportunities available in nearby Gilbertsville.

Habitat and sites: This area provides an excellent view for many species of gulls and the largest inland concentration of gulls on a man-made lake in North America.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Herring gull, ring-billed gull, great blue heron, osprey (summer), many swallow species and occasionally laughing gulls and white pelicans can be found here.

Best place to look for birds:
Look above the dam on Kentucky Lake to the west near the swimming area beach for ducks and above the locks for gulls. There is an access road on the east just past the powerhouse that leads to viewing below the dam.

Side trips: Visit Patti’s 1890 Settlement in Grand Rivers. Enjoy winter birding at nearby Lake Barkley Dam.

B2 – Hematite Lake Area

From Kentucky Dam travel east on KY641, south on KY453-the Trace which runs through the Land Between the Lakes peninsula. From the Trace, take Silver Trail Road 133 into the Environmental Education Area to The Nature Center. Gas, lodging and dining opportunities available in nearby Golden Pond.

Habitat and Trail Info: Mature hardwoods, lakeshore and creek channels, and wetlands habitat are scattered along the trail around Hematite Lake.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Red-tailed hawks, herons, coots, chickadees, woodpeckers, including the pileated, kinglets, wood thrush, ruby-throated hummingbirds, warblers, wild turkey, mallard, teal, widgeon, shoveler, gadwall, and ring-necked ducks.

Best place to look for birds: In winter, see bald eagles perched on snags in and around Honker Lake as well as a variety of ducks and geese. In summer, see osprey, warblers, wood thrush, ruby-throated hummingbirds on lakeshore areas and upland forested trail areas. In the spring, see wood ducks in the wetland areas below Hematite Dam.

Side trips: The Nature Station has raptors and other native wildlife. The gardens are designed for specialized wildlife attraction, and the bird feeding stations are well established and provide excellent opportunities for viewing and photography. Visit wildlife viewing observation areas - Long Creek Trail, Honker Lake and trail, Woodland Walk Trail and Center Furnace Trail.

B3 – Crooked Creek Bottoms

From the Hematite Lake Area, travel south on 134 to the Mulberry Flat Road (135). Go right and travel west approximately 5 miles to gravel road 320. Turn left, travel south to gravel road 144. Turn left on gravel road 146 which travels on the edge of the wetland areas of Crooked Creek.

Habitat and sites: Contains bottomland fields, tree snags, beaver ponds, upland forest springs and creek channels.

Wildlife Viewing Opportunities: View a varity of ducks, belted kingfisher, warblers, red-tailed hawks, herons and sparrows (swamp, song and white-throated).

Best place to look for birds: Around the creek channel, open field, tree snags and brushy foliage. Indigo buntings often sit in the middle of the gravel roads.

B4 – Elk and Bison Prairie

From 146, travel south on gravel 144. Turn right on 145 then right on 134 (Jenny Ridge Road) to The Trace. Go left on The Trace to the Elk and Bison Prairie.

Habitat and sites: View developing prairie habitat on the 750-acre restoration of Kentucky’s native barrens. Follow the 3-mile loop to view bison and elk as well as native grasses and other vegetation.