Northern Kentucky Sierra Club

We’ll hike the unpaved hilly trails first, around 2 miles mostly thru woods, including 2 trails blazed many years ago by Northern KY Sierra Club. There's a wood bridge over an intermittent stream and a section of trail along fenced pastures where a bison herd can usually be seen. Expect a few 100'+ ups and downs along the trail!

After a restroom break at the museum, some can depart if they wish. Those remaining can hike Big Bone Creek Trail, another 1/2 to 1 mostly flat mile.

For a map, goto:
https://www.kentuckytourism.com/media/docs/default-source/listing-documents/park-map8929d877-a36c-45e6-a250-e218cc865fb7.pdf?sfvrsn=77032b6c_2

RSVP by 5pm Fri Dec 11. If RSVPing by email, please include a phone number. Expect notification by 8am Sat if postponed or cancelled. We will not cancel for moderate cold or already fallen snow.

Long sleeves and pants, sturdy shoes with good treads are recommended since trails can be muddy, slippery or tricky. Bring your own liquid and snacks. If weather is very cold, wear layered clothes, gloves, hat and scarf.

We'll hike all the nature trails in the Earl and Hazel Jones Center for Conservation in Burlington KY. This 92-acre property located along a 1-mile stretch of Gunpowder Creek is owned by the Boone County Conservation District (BCCD). The preserve is home to a beautiful forest, wetlands, pollinator fields, riparian habitat, and many species of native plants and wildlife. The Center is used by BCCD to demonstrate conservation practices, conduct habitat and wildlife surveys, and educate the public about natural resource management. The Center is also home to the ruins of the historic Crisler-Gulley Mill which was built in 1817. Our host and guide will be Susan Brown, BCCD's Conservation Education Specialist.

Participants should dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes with grippy soles since we'll walk over sometimes unstable or slippery terrain especially if it's wet. Trails are not too hilly except in 2 places where climb or descent is 50-100 ft. The property has limited cell service and no utilities except a porta-potty near the trailhead.

Children are welcome but a parent or legal guardian must accompany and sign a waiver for minors. All participants except minors must sign that they agree to Sierra Club’s liability waiver and acknowledgement of self-risk – please read in advance:

This nature trail began in 1992 when Sierra Club member Barth Johnson blazed a riverside path in Falmouth to give local teachers an outdoor education opportunity. The 1997 Licking flood washed out the trail. Many river-side properties were condemned, acquired by the county and turned into a park. Barth has been extending and maintaining the South Fork Nature Trail ever since, now about 1.3 miles long, extending from Southern Elementary School northeast to the South Fork Dam. This is an easy nature walk along the river with very little elevation change, crossing several feeder streams and staying mostly in the shade of trees. Expect to walk the trail both ways, over 2.5 miles. As we walk, Barth will pause often to tell us about the 1997 flood, the trail’s future and the natural features we pass on our hike.

The trail is in Pendleton County Athletic Park in the city of Falmouth. There are no restrooms along the trail, but there are porta-potties in the adjacent park. For more info about the park, go to https://pendletonathleticpark.com/hiking/

RSVP here, or phone or email the leader with your name, email address and a last-minute phone #. Expect email or phone message by 8am Saturday if event gets cancelled.

Wear shoes with grippy soles since the dirt trail might be wet, muddy or slippery. Bring your own liquid and snacks. Dogs are allowed on-leash only.

Children are welcome but a parent or legal guardian must accompany and sign the waiver for minors. All adult participants must sign that they read and agree to Sierra Club’s liability waiver and acknowledgement of self-risk – please read in advance: