Vernon-Douglas State Nature Preserve is
a nice 3.7 to 4 mile hike just outside of Boston, KY. It was a great way to spend a 90+ degree day in June outdoors. It was
short enough for the heat and long enough to work up a big sweat. It is a hike through a very nice second-growth forest to
a ridge top that I would imagine has a great view when the leaves have fallen. I
took a clockwise direction on the trail though I would recommend going counter clockwise. The trail is well marked and because
you are almost always within earshot of the Bluegrass Pkwy hard to get lost on. Several signs of wildlife were seen, tracks,
droppings, etc. I was hiking around noon so none of them made themselves known. I did see several Crinoid Columns (fossil
coins) on the trail. Amazing that something around 350 million years old still exists.
Kentucky with its limestone formations is full of wonder and history.
To get there from Louisville take I-65 south
to exit 105, turn left onto KY 61 and go 4 miles into Boston. Turn right onto US62/KY61 in 3.8 miles turn left (south) onto
KY583. Go 2 miles and just after you cross over the Bluegrass Pkwy turn right onto Audubon Trace. Go 0.6 mi to a gravel parking lot on the left. Sorry…no signs here marking the preserve.