Five-Star Trails: Louisville and Southern Indiana. Valerie Askren
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donated the bridge on the west side of the road in 1928. The stonework on the bridge is simply magnificent.
From here the trail follows the park’s boundary with the Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Here volunteers have worked hard to remove much of the invasive honeysuckle that plagues the park. Naturalized hollies and native wild cherries thrive in the newly opened canopy. In early spring, yellow trout lilies, as well as the slightly invasive small blue periwinkle, bloom here. Unfortunately, the sweet yellow flowers of lesser celandine—named Kentucky’s Least Wanted Plant of 2011 by the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission—are pervasive here as well.
The trail then rejoins the creek, crosses an old abandoned road, and continues up a small hill on a mixed-use trail. (I told you the trail system at Cherokee can be confusing!) About 0.8 mile from the trailhead, bear right (northeast) at the Y in the path, toward the house atop the hill with the French mansard roof and the naturalized meadow as a backyard.
The trail now begins to skirt the bird sanctuary, which has been fenced off to protect reforestation efforts under way here. Woodcocks, colloquially known as timberdoodles, have been known to frequent this area. With long, slender bills and 360-degree vision, these birds tend to feed in the early evening by probing the soil for invertebrates. Woodcocks are also known for their elaborate mating rituals. Given that the females are much larger than the males, we can only guess who wins.
While the trail is lined with cedars and pine, in the middle of the meadow stands a stately walnut tree, generously studded with mistletoe. Stay on the path as it follows a series of switchbacks and crosses a narrow road. The Kentucky Mountain Bike Association has put in hundreds of hours renovating these and other switchbacks in the park, and its efforts show.
The trail then descends toward the Scenic Loop and Maple Road, to bring you about 1.55 miles from the trailhead. Don’t cross the Alvin Hert Bridge—instead, follow the Scenic Loop right (north) by staying in the pedestrian lane. Walk another 0.6 mile and then turn left (south) on the paved Baringer Hill path, just past the intersection with Cochran Hill Road. After the trail crosses Beargrass Creek, take a sharp left up the hill on the dirt trail to head east back along the creek. Several other trails will come in to your right, but keep bearing left to stay high above Beargrass Creek. The cliffs below are home to several varieties of sedum and wild columbine, and pileated woodpeckers like to haunt this area.
At the top of the hill, look right and you’ll see Hogan’s Fountain, a gift from Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hogan to the city in 1904. The fountain features the Greek nature god Pan and served as a watering spot for horses and dogs. Make a quick detour to see the fountain, then return to the trail to continue your journey.
The trail crosses the Scenic Loop once again, traverses a small wooded area, goes past the tennis courts, and then traverses more woods before descending to Barrett Hill Road. Turn left (north) and cross the stone bridge (passing Beargrass Road on your right). A final right-hand turn takes you back to walking along the creek (now upstream, but still creek-right). Retrace your steps back to the parking lot.
Nearby Attractions
Louisville Metro Parks opens several hills for sled riding, including Baringer Hill at Cherokee Park, at the corner of Alexander Road and the Scenic Loop. In the winter, signs are posted indicating when snows are sufficient and sledding is permitted, provided proper equipment (that is, no old-car hoods or garbage-can lids) is used. Park staff will even light and maintain bonfires, supply first-aid kits, and call emergency services if necessary. What more could you ask for your tax dollar? Grab a thermos of hot chocolate, and you’re ready for some wintertime fun.
Directions
From I-264 (Henry Watterson Expressway), take Exit 17 and head west on Taylorsville Road, toward downtown Louisville. After 1 mile, turn right (north) on Pee Wee Reese Road (just west of Bowman Field Airport). After 1.5 miles, turn left (west) on Seneca Park Road and drive 0.3 mile to the intersection with Park Boundary Road. The parking lot will be straight ahead, on the northeast side of the bridge over Beargrass Creek (across the creek from the Big Rock parking lot and playground). The trailhead begins from this small parking lot.
4 Falls of the Ohio Levee Trail
THE DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE SKYLINE, IMPRESSIVE DURING THE DAY, ONLY GETS BETTER AT NIGHT.
SCENERY:
TRAIL CONDITION:
CHILDREN:
DIFFICULTY:
SOLITUDE:
GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES: N38° 17.268’ W85° 46.535’
DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION: 4-mile out-and-back
HIKING TIME: 1.5 hours
HIGHLIGHTS: Ohio River, Louisville skyline, historic-home site
ELEVATION: 451’ at trailhead, with no significant elevation change
ACCESS: Trails are open daily, 7 a.m.–11 p.m. Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center open Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 1–5 p.m. Free to hike; see Directions for fees to enter the interpretive center.
MAPS: Available at the first website below and at the interpretive center
FACILITIES: Nature center, restrooms, playground
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes
COMMENTS: The paved trail is for pedestrians and bikers only.
CONTACTS: Falls of the Ohio State Park, 812-280-9970; tinyurl.com/fotosp or fallsoftheohio.org
Overview
The paved Levee Trail is perfect for an after-work power walk, a sprint with the jogging stroller, or a leisurely saunter on a Sunday afternoon. The 2-mile (one-way) trail connects East Riverside Drive with Falls of the Ohio State Park and Lewis and Clark Park. Just across the river from downtown Louisville, in southern Indiana, most of the trail runs atop the earthen-berm floodwall that protects the city of Clarksville from the mighty Ohio River.
Route Details
The Falls of the Ohio Levee Trail can be accessed from either end, and at a variety of points along the way. Following the driving directions provided later, the route assumes you’ve parked at the far eastern trailhead along East Riverside Drive. Regardless, your chances of getting lost in the Mall St. Matthews are much greater than getting lost here.
Beginning from the far eastern trailhead, the paved trail threads a line between the northern bank of the Ohio River and a popular playground area. The downtown Louisville skyline is clearly in view looking across the river. Ten minutes (less than 0.4 mile) of walking will bring you to the underpass of the Contrail Railroad Bridge, and a small overlook of the lowhead dam (also known as a fixed-weir dam) that forms the large pool of water just above the Falls of the Ohio. They’re difficult to see from the overlook, but the shipping locks are behind the far island, on the Kentucky side of the river.
At this point, two islands divide the Ohio River into three distinct chutes of water. Nearest you, on the Indiana side of the river, is the Indian Chute (the “hero” route for early canoeists); on the far side, the Kentucky Chute holds the locks; and between the two is the Middle Chute. Goose Island, between the Indian and Middle Chutes, is protected as part of